In this chapter we get a Nikki and JJ confrontation that we have been building towards. Why hasn't Nikki visited JJ and how will JJ react? Well stay tuned.

It had been a week since Nikki had met with her Godfather, three weeks going on four since that dreaded attack at Dexter's. Classes would start to ramp up this week as the early portion of the school year were just devoted to the first years getting used to the grounds and school. But now things were really going to take off. This made Nikki Allaire happy and excited. She had started to return to her normal self. The giddy girl who was overly friendly. In fact Nikki had made out with a guy and girl at a party. She was back to being her Nikki Allaire. Her Pokémon had noticed the shift in her personality as well. Echo, especially, had been concerned for her trainer. After that battle Nikki had gone into such a deep dark place, it had scared them. They had all taken turns trying to cheer Nikki up, but it hadn't worked. Now, however, she was back to being herself. That made them all relieved. It was all thanks to what her godfather had to,d her about. Nikki had to set a good example.

Of course she had carried JJ's egg wherever she went. Nikki had made sure to carry it in the same blue bag that JJ carried it in. Nikki loved to take care of eggs and knew she couldn't neglect JJ's egg. So day and night, Nikki would watch after it. She made sure to keep the temperature just right. The wrong temperature could damage whatever was inside. Nikki also made sure that it got plenty of sun. She would even talk to the egg as she had learned that the creatures could hear the voices of trainers. So Nikki wanted to make sure that the egg could hear her. Still she was intrigued by what was inside the egg. She had never known an egg to take so long to hatch. This was absolutely weird to Nikki. Still she wanted to keep a watchful eye on JJ's egg. This would be a nice surprise for when JJ when she got back from the hospital. She knew that it wouldn't make up for her not going to see JJ, but it was something. Nikki just wondered what was in the egg.

"Good morning, gorgeous. Going to hatch today?", Nikki spoke to the egg. It was Friday and Nikki didn't have any classes. She had planned on having a good training session with her Pokémon before she went out. Still, Nikki had hoped that the egg would have hatched. It was close to hatching, she could tell. Nikki's attention was soon drawn away from the egg, to the sound of the doorknob to the room opening. Nikki at first thought it was Dr. Walkmen, JJ's uncle. He had been by to get some clothes and some of JJ's personal items. That was how Nikki knew that JJ was close to returning to the university. Of course Nikki was nervous about seeing JJ again. Especially since JJ wouldn't have been in the hospital had it not been for Nikki. The pink haired girl was so terrified of seeing JJ again that she wanted to avoid her. Nikki's brown eyes stared at the door hoping that it was Dr. Walkmen. Of course it was not Dr. Walkmen that stood in the door way.

Nikki's heart sank. There JJ stood. The honey colored brunette girl had been released from the hospital. She wore red shorts and a grey tshirt, but some of the wrappings from the hospital could be seen even under the shirt. JJ's typically beautiful face had some bruises on it that were healing. Of course her brown eyes were focused on Nikki. Nikki had turned ghostly white as if she had been confronted with her worst nightmare from a Darkrai. Here was the person Nikki had nearly killed because of her stupidity. The girl from Kalos could tell that JJ wasn't fully recovered, the tall girl seemed to be wincing a few times when she took a deep breath. It just hurt Nikki to look at her. JJ, meanwhile, smiled at her roommate. Well smile as best as she could given that her body was still in so much pain. Still she didn't want Nikki to think that she blamed Nikki for what happened. "Hey Nik-", Nikki shot up before JJ could finish. Nikki tried to leave, she didn't want to see JJ like this. She couldn't handle it.

The 6 foot JJ slammed the door in Nikki's face. She blocked the other freshman from getting away. Nikki had been running from this for weeks now. JJ knew it and so did Nikki, they needed to talk. JJ wanted to make the girl see that it wasn't her fault. But JJ also wanted to know why she had been avoiding the hospital. If they were really friends, Nikki wouldn't have done that. "Sit the fuck down, Nikki. We have to talk.", JJ grabbed Nikki's shirt and pulled her towards her bed. JJ shoved Nikki to her side of the room and JJ went to her side. Of course the strain of shoving the girl had caused JJ to wince in pain and grimace. She took a deep breath to gather herself. Nikki saw JJ grimace and only turned even more pale. Tears started in her eyes, 'I did this. This is all of my fault. Look at her. She can barely breathe without being in pain." Nikki let out a wail into her hands.

The two seventeen year olds sat in silence. The tension in the air was thick. Nikki kept her hands over her face. She couldn't look at JJ not after what she had done to JJ. She had already hurt someone she cared about before she had come to the Institute and now she had hurt JJ. Sure they had just really met, but the little Nikki had known about the tall brunette seemed like they would be really good friends. JJ had nearly died because of Nikki. Not just because Nikki had used a powerful attack in the fight, but because JJ had nearly sacrificed herself for Nikki. Dr. Walkmen had told Nikki that JJ had lost her spleen which meant that whenever she got sick it could potentially be life threatening. So now not only would JJ suffer now, but she could be suffering her whole life. Just like Nikki's brother had been suffering because of Nikki's recklessness. Nikki hated herself for causing so much pain to people. It felt like wherever she went pain followed. She couldn't bear to look at the damage she did to JJ.

Jessica Walkmen looked at her roommate. Nikki couldn't even look at her. This hurt even worse than the pain that sometimes shot throughout her body. She had wanted to be friends with Nikki, had enjoyed getting drunk with her and bonding over their love of Pokémon eggs. But now Nikki couldn't even look at her. This was on top of Nikki not visiting JJ in the hospital. It didn't make sense to JJ. Everyone had come to visit her. Ava, after she got out of the hospital, Royce, Andy, Dexter, even Alex had stopped by again though he just seemed like an utter douche. But Nikki hadn't. JJ's uncle had told JJ that Nikki had seemed disinterested in how JJ was doing. That when he had tried to get Nikki to come visit JJ, Nikki had made up some bullshit excuse. Jessica really did not understand what was going on with Nikki. Now the pink haired girl couldn't even look at her. It pissed her off. JJ wanted to understand what exactly was going on with Nikki. That was why she had locked the girl in the room with her. They were going to hash it out.

"Nikki, why can't you even look at me?", JJ would make the first move. Her voice was cold and pained. Her brown eyes stared at Nikki. The pink haired girl still did not look at JJ. The injured first year sighed which caused a surge of pain. But JJ fought to keep it down. No she wanted to show that she was strong. She had to get through this without showing how much pain that she was really in. Nikki still did not look up at JJ and this made JJ even more mad. "You did not even visit me in the hospital, Nikki.i guess all that stuff about you wanting to be best friends was bullshit. That we aren't going to be that close here. Everything you said was bullshit.", JJ had wanted to say that for weeks. She had thought that Nikki would have come and seen her just once. That is what real friends did. The fact that Nikki hadn't been to see JJ meant that Nikki wasn't a real friend.

Nikki shook, but still did not look at JJ. She knew what JJ said was true. She should have visited JJ in the hospital, but Nikki did not and she regretted it. JJ's eyes were cold as she looked at Nikki. The girl was not reacting at all. Now JJ was pissed. Afterall she had risked her life for Nikki and Nikki didn't seem to give a damn. This really pissed JJ off beyond belief. She gritted her teeth, "are you a fucking robot, Nicole! WHY CANT YOU EVEN LOOK AT ME?" The emotions started to pour from JJ. It just wasn't seeing Nikki being an unemotional robot, but everything that had surrounded it. The fact that JJ knew she would be dealing with this her whole life, the coldness from her uncle, the fact that she was so close to death. All of it just hit JJ at that moment. She hadn't had time to process it all until now because if the doctors poking and prodding her every day. She was going to take this out on Nikki. "WHY DON'T YOU GIVE A SHIT? I NEARLY DIED FOR YOU AND YOU CANT EVEN FUCKING LOOK AT ME!l", she started to sob.

This got Nikki to look at JJ. Nikki's usually perfect face was stained with tears. She had been crying this whole time. But that comment from JJ had triggered something in Nikki. How could JJ say that about Nikki? Nikki had suffered probably worse than anyone. She had nearly drank herself into a coma after that happened. Nikki had come home from the hospital and gone on a bender to try and erase those thoughts from her mind. The only reason why Nikki hadn't been successful was because her gogoat and greninja had broken all the drinks she had bought and taken back to her dorm. How could JJ say that Nikki didn't care? JJ didn't really know Nikki's history with her brother. If she did then JJ would understand why Nikki couldn't visit her. But Nikki did care and she had suffered. Nikki's brown eyes, which were now completely bloodshot, pleaded with JJ for empathy. "I don't care? I'll show you how much I don't care.", Nikki said.

The girl went to her desk and pulled out her mega stone necklace. She had not worn it since the fight. Heck, Nikki hadn't even trained Echo since then. She couldn't because Nikki didn't trust that she could control the mega anymore. Nikki took the necklace and threw it on the ground. The female just began to stomp and stomp on it. She knew that the stone wasn't going to break, but Nikki wanted to show that she hated what happened. That if she could she would have taken the blow for JJ. In fact Nikki wished that it had been her that had taken the debris to her body. If she could have, she would have traded places with JJ. She wished it had been her. JJ gasped as she watched Nikki stomping on the stone. She was not what she wanted, not at all. Maybe JJ had been too brunt. "Nikki, stop please.i...", another surge of pain went through JJ as she clenched her sheets.

Nikki didn't stop until she was out of breath. She then kicked the mega stone to the side of the bed. She hated the stone now. If she hadn't been so arrogant she could have paid attention and prevented all of this from happening. Nikki didn't want to see that stone anymore. Not now at least. Nikki then turned to JJ, "I TEXTED ANDY EVERY DAY. I KNOW THAT YOU LOST YOUR SPLEEN, JJ. I RUINED YOUR LIFE. NOW IF YOU GET SICK YOU COULD DIE BECAUSE OF ME. ITS ALL MY FAULT, JJ. MY FAULT! SO DO NOT TELL ME I DONT CARE!" The pink haired girl now became a sobbing mess. She cared so much about people, it was her only good quality besides her looks. So yes, she cared about JJ especially after JJ sacrificed herself. JJ shot up and tried to give Nikki a hug, ignoring the pain she felt by the sudden movement. Nikki though moved away and back to her bed, "you... my brother...I have hurt so many people cause I was so stupid and arrogant. I hurt you both and ruined your lives." Nikki hated herself at this moment.

Given the shouting that had occurred a pokeball from JJ and a pokeball from Nikki started to shake. Out of JJ's pokeball came Autumn, her Leafeon. For Nikki came Longhorn, her Gogoat. Both grass types were considered the protectors of their trainers. So when they sensed they were needed the two Pokémon came out of their pokeballs "Gogoat?", "Leaf?", the two grass types looked at one another then their beloved trainers. One look told both grass types that they were needed for comfort. Autumn jumped into JJ's lap. Autumn hoped that her leafs would catch the girls tears. Longhorn meanwhile demanded Nikki give him rubs until she felt better. JJ looked over at Nikki and could tell that she had messed up. It wasn't that Nikki didn't care it was that she cared too much. It wasn't Nikki's fault that JJ had ended up like this. And JJ didn't want Nikki to blame herself. But something had intrigued JJ though she wasn't going to push it unless Nikki brought it up again. JJ gave a small smile to Nikki, "fan of grass Pokémon too, huh?" Nikki nodded.

JJ pet Autumn who still sat in her lap, "Nikki it's not your fault. afterall it's probably my fault more than yours. I had to try to be the hero.", she chuckled then grimaced a bit. Autumn got closer to try and heal her trainer of course it did not work that way. "Really it's the Righteous fault. I don't blame you at all. Even as I laid there on the ground, it was to protect someone that could be a friend. Something happened before I came here and I lost a friend so I swore it would never happen again. So when I saw that debris coming towards you, I leapt into action. It's not your fault. I just wanted to know why you did not visit me. I was asking for you. I wanted to make sure you were ok. Please don't blame yourself.", JJ looked at Nikki. It appeared that she was finally getting through to the pink haired girl as the roommate had stopped crying. Nikki was finally looking at her. "As for me getting sick, I will take care of that. I'll be fine, I promise. You didn't ruin my life. I promise you I am not mad. You are my friend I can't be mad at you.", she smiled hoping Nikki got it.

Nikki tried to smile at JJ, but it was not bright. Nikki looked down at Longhorn as she debated what to say next. She often didn't talk about what happened to her brother and how it was her fault. But she wanted JJ to really understand why she hadn't visited. Nikki looked lovingly at Longhorn. The Gogoat's calm presence comforted Nikki. Even though Echo was Nikki's strongest Pokémon, Longhorn was Nikki's most loyal and trusted. He was the first Pokémon Nikki had ever hatched. Adam had been with her when LongHorn hatched. In fact her older brother had been the one to give her LongHorn's egg. Adam had taught Nikki how to hatch eggs. Nikki remembered how Adam was so happy for Nikki when Longhorn hatched. She was only 10 and he was 13 when LongHorn had come from his egg. Now whenever Nikki looked at the grass type she couldn't help, but think about her brother. She took a deep breath as she looked at JJ. It was the right thing to do to tell JJ what had happened to her brother. It was why Nikki hadn't been able to visit JJ in the hospital because of what she did.

"JJ, I want to tell you about what happened to my brother Adam. It's why I couldn't visit you.", Nikki's voice was solemn. JJ sat up and nodded as did Autumn. They wanted to hear what had happened. Nikki took a deep breath as LongHorn laid at his trainers feet. He knew that Nikki would need him more than ever. "My brother Adam was always my hero. He was brave, strong, and a much better trainer than I ever will be. In fact he was the one who got me into raising Pokémon from eggs. That's how I got LongHorn here because of Adam giving me his egg.", Nikki rubbed the Gogoat's right horn which caused the grass Pokémon to make a sound of joy. That was his favorite spot. "I always wanted to be like Adam. But he had given up challenging gyms when he was 14 to be a researcher specializing in Pokémon eggs. He always said that I had a better shot of being the champion of Kalos than he did though I doubt that is true. Adam was the best trainer I knew.", her voice started to crack and JJ could tell that this was not going to be good. She braces herself for whatever Nikki was going to say next.

"He also protected Pokémon from poachers. This was his passion. One day, while I was taking a break from the league, he took me to Kalos Mountain. There we found a Noivern nest that had been ruined by poachers. Luckily, I was able to save the egg. But the poachers had been watching us. They followed us and started to fight us. Adam was holding his own and so was I. But then...", her voice cracked as her hazel eyes started to be filled with tears again. It was the most painful memory she had. But she had to get through this. She had to make JJ understand why Nikki couldn't visit her. "The egg got away from me. I chased it down in order to save it. By the time I paid attention to the battle again, Adam was getting burned by the poacher's Talonflame. I managed to put the fire out, but he was burned bad. I...managed...to get him to the hospital...buttt he was covered in second degree burns. He was in the hospital for months. Attached to monitors those machines... my hero... it was my fault.", Autumn had leapt off of JJ's lap and had ran over to Nikki. She could sense something was wrong. "My parents blamed me. Told me to go out on my own. I haven't spoken to them since. My godfather took me in. He helped fund my time in Kalos. He took care of me. That egg became Echo but I never forgave myself for what happened. So when I saw you laying there after another mistake of mine...", Nikki started to cry even more. Autumn and LongHorn both leapt up to comfort her, but she was beside herself in grief.

JJ felt like a real asshole. She didn't know how to help Nikki. Nikki hadn't been selfish or didn't care, but had suffered her own trauma. JJ had looked like an utter bitch at least that was how she felt. There was only one thing that she could do to show her roommate that she didn't blame her. That none of this was Nikki's fault. JJ got to her feet and ignored the pain she was suffering, she went over to Nikki's bed. The stronger girl pulled her roommate in for a hug. Nikki leaned into JJ's shoulder as she cried and cried, "I...did it again...I hurt someone else I care about... I hurt everyone..." Nikki sobbed. JJ just pat her on the back. JJ was always the rock for her friends but right now she was upset at herself for making Nikki feel like this. JJ sobbed a little too, but out of anger at herself for breaking Nikki down like this. JJ had just wanted to talk, but this had backfired.

JJ didn't know how long they sat there crying into each other's arms. But she did know when it stopped. Nikki was still a mess, but her tears were dry now. JJ would pull the girl to her eye level. "Nikki, it's not your fault. None of it is. I don't blame you at all. I would do it all over again if I could. I'll be fine. I promise.", Nikki sniffled as she took a deep breath. She searched JJ's face and could see that JJ was being truthful. "And your brother doesn't blame you either trust me. If you hadn't saved that egg then it could have gone to the poachers. Your brother's work would have been for nothing. You wouldn't have had Echo, who clearly loves you. I haven't seen a Pokémon that well trained in my life. You have a special bond with Echo. So it was worth it. Your brother probably would say the same thing. Fuck your parents for ever blaming you. They're stupid.", JJ patted Nikki on the back. The pink haired seventeen year old started to smile her beautiful smile again. JJ returned it with a big one of her own, "it's not Echo's fault either what happened to me. So please stop blaming him."

JJ looked at Autumn who nodded. The Leafeon leapt off the bed and tracked down where Nikki had kicked the mega stone. Autumn would put it in her mouth as she happily trotted back to the two girls. Autumn leapt up on the bed and handed the stone over to JJ. JJ would then put the necklace back on Nikki. "There's my beautiful roommate that I know. You look really good Nikki.", JJ gave Nikki a thumbs up. Nikki touched the stone for once she felt like she had a true friend. Not some of these friends who just hung around her because she was attractive and they wanted to get in her pants, but someone that she could count on. This brought a bright smile to Nikki's face, "thanks JJ . K really appreciate it. By the way...you sure you aren't bi because...", Nikki wriggled her eyebrows which got JJ to burst out laughing. But then the girls' attention would be directed somewhere else.

There was a strange cracking noise that came from over by the window. JJ and Nikki both gasped. The egg that JJ's uncle had given her had started to hatch. "I uhhhh took care of it for you when you were in the hospital. Hope you don't mind.", JJ shook her head. She of course didn't mind. She had been worried that no one would take care of the egg when she was in the hospital. So of course she appreciated Nikki watching the egg. "Come on Nikki, let's go see what it is.", JJ was especially eager to see what kind of Pokémon it was. Davis had told her that the egg was special. That the Pokémon inside was a unique Pokémon. So JJ really wanted to see what was inside. The roommates ran over to see what Pokémon was inside. They peered over as the egg cracked and cracked. Finally the top of the egg popped off showing what was inside.

"GIIIIIIBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEE", the baby Pokémon cried. Inside of the egg the shark headed Pokémon wailed. The Gible looked around and looked at Nikki, "Giiiiibbbbbb" the creature cried again. Nikki and JJ were shocked. The first evolution of the powerful Gachomp had been inside the egg. This was what JJ's uncle had meant that it was special. Garchomo were extremely powerful Pokémon, but hard to care for as they were dragon types. Still JJ was excited to have one now. This would help her get far. Nikki scratched under the ground and dragon type's chin. This seemed to calm the Pokémon down a bit. Nikki looked lovingly at the creature, "wow a gible. That's so freaking cool JJ. Now dragon types are hard to raise. I can give you all the types even Royce has raised dragon types and can help out too. Wow this is awesome."

JJ noticed that the Gible had not taken its eyes off of Nikki. The ground and dragon type baby Pokémon followed Nikki around with its eyes. JJ knew that look, the Pokémon had imprinted on Nikki. It considered Nikki it's mother and JJ wouldn't want to tear the Pokémon away from Nikki. "Nikki, you have it. You raised the egg when I was gone. You took care of it and it clearly loves you.", Nikki went to protest, but JJ shook her head. "It's been following you around with its eyes the entire time. I know that look and so do you. Take it. I'll find another one no problem.", JJ smiled.

Nikki burst into tears again and hugged JJ. This time though they were tears of joy.

Ooc: Awwwww a happy conclusion for JJ and Nikki. Yes, I have wanted to do this chapter for a while. I didn't want to interrupt it with other characters because JJ and Nikki needed to have this talk. From people I have spoken to both these two are the more popular characters in the story so I wanted to have a chapter solely dedicated to them.

Now next chapter will be the pairings of mentor and mentees. Any guesses who is going to end up with who?