Chapter 23: What it means to be human
Wattson shot his arm at the girl and her Marshtomp, and three streams of lighting flew from his palm. Lucia and Marshtomp had mere seconds to separate and dodge the oncoming Dragon-lightning. The lightning flew toward the gym walls and glided across them, it looked as though a gigantic claw was leaving its mark. Lucia landed on the ground with a crouch and swung her head back for a mere moment to check on her Marshtomp. The moment she turned to face the gym leader, Mega Ampharos was standing right in front of her with its fist raised. Lucia had no time to react- the Pokémon's punch slammed into her cheek and sent currents of lighting of which she'd never felt before. She was sent flying toward the very wall that was ripped apart.
Marshtomp's eyes shot open in worry as she saw Lucia be sent flying by Ampharos's attack. Marshtomp then looked up at Wattson, who had his arm extended her way. Multiple streaks of Lightning flew from the gymleader's palm, and Marshtomp leapt into the air to dodge the first lightning strike, which left behind an explosion. The other bolts followed her like heat-seeking missiles, and Marshtomp's eyes widened in terror as they closed in from all directions.
Without her trainer- she had no idea what to do- so she was struck by the dragon-type imbued lightning- which cut through her ground-type defenses and struck her down from the sky. She fell toward the ground as smoke emanated from her unconscious body and fell to the ground with a thud.
Anastasia watched with both hands over her mouth.
Wattson stared at his two downed opponents, and sighed- and just then, his powerful, waving thunderous cape disappeared, and the lightning that emanated from his body disappeared. Slowly, the old man descended to the ground.
"This battle is over," Wattson said, crossing his arms. Lucia gritted her teeth and slowly raised her head.
"I'm… not done yet…!" Lucia cried. The moment she tried moving, she felt a wave of electricity stop her.
She was completely paralyzed. "You have to take me down-.." Lucia tried standing up- but the electricity refused to let her move. Wattson came closer to the paralyzed girl.
"If you want to continue this fight," Wattson said, crossing his arms. "Then I'd have to kick you while you're down until you're unconscious. Just surrender. I don't have it in me to kick someone who's down."
"I-..." Lucia fought hard against the static that kept her paralyzed.
"Lucia! Please! Listen to him!" Anastasia cried from the sidelines. "Just give up for now! You can try again next time!"
"I won't…!" Lucia cried. "I won't..!"
Wattson sighed. He raised his foot and placed it on top of Lucia's head- but didn't press down.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Wattson asked.
"LUCIA! PLEASE!" Anastasia cried. "I'm BEGGING you!"
"...Ugh…! Fine..! Fine! You win..!" Lucia cried. "You win…"
Wattson smiled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Paralyze heal, and sprayed it all over his downed enemy. He then pulled out a revive, and walked over to the defeated Marshtomp.
Slowly, Lucia rose to stand.
"Lucia!" Lucia turned around and saw Anastasia running toward her. The snow-white haired girl hugged her with so much force it nearly knocked her back off her feet.
Lucia was at a loss for words. She had no idea what to think.
The battle was over in a matter of seconds. Lucia felt so pathetic that she felt her strength sapped away from her. Even as Anastasia's arms tightened around her, Lucia didn't have the strength to wrap her arms around her friend to hug her back.
"Please, don't ever do that again!" Anastasia cried. "You scared me.."
Lucia said nothing.
"Hey kiddo," Wattson came from behind them. Anastasia let go of Lucia, and the two girls turned to see Marshtomp up and walking again, Ampharos, who was back to its original form, and finally, Wattson. Marshtomp had her head hung low and a frown on her face. "I'm sorry about that Mega Evolution thing. I was asked by Brawly to go pull out all the stops. I was too excited. Tell ya what, next time, if you come alone, then I won't use Mega evolution. It'll be a regular Gym fight."
Lucia blinked.
"Do you hear that?" Anastasia asked, turning to Lucia and beaming with joy. "He's not going to mega evolve next time! You can beat him! We just need to train hard, and-"
Lucia clenched her fists.
"Are you trying to insult me..!?" Lucia asked. She pointed a finger at Wattson. "How dare you!? How dare you take it easier on me?! Do you think I'm weak!? Is that it?!"
Wattson's eyebrows rose as he raised his hands as though in a surrender motion.
"N-No… I- That's not how i meant to- please understand-"
"Shut up! No! The next time we fight, you'd better give it your all! Mega evolution and all! I can do this! I can beat you!"
"But L-Lucia-..!" Anastasia asked. "I- Are you sure-"
"Are you doubting me!?" Lucia cried. "Am I just surrounded by people who doubt me?! Is that it!?"
"No!" Anastasia cried. "I don't doubt yo-"
"Then why are you saying 'but Lucia..' To me?! Are you thinking I can't beat him!? What else am I supposed to feel!? Forget you! I'm leaving!" Lucia spun and stormed off.
"No- Wait!" Anastasia cried. Both her and Marshtomp rushed after the young girl.
Wattson sighed as he watched them leave.
Beatrice was starting to get used to riding on top of Flygon. Sitting in the very back was a good idea for the young girl- for if anyone were sitting behind Beatrice, her long hair gliding in the winds would have gotten in their face. Marie and Lucian were completely silent, just staring ahead at the evening sun that began to set.
Beatrice couldn't help but wonder how Lucia was doing. She was going to be fighting all by herself again.
She believed in her.
Beatrice chuckled under her breath. It was funny. Before, Beatrice detested the thought of Lucia, but now, she didn't even know if her journey would have continued if not for her. Out of pure certainty, Beatrice decided to stop worrying about Lucia. She was going to be fine.
What was more important now was Quinton. Her so called… father. She's only seen videos and recordings of him being the champion… but she never knew who he was as a person. Beatrice's eyes looked toward the two people who sat on the flying Flygon. Marie and Lucian. Marie was sitting in the middle, and Lucian was in the front. Slowly, Beatrice's lips began to move.
"How was… Quinton like..? In the past, I mean," Beatrice asked. A brief silence came over them.
"...He was a Megalomaniac," Lucian said without turning back. "He had something to prove. He was fighting for the wrong reasons, and it corrupted him."
"Fighting.. .for the wrong reasons…?" Beatrice said. "What would be the right reason, then? If there's a 'wrong' there has to be a 'right…"
"I can't really answer that, kiddo." Lucian said. "There are a plethora of 'right' reasons, and there are a plethora of 'wrong' reasons. The only 'wrong' reason I can think of, is to pursue a goal to try to find self-worthiness. Like… 'If I don't do this, I'll never be worthy, I'll never be worth something. I have to do this so I can prove that I'm worth something.'"
"How was Quinton's reason wrong… then?" Beatrice asked. "What he sought was perfection, right?"
"What he sought was to become untouchable." Marie said. "Because losing to him meant losing everything. He attached all of his self-worth to the title of 'Champion'. I can relate to that to some extent, one loss in an official League Match means you lose your title."
"I understand…" Beatrice said. "He clung to his title because he saw it as a way to prove to the world that he meant something… when in reality, he was fighting for his own approval," The red haired girl sighed. "I understand… I'll try not to walk the same footsteps as my…possible biological father."
"Yeah…" Marie said. "You'll be fine, as long as you know-"
"You're already golden," Lucian concluded.
"Darn it, Darn it, DARN IT!" Lucia screamed. Anastasia and Marshtomp were watching Lucia punch trees around a forest that was near Mauville city. "UGH..!" She kept slamming her fists against the trees again and again. "I need to get stronger- I- I need to-!"
"Lucia!" Anastasia cried. "Please- that's enough-!"
"No!" Lucia shouted. The moment she did, Anastasia nearly yelped in fear. "No! I am not stopping! You don't get it! You don't get it at all!" Lucia slammed her fist against the trees again. "I need to get stronger again! I'll show that old man..!" Lucia made one last final punch against the tree, and managed to punch it hard enough to shatter it into pieces. Lucia stared at what she had just done with bated breath and slowly pulled her fist close to her face. She stared at it with fierce rage.
"It was because I let Marshtomp fight with me, when we have zero experience fighting with each other..!" Lucia tightened her fist. "If I were better- smarter..!" Lucia spun to a tree standing next to it and punched it hard enough to shatter its bark. "If I had practiced more, Wattson wouldn't have said something like that to me!" Lucia spun and punched another tree. "I've never been this ticked off in my life..! I'll show Wattson, and I'll show you, too!" Lucia spun and pointed at Anastasia. The non-trainer could see the determined girl's chest rising and falling with every quickened breath.
"Y-You…" Lucia's finger lowered. "You think I can do it too, right?"
"Of course you can!" Anastasia cried. "You can do anything you put your mind t-"
Lucia grumbled in frustration and turned away. She crossed her arms.
"L-Lucia…?" Anastasia and Marshtomp stepped toward the girl together. "You- You could try training with Marshtomp now… and-"
"No." Lucia said, keeping her back turned. "I can't do that- not now. I'll do it later... I have to win. No matter what it takes."
"Wh- No matter what it takes..?" Anastasia's eyes flashed open.
"Yes. I have to do this… I'm going to win."
Lucia walked deeper into the forest.
"M-Marshtomp.…" Marshtomp lowered her head in sadness. Anastasia turned and patted her head.
"It's okay, Marshtomp… Lucia's just,..not feeling good."
Lucia kept walking. She didn't know when she'd stop. She had to get stronger.
That's all that mattered. Even as she stared up at the setting sun, she swore under her breath that she'd become stronger. She pulled out her Pokéball from her pocket and tossed it.
Out came Machoke, wearing his monk's robe and letting out a battle cry as it stood up triumphantly. He looked down with a smile toward Lucia, but blinked in surprise upon seeing Lucia's raging expression.
"We have to fight...!" Lucia said. She raised her fists and glared at Machoke. "Come at me. With everything you've got..!" Lucia darted at the fighting type and threw a punch- only for Machoke to grab her fist. Lucia grit her teeth and swung her other fist, only Machoke to grab that one too.
The young trainer glared at the fighting type, who had a frown on his face. He shook his head in disapproval. Lucia let out a battle cry, pulling her fists from the Pokémon's grip and throwing punch after punch.
Machoke remained on the defensive, blocking attack after attack.
"Fight me!" Lucia cried. "Why don't you fight back!?" The girl swung her fist again- and it flew fast enough to strike Machoke in the face and send him staggering back.
Lucia grinned- joy flashed in her mind. She had done it- she'd hit him. That meant she was becoming stronger, right?
That meant she was one step closer to proving herself. To show that she was worth something. Lucia felt an overwhelming sense of euphoria- so much so that she couldn't help but laugh.
"Come on, Machoke… Again!" Lucia said. "Stand up! Come on!" Machoke glared and slowly stood up. Lucia flashed a grin and rushed after the fighting type. Lucia hurled fist after fist at Machoke, who remained on the defensive.
"Come on!" Lucia roared. "Come on! You think this is enough to stop me!?"
"One thing about Quinton..." Marie said, staring up at the sunset while still riding atop Flygon with Beatrice and Lucian. "Was that he liked the idea of pummeling his opponent- belittling them, and even insulting them when they were down… that's what fueled him."
"In other words," Lucian said. "He became a bully, because bullying the weak made him feel strong."
Machoke was defeated. He hadn't thrown a single punch at his trainer. Lucia grinned.
"What's wrong!?" Lucia cried. Her grin began to widen. "You can't get up!? I thought you were stronger than this!" She turned away. "Whatever- come on out.." Lucia pulled out a Pokéball from her pocket and threw it. Out came her very first Pokémon, Shelgon, roaring a battle roar and looking up at Lucia.
Lucia had a serious look on her face as she looked down at her Dragon type Pokémon. Shelgon was nearly startled by this look.
"Come on, Shelgon...!" Lucia crouched and grabbed Shelgon by the top of his body, and plopped him onto her arm. With a flick of her other arm, a sword made of dragon flame came to life.
"No more messing around, Machoke. Get up. Now!" Lucia roared. She pointed her dragon sword at the fighting type. "If you don't fight me, you're going to get hurt..!"
Machoke slowly rose to his feet- he was clearly covered in bruises- He clutched his chest as he stared at Lucia.
"Stop!" Anastasia's voice came from behind Lucia. The trainer turned around and saw Anastasia and Marshtomp running over to her.
"Ugh-" Lucia spun around. "What is it?! What do you want?"
"Don't you see!?" Anastasia cried. "Machoke doesn't want to fight you! I think he realizes that you're not acting like your usual self…! So stop it!"
Lucia spun her head to MAchoke in shock.
"What- What do you mean…!? You're not fighting back because you think I'm acting different?!" Lucia looked down at her arm to look at Shelgon- and noticed just then that Shelgon had already hopped off of her arm. She looked down at Shelgon, and noticed that he was looking up at her with disapproval.
"You have to stop!" Anastasia cried. "I get that you're mad that you lost… and you feel insulted… but-"
"NONE of you get it!" Lucia roared. "You don't understand! None of you do!" Lucia's eyes became bloodshot as tears started rolling down her cheeks. "None of you understand at ALL! I was told by that old guy- the one my Dad had to rescue me from, he said I would always be in my father's shadow… I was told by Beatrice before we became friends, that I was worthless… My own MOTHER… thought I wasn't ready to become a trainer when I finally became old enough! And now this!? Wattson is saying that I'm too weak now that Beatrice is gone!?"
"He didn't say anything about you being too weak!" Anastasia roared.
"NO! SHUT UP!" Lucia roared, pointing at Anastasia. "You saying things like that makes me think that you don't believe in me!"
"I never said-"
"If you all think that I can't do it, then fine! FINE! I'll show you! I'll show all of you!" Lucia stormed off all over again, and everyone else watched in worry.
"One more thing…" Lucian spoke up suddenly once again while Flygon carried him, Beatrice and Marie through the night sky. The winds were becoming quite cooler now that the sun was out. "One thing that that Quinton said that really set me off.." Lucian said. "Was that he would fight me without using any Pokémon."
"What do you think started his downfall? You know, his descent… to madness?"
"He believed in a lie." Lucian said. "He thought… he had to prove to the world that he meant something. When in reality… he was already worthy. No one was able to remind him of his worthiness. No one was there for him. That's what led to his downfall, his decent into madness."
"Do you think... if someone was there for him... Quinton wouldn't have-"
"There's no question in my mind," Marie said. "Quinton wouldn't have been such a jerk if he realized how amazing he always had been. Sometimes a person can help us realize this. But regardless of what causes it- if Quinton realized that he was believing a lie, then he wouldn't have ended up the way he did."
Wattson stood alone in the gym. It was about time to close for the day, anyway. The old man couldn't help but think about that girl he had beaten so quickly. He hoped that at least she would practice before coming back. Wattson was moments away from stepping toward the exit of the gym, when suddenly, the doors burst open.
The girl he had beaten before, Lucia, was back.
"Fight me!" Lucia said, marching over to him.
"Oh- Hello!" Wattson said. "It's nice to see you again! I can't-"
"Shut up and put on your armor already!" Lucia roared, pointing a finger at him. Wattson's eyes widened.
"What- did something happen?" Wattson asked. He couldn't believe this was the same girl he had fought against a few hours ago. She was like a totally different person.
"You have ten seconds to put on your armor before I beat you myself..!" Lucia cried, entering a battle stance.
"Aren't you going to bring out your Pokémon?"
"I don't need any Pokémon!" Lucia shouted. Lucia roared a battle cry as she charged at the man. "Now fight me!" As the young girl charged with a raised fist, Wattson engaged his invoker armor, and quickly let out his Ampharos. Wattson grabbed Lucia's fist right as it came flying toward him.
The old man sighed.
"Please stop." Wattson said.
"Why are you saying that?!" Lucia cried. "WHY!?"
"Lucia…" Wattson said.
"You're trying to shame me too!? Are you saying that I can't do it..!?" Lucia's fist began glowing in an azure light.
Wattson's eyes widened in shock
"What-!?" Wattson cried. "It's-.. Her invoker… It's reacting to her will..!"
Ampharos watched in horror as Lucia's other fist slammed into Wattson's cheek and sent him flying.
Lucia started breathing hard. Her entire body began glowing in an azure light. She looked at Wattson lying on the ground… and began laughing.
"How does that taste!?" Lucia cried. "HOW DOES IT FEEL, BEING IN THE DIRT!?" Lucia roared. She started laughing even louder, as though she were a villain. Lucia took one step forward, and the weight of her footstep was so enormous that it left a tiny crater behind. Every footstep she took afterwards was so loud it sounded like thunder.
"You mocked me… now it's your turn..!" Lucia roared. Ampharos stepped in front of her, ready to protect its trainer.
"What're you doing…!? GET OUT OF MY WAY..!" Lucia roared.
"LUCIA!" Anastasia's voice reached Lucia's ears. The purple-haired girl's eyes widened, turning around to see all of her Pokémon standing alongside Anastasia. Lucia's smile came back immediately.
"Look! Look at me!" Lucia cried. "Look at what I did!... I beat him.. All by myself..! Aren't you happy?! Do you finally see that I can do it!?"
"No!" Anastasia cried. "No, no one is! You have to snap out of it, Lucia!"
"Snap out of WHAT!?" Lucia roared. Suddenly, Lucia's eyebrows rose. "I get it. I understand. NO wonder you don't understand. You're not a trainer- you're a Pokémon contestant!"
"Wha-..!?" Anastasia said.
"You don't fight, you just do tricks and entertain people! So of course you don't get it! So why don't you just STAY OUT OF MY BUSINESS?!"
Anastasia closed her eyes. She took in a deep breath.
"You don't know what it's like to lose as horribly as I did…! " Lucia cried. "You don't know how it's like to feel-"
"Worthless?" Anastasia asked.
Lucia's eyes widened in shock.
"What..?" Lucia said.
"Of course I know what it's like to feel worthless," Anastasia said. "I've felt worthless my entire life. I don't show it- but… I don't think I can achieve anything. What you're feeling right now is the same thing, right? That anger you're feeling… it's not strength. It's fear!" Anastasia slowly raised her finger at Lucia. "Marie told me stories… about Quinton… and from what it looks like… you're talking and acting just like him!"
Those words cut through Lucia like blades.
"Quinton believed that he was worthless from the start, too. He dismissed his weaknesses and was too afraid to face them. So, he ran away. He hid behind his ego, talking people down, and bullying his challengers. He was trying to show others that he wasn't weak- but in reality, he was trying to prove to himself that he wasn't weak. His actions turned him into a monster… and his thirst for power led him to jail."
Lucia fell down on her hands and knees. She could see her own tears falling on the ground. She began to sob loudly- louder than she ever had in her life.
"I'm…!" Lucia cried. "I'm… I'm horrible!" Lucia slammed her fists against the floor. Anastasia walked over to Lucia. "I yelled at my Pokémon, I yelled at you… I yelled at Wattson.. For what!? Just to convince myself that I was tough?! That I was strong!? I'm nothing… I'm weak..! I'm worthless! I'm pathetic…! I was pathetic from the start..! I've been weak EVER since I was born..! I'm nothing.. There's no excuse for what I did…!"
Anastasia finally came near her friend and shook her head.
"That's not true.." Anastasia said as she crouched down to her level.
"I don't deserve your pity…!" Lucia cried "I don't-".
"You're not worthless. You're not weak. You just had a moment of weakness. That doesn't define who you are..!"
"But I-"
"A loss or a single moment doesn't define who you are... You're- you're golden. You know that?"
"What kind of golden person does what I did?! I'm not golden at all! Would a golden person yell at her friends!?"
"Yes..!" Anastasia cried.
Lucia's head swung up to Anastasia, was close to tears herself. "What…?" Lucia asked.
"If someone were put in your shoes- of course, yes, they could do what you did! You know what I see..? I see a person who believed in a lie- that she was worthless. Every time she heard even the slightest bit of evidence toward that lie, she yelled at herself, saying, 'see, i told you so!' But she didn't want to face those feelings... she was hurt- but she didn't want to show it to anyone... she thought she was better than showing others that she was hurt... I see a person who deserves to be loved, a person who deserves to be cared for... I see a person who thinks that they have to have a reason to be loved- but fail to realize that simply existing is that very reason to be loved..." Anastasia grabbed Lucia's shoulders tightly. "Your friends and family love you, Lucia! Lucia... No matter how many titles you gain, no matter how many people you beat, going down a path like this isn't going to help your opinion of yourself...!" Anastasia hugged Lucia and held her tightly. "You deserve this hug- you deserve my forgiveness and everyone else's; you deserve good things to happen to you.."
"I'm… so sorry..!" Lucia roared. "I'm so sorry.. I'm so sorry..!"
"You're fine… everything's okay.. I forgive you."
"I'm such a mess…" Lucia said.
"Don't say that... You're a work in progress. Everyone's a work in progress...Say that instead of saying you're a mess... it's a way to be kinder to yourself. You're not some unforgivable villain."
Lucia hugged her back as tightly as she possibly could. It was becoming a little too tight for Anastasia, but she endured it.
That's when Lucian's words echoed in the white-haired girl's mind.
'You don't necessarily have to fight to be useful. Keep that in mind.'
Those were the words he said. Anastasia felt a warmth welling up from within her.
After a while longer, Lucia let go of Anastasia. Both of the girls stood up, and Lucia turned to face the gym leader, who had stood up and watched. Wattson's armor had disengaged, and Ampharos was nowhere to be found- presumably returned to its ball.
"I'm sorry… for attacking you like that." Lucia said.
"It's okay," Wattson said. Lucia turned to her Pokémon, who were all watching her with smiles on their faces. Lucia walked over to Shelgon first. She crouched to him and patted his head.
"I'm so sorry for being rough on you." Lucia said. She stood up, then walked over to Machoke.
"I'm so sorry for hurting you… Machoke.." Lucia said. Machoke nodded, as though to say 'apology accepted.'
Then, finally, Lucia turned to Marhstomp. She walked over to the Pokémon, who still looked a little sad.
"I'm sorry about earlier." Lucia said. "I kind of… went off the lid there.. After our loss. That was a terrible impression of how I take losses, huh? If you think that I'm a terrible trainer… you're free to just leave me," Lucia lowered her head. "But.. But- I promise you.. I'll never go astray again.. So please, don't lea-"
Almost immediately, Lucia felt the warm embrace of her Marshtomp. Lucia felt tears rolling down her cheeks as she hugged the Marshtomp back. Soon, Lucia pulled away from her Pokémon.
"All right guys, we're going to rest for today.." Lucia said. With one Pokéball in each hand, Lucia returned Machoke and Shelgon back to their balls, and put both of them in her pocket. She then pulled out Marshtomp's Pokéball and stared at her. "You and I are going to train really hard tomorrow morning. And then we'll beat Wattson together, okay?" Lucia said. Marshtomp nodded, and Lucia returned her to her ball. Lucia stared at her Pokéball. "You guys are a part of my strength. I will never forget that." She clenched her Pokéball tightly. "Never… again."
"Sorry to kill the mood," Wattson said. "But I have to close the gym. Could you two please leave?"
"All right. Thank you… and sorry, again." Lucia said.
"Don't worry about it!" Wattson laughed heartily once again, and Lucia couldn't help but giggle a little herself.
The three of them left the gym and went outside. It was night time, and the starry sky greeted them. Wattson waved the two girls goodbye before walking away. Lucia turned her head to Anastasia, who stood right next to her."
I have a question..." Lucia asked.
"Yes?"
"How do I... start to remember how... 'good..' i am?"
"I think.. it starts with... not running away from those thoughts of feeling worthless. Running away from a thought... can give it strength... it makes it scarier. It's okay to feel bad, or even feel worthless sometimes. But know that it isn't the truth.." Anastasia couldn't believe the words she was saying.
She felt horrible, because she couldn't take her own advice.
"Thank you.." Lucia said. "For everything. You're amazing."
"Yeah, of course. By the way, you can hug me whenever you need it," Anastasia said. "It doesn't matter where I am, what I'm doing, or whatever- you can hug me. Whenever you need it." Anastasia grabbed Lucia's hand and pulled it up between them. "I'm with you."
Lucia felt a warmth like no other in her stomach at that moment. Her emotions went crazy when she heard the words, 'I'm with you'. Lucia's cheeks began to redden. She glanced at Anastasia and her heart raced even more, for Anastasia was smiling the best smile she could muster.
"No matter what, I'm with you. Okay?" Anastasia said.
"R-Right.." Lucia said, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. "Right.." Lucia could barely look Anastasia in the eye.
"What's wrong..?" Anastasia asked. Lucia turned away.
"...You know.. With a smile that bright, I'm wondering why it's dark out.." Lucia had the courage the say this only because she was looking away. So she had no idea if Anastasia reacted or not to it.
Lucia couldn't see Anastasia's madly blushing face.
Anastasia's hand twitched with a bit of embarrassment, and Lucia could feel it.
"U-Um.." Anastasia said. "Yeah.. Thanks.." She said.
"Y-You're… welcome.." Lucia said.
The two remained silent. Then, Lucia's eyes widened in shock as she realized she was still holding Anastasia's hand. She pulled away quickly.
"I- I'm sorry," Lucia said. "I got carried away, and-"
"No- uh, It's fine!" Anastasia cried. "It's fine! You can hold my hand! Anytime you want!"
"A-Anytime..? Are you saying this just to tease me..?"
"No- I actually mean it," Anastasia said. "Any time you want. When you're anxious, when you're sad, when you're angry... anything. I'm- I want to be there for you- so, if you need it, hold my hand as tightly as you need to- I can take it."
"L-Let's- Let's.." Lucia's entire face went red as she stumbled on her words. "Let's- go to the pokécenter and sleep..!" Lucia cried, hurrying off on her own. Anastasia chuckled lightly.
"It was cheesy as heck... but I meant it." Anastasia said under her breath. She smiled as she walked toward the speed-walking Lucia.