Volt couldn't stop his shaky breaths, his unsure questions pouring from his lips like a river. He felt like he was drowning, his lungs heaved, his eyes watered, and nothing made sense. His knees, which felt like jelly, gave out and he fell. Strong arms wrapped around him and kept him from hitting the hard ground. A soft voice whispered in his ear but he couldn't quite make out the words.

He felt a hand be placed on his chest, his heartbeat ringing in his own ears. He felt another hand grab his and put it against someone else's chest, their heartbeat much slower than his. The hand was gentle and grounded him, his eyes slowly focused and realised it was Leon in front of him. The boy was talking quietly to him, but the words were muffled.

A slight squeeze on his abdomen made him realize he was in someone's arms. Slowly his breathing calmed and he fell back against the body he had been cradled by.

"That's it lightning bug, just breath," Leon urged, his voice surprisingly quiet and soft.

"You're doing great," the person behind him, Raihan he realized, said. Volt let out a shaky breath and reached up to wipe his face, he could feel how gross it was.

Before he could Leon gently took his hands and used a Kleenex to clean up his face, even when Volt weakly protested. Once Leon pulled away Volt was able to see where they were, which just so happened to be the changing room with a large TV playing the match in the stadium.

"And Raijain decides to Dynamax his Magnezone!" The announcer cried as the giant electric steel pokémon let out a battle cry.

Raijin had his arms crossed and a frown was on his face, blue eyes sparking and dangerous.

"I'm going to take you down a notch Nicholas," he scowled at the dragon trainer, who returned his shiny Hydreigon.

"That's Duke Nicholas to you," the man retaliated, throwing the giant pokéball into the sky, the giant dark type pokémon bellowing out a cry as it appeared. "Hydreigon, max flare," the dragon trainer called.

Hydreigon roared and all three of its heads let out a blast of fire at the Magnezone.

"Max steelspike," Raijin called out quickly. Magnezone wasn't fast enough to start the move as waves of fire slammed into it, and made it fly back slightly.

"Finish it, max wyrmwind," Nicholas commanded with a snap of his fingers. With no hesitation Hydreigon fired off the powerful dragon type move, causing Magnezone to explode and revert back to its normal form.

"And the devastating drake secures another victory!"

Volt was shaking as he watched the match, of course he won. Volt remembered Hydreigon, it always scared him, its aura dark and violent. It used to bite his ankles and thighs to make him bleed for fun. He didn't want to face his uncle, now or later.

"Volt," Raihan gently persuaded, "you need to tell me what's wrong." Volt looked at the people in front of him. Raihan, Leon, Sonia, Kalo, and Piers. Did he dare trust them? Could he risk their lives for his sake?

"He's... my uncle," Volt admitted softly, almost inaudible to their ears. Raihan frowned, there was more, and he knew it.

"What did he do?" The dragon boy asked gently, his eyes narrowed. Volt couldn't speak, so he did the only thing he could think of. He pulled the hem of his shirt up and showed them the dragon shaped brand on his stomach.

He heard Sonia gasp and cover her face, Leon made a strangled noise, and Raihan growled. Kalo looked at Piers and they nodded at each other briefly. Volt couldn't keep his short up long, before he broke down and fell forward into Raihan. Raihan himself was shaking and his eyes were glowing, his fangs aching.

"You'll be ok Volt, I promise," Raihan whispered. "Leon, Sonia take him to my room in the inn," he told them as he stood up, gently depositing the crying boy to Leon. Leon went to say something, but by the look on Raihan's face it might be better to obey. He nodded and he and Sonia took Volt away.

Raihan growled and slammed his fist against the lockers. Kalo and Piers were both frowning. "What's the plan mate?" Piers asked suddenly. Raihan sighed and turned to look at the duo.

"I don't know," the tall boy growled, frustration clear. Kalo shifted and put his hand to his chin.

"The Duke has many followers and support, we won't be able to do a lot against him," he mused. Piers scoffed.

"So you're a quitter and a coward," he snapped. Kalo looked at him with narrowed blue eyes, his lips thin.

"Don't pretend to know me you-"

"Enough!" Raihan roared, the room shaking at the force behind his yell. Both boys flinched and became silent. "We need to focus on protecting Volt, and keeping Nicholas away from him," he told them.

"And how are we supposed to do that your majesty?" Piers asked with a roll of his eyes.

Raihan sighed and hung his head, he felt powerless in this situation. "We're just going to have to stay close to Volt," he said softly. Kalo frowned and looked at Piers.

"I can keep tabs of the Duke," he told them with a blank face. Piers and Raihan looked at him with confusion, and Kalo sighed. He pulled out a duskball and held it tight, his hand shaking slightly

"That's-" Piers started, eyes wide.

"Sneazel, obey," he called as he opened the ball. In a flash the small dark type appeared, it opened yellow and red eyes and bowed to its master, the diamond encrusted necklace shining in the light. "I want you to follow the Duke Nicholas and keep tabs on him," he commanded the pokémon. It nodded and was gone in a blur of speed.

"You must really care about him if you're willing to dig up Sneazel, Prodigy," Piers said with narrowed eyes. Kalo glared at him and sighed.

"Look, I regret my past, but he's my friend," Kalo shot back. Piers looked smug and nodded. Raihan just sighed and made to leave the room, flowing after the trio that had left.

Volt knew he was being dragged, but it was hard to focus, when he knew his uncle was in the building. He wanted to disappear and never come back but he trapped himself in the gym challenge and couldn't run.

"Ah Leon," a voice called out, a commanding presence filling the air. Leon froze and winced.

"Chairmen Rose," the purple haird boy greated as the man walked over to them, the green eyes sparkling with interest.

"I hope you enjoyed the exhibition match," the man said with a wide smile, his eyes turning to Volt. The mans eyes went up and down his body, sizing him up before he grinned, "and who is this?" The mans gaze was intense and focused on his eye

Leon rubbed his neck and stammered out his name, "V-Volt." Rose smiled.

"Lovely to meet you Volt," the man said, the name rolling of his tongue and Volt shivered under the mans gaze.

"Likewise," Volt said politely. The Chairmen grinned broadly and chuckled, putting his hands behind his back.

"I expect great things from you Mr. Saturus," Rose said with a closed eyed smile. Volt paled as the man walked away, he hadn't used that name since he left Hammerlocke.

Leon pulled on him gently and they were once again on the way to the Bedew Inn. Sonia was grumbling the whole way, but Leon was set on his destination, which is why Sonia was grumbling, correcting the boy on his navigation skills.

"Honestly you're the worst person to ask to go somewhere," Sonia snapped as she corrected their direction again. Volt couldn't help but laugh at that, Leon was pants with directions.

They finally reached the Inn and Leon was easily able to get them access to Raihan's room, how Volt wasn't sure, but they got there. Leon counted the rooms under his breath before he put a card key against one of the doors, smiling when the red light flashed green.

Leon pushed him in and Volt followed obediently, staying quiet. "Sonia, can you go get us food?" Leon asked softly. Sonia went to argue, but the look in the golden eyes swayed her and she quietly left the room with a small smile to Volt.

The golden eyed boy turned to look at the squirming boy on one of the beds with intense eyes. He walked over and sat down beside him, noticing how Volt scooted away from him. He frowned at that, many people thought he was stupid, but he was able to spot the smallest of details about almost anything.

"Volt, your uncle..." he paused when the boy flinched, "you know you're free right?" The question made Volt snap his neck to look over at Leon.

"What-" he started

"Listen," Leon said gently, "you were on the Isle for a reason, and you took the gym challenge to get stronger yeah?"

"Yeah," Volt whispered. Leon took his hand.

"Then mate, you won, you're making your own life, you're free," Leon said confidently. Silence followed.

"It's a nice thought," Volt admitted, "but it won't ever be true."

"Volt-"

"He controls me Leon," Volt hissed, "every step, every choice is because of him." Leon frowned and gripped his hands tighter.

"Don't give him the satisfaction love, you need to fight his hold," Leon urged.

Volt let out a choked sob, "I don't know how." Leon pulled him close

"That's why you have friends, to help guide you on the path," Leon said gently. Volt looked up at him, his eyes clouded with salty droplets of his hearts sadness.

"Really?" He asked quietly. Leon nodded and just held the boy close. It took a few moments, but Volt finally calmed down enough to sit up and wipe his face.

Before more words could be spoken Raihan walked into the room, his eyes immediately finding them, and a soft fanged smile spreading on his face.

"Sorry for the delay mates," the dragon trainer with a rub to the back of his head.

Leon waved him off and Volt just smiled. The trio sat down in comfortable silence, Raihan turning on the telly to an interview with Raijin. The man was claiming that his gym challenge would be held in the dusty bowl of the wild area, and that challengers would have to find him.

While they watched Sonia came back into the room with a tray of food she had gotten from room service, which Leon immediately drove head first into stuffing his cheeks like a hungry Skwovet. Volt just watched as his friends bantered and laughed together, pride filling him as he watched them. They were all he needed to stay strong, if he could do it for them, then he would do it all gladly.