Who I Am - Lightning99

Chapter 45:

Lillie's Past

The moment the door clicked, and Lillie saw Ash enter, it was as if the status effect of a sudden Glare was inflicted upon her: she was simultaneously trembling and paralysed. She stared unblinking into Ash's brown eyes that seemed to waver like gentle candle flames while the familiar warm tingle crept in behind her eyes. Her heart thundered at an abnormal, worrying pace, and yet her body felt icy, her voice frozen.

The longer Ash stared at her, his cheeks reddening and nervous awe in his eyes, the more her mind panicked, conjuring several nonsensical questions that were frankly offensive to Ash's character. What did he think, seeing her that way? Would he laugh at her? Make fun of her? There was no way he would want to stay friends with her. How damaged was she to someone else's eye when she was broken to her own? Had her past unveiled itself to him?

That final thought terrified her the most.

Honestly, Lillie would have accepted any of her erratic, baseless thoughts as Ash's answer, as warped as that way of thinking was. But Ash's real answer, rather than intensifying her doubts, blew a Heat Wave over her ice-cold body.

"Uhh…" Ash muttered, shaking his head, blinking himself out of his awed stupor. "W-Wow. Umm – that new outfit looks good on you, Lillie." His eyes widened then, probably because hers did. "Oh, not that you don't normally look nice! You're beautiful all the time! This is – uhh – a different good."

It was not the derisive comment that she had foolishly expected, yet Lillie started crying anyway. That one word – beautiful – shattered the glass shield she guarded her heart with, but it was different this time. Rather than in despair of her situation, her tears were all for herself, a manifestation of every scintilla of doubt and pain she had endured, and they were stronger than they had ever been. They were so strong, in fact, that her legs collapsed beneath her. Ash must have noticed something in her demeanour because he caught her by the waist just in time.

Ash practically carried her to sit on her bed, then he sat beside her. Ash released her then, but Lillie hugged him, clung to him, and did not let go. She felt as if she couldn't let go.

They sat in that awkward position for a few moments until Ash slid backwards, resting his back against the headboard to accommodate the position, hugging her to his chest.

Among her disbelief that she was finally breaking down in front of Ash, several more thoughts weaved into Lillie's labyrinthine mind. She was sorry that Ash had to see this side of her, that he had to take care of her through it all; she wondered how much of a mess she looked and sounded; and she realised how awful she truly felt. But, nestled somewhere in her mind was a single thought that was unrelated to her breakdown: Ash was warm, and his embrace was comfortable. She needed that warmth. She desperately needed that warmth, so she held on, snuggling into his chest.

"Lillie…?" Ash asked, looking into the back of her hair, the best he could do given their position. His voice was so panicked, so worried, so soft and caring, that Lillie regretting letting it reach to this stage. "W-What's wrong?"

Lillie couldn't reply for a while. She couldn't stop crying, nor her voice stuttering and breaking, no matter her overwhelming desire to do so. She couldn't endure her thoughts and struggles any longer, so she just allowed herself to release all of those emotions. After all, Ash was the one person she had wanted to unveil everything to for so long.

It was about ten minutes later that Lillie calmed enough to speak. Ten minutes in which Ash hugged her close without saying anything, an action of comfort she sincerely appreciated.

"I-I'm sorry…" Lillie answered when she could finally regain enough control to find her voice. It was delicate and slow. "I'm n-not ok, Ash." Lillie did not simply mean at that moment. Her response was an answer for every time Ash had asked her that question, every time she had lied against her deepest wishes and told him she was fine.

Ash pulled her a little bit closer, and Lillie felt his nod slightly ruffle her hair.

"I-I thought so," Ash said softly. Behind the slight uncertainty in his tone there resided such a caring warmth that Lillie descended once more into tears. She cried even harder. She lay on Ash's chest, tucked into his reclined hug with her head nestled into his shoulder, his arms gently encircling her waist, hers weakly clutching the front of his shirt, for an exceptionally long time. She didn't notice when it started, but Ash was gently brushing a hand through her hair and up and down her back. Whether a conscious action or not, it was soothing, comforting.

At one point, when her mind began to settle, Lillie wondered if her tears that soaked Ash's shirt bothered him or if the leg that she was lying over had gone numb. But Ash said nothing, so she didn't raise the points, nor did she move. She was so comfortable and felt so safe she just did not want to.

Lillie's tears and hysterics gradually soothed as the night grew later, as it soothed too. A silvery glow of moon and starlight peeked through the curtains, and the sounds around them silenced to complete tranquillity. By that time, her breakdown had pacified her tempestuous emotions, leaving a lightness in her chest, a relief.

"T-Thank you, Ash," Lillie whispered, her voice still wavering. She didn't move, though. She shuffled so she could look at him, but she didn't move.

"It's ok," Ash replied gently.

Lillie almost sighed in disappointment when his hand stopped combing her hair. But she composed herself just in time.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. My mum once said that's a way to comfort someone… It was all I could think of."

"Y-You didn't. It was – nice."

A few moments passed between them in which only a distant Hoothoot whistled in the background and the silvery light transformed them and the room into something ethereal. Lillie did not know how to continue, so she was thankful when Ash spoke.

"I hope you don't mind me asking," he muttered, looking into her eyes. Lillie nodded slowly. "Do you want to talk about what's been going on?"

Lillie nodded again. She had wanted that all along. Now, with her emotions and doubts blissfully liberated and understanding that she was not loading more onto Ash despite his struggles, she finally could.

Ash nodded back. He remained silent, patiently watching her. It took Lillie a while to determine where to being, but, finally, she started talking.

Everything Ash had just experienced had been heart-breaking in a different manner to the ordeals that he had suffered. Seeing Lillie so upset, so broken and in need of comfort, seeing her tears and feeling her light body tremble while wrapped in his arms hurt him in a place only one person had been able to reach before.

Stepping into the bedroom, Ash had been stunned by Lillie's appearance. Not for the first time, but stunned, nonetheless. The first thing he had noticed was her eyes; the green in them was almost shining, and they did a perfect job of proving that Lillie was truly pretty, as much as she was intelligent. Then, her hair. Her silky blonde locks were let completely loose – a rare sight given her some of it was usually tied in braids. It fell over her shoulders and dangled almost gracefully down her back, looking even longer than ever.

For some reason, Lillie left Ash awed, and it took him a moment to realise her outfit was different. It was a bolder, sportier ensemble that emphasised her figure differently. Lillie's usual summer dress was divine, but there was something about the outfit, the glimpse of something more, that set his heart on fire.

The next moment, all Ash could focus on was catching Lillie when she collapsed. After that, holding her as she cried felt like all he could do. He didn't know if he was doing the right thing – he had not experienced such a situation before – but he focused all of his effort on comforting her. When Lillie finally spoke, Ash realised with relief that he had done the right thing, and when she confirmed that she wanted to talk about it, he prepared himself for what he was about to hear.

"I-I have this unknown neurotoxin in my cells that affects my thoughts. In my case, it causes my negative thoughts to be a lot more powerful. I can't control them, and whenever I see these," Lillie gestured three little scars just above her waist that Ash had not noticed before, "I remember the worst time of my life. It becomes so difficult to endure I – break down. N-not as bad as today, but some nights, after you've gone to sleep, I can't help crying…"

"Lillie…" Ash muttered in a voice so pained it was as if a Sacred Sword pierced his heart. To know that he had been so close to her while she was suffering, for allowing her to suffer alone, no matter if he were asleep or not, made him wonder why he hadn't paid more attention or even intervened. He had suspected something was wrong, after all.

"I…I'm sorry Lillie," Ash said. He took a moment to consider his next words. "I hope you don't mind me asking. What happened?"

"It's ok. I think I need to talk about it."

She took a deep, trembling breath.

"My full name is Lillie Aether," Lillie began, and Ash thought of the Aether Foundation, of Lusamine, of his earlier deduction and unease. He had to ask, just to be sure.

"As in The Aether Foundation, and its President?"

"Y-Yes. The President, Lusamine, is my – my mother."

"So, she is. I thought she might be," Ash said.

Lillie nodded. "She was an amazing mother. Throughout my childhood, I, Gladion, and my mother lived in our home on Melemele Island. I don't remember my father; I have seen some pictures of him at home, but my mother told me he died before I was old enough to remember him. I have visited his grave in Hau'oli, though. His name was Mohn."

"Mohn. Mohn Aether? I remember seeing it, I think…"

"I see…"

"Uh… It's not the same, but I can kind of relate. I've grown up all my life without a father. My mum has always told me there is a reason he can't be with us. She said one day that if I become a Pokémon Master, I can finally meet him."

"That is the reason for your goal?"

"It is," Ash said, nodding. "Sorry. Go on."

"It's alright," Lillie said, her voice holding more stability than before. "We were a close family. Gladion and I had a lot of fun as children, and my mother, although busy with the Aether Foundation, spent a lot of time with us. But… things c-changed one day."

Lillie's voice fell back its nervous timbre. Ash hugged her a little tighter again.

"My mother started becoming more and more focused on her work. So much so, we moved to a house that she had people build on Aether Paradise. You might have seen it earlier."

"That must have been the building I saw on the other side of the lobby."

"That's right. As soon as we moved there, everything started becoming… difficult."

"How do you mean?" Ash prompted, sensing the hesitance in her voice.

"M-My mother has always been interested in a phenomenon that occurred in Alola in the past. She discovered a Pokémon that could help her research – Nebby, known as Cosmog as you know – and she became so invested in her goal that she started completely, umm, neglecting Gladion and me. Because I was on Aether Paradise, I didn't have any other friends to talk to or play with. The Pokémon were all I had.

"Around that time, I think something happened, something I can't remember, because I developed my fear of Pokémon all of a sudden. One day, I was playing with my Mother's Clefable, and the next, I was so scared of her all I could do was cry. I really can't remember what happened. Not being able to play with them made me lonely.

"By the time I was about twelve, my mother became so obsessed with her work that Gladion and I would often eat alone, despite having butlers and maids. My mother spent all of her time researching with one of the Aether Foundation employees, Faba, instead."

Suddenly, Ash regretted having been friendly to the two people earlier that day. It appeared he was right to have thought something was not right with them.

"A little while later, Gladion started focusing more on learning about Pokémon battling, so he would spend less time with me too. It was shortly after that that Gladion left Aether Paradise. Out of nowhere, he said goodbye one night. In the morning, he was gone, and he had taken an experiment with him. He – He left me completely alone."

Now, despite admiring his battling skills, Ash felt a rising contempt for the edgy trainer. Especially if those battling skills had been learned while Lillie was silently suffering. It made sense why Lillie didn't want to see him.

After reaching that point, Lillie looked as if she were about to start crying again. Ash started brushing her hair again, hoping to reassure her. It seemed to work. She sniffled and wiped her eyes.

"T-The worst part was that my mother blamed me for Gladion leaving. She barely talked to me after that. I didn't have anyone for a long time, not even the Pokémon. Whenever there was a thunderstorm outside, I had nobody to help me through them, so they still scare me. Whenever I learned something new while reading, I had nobody to share it with."

Lillie did cry, then, and it hurt Ash that he couldn't do anything more to help her. Lillie continued talking even through her tears.

"The only time my mother was worried about me was the time I fell sick for a week. I was very unwell, and another employee, Wicke, took care of me when my mother wasn't there. My mother called a doctor to give me a scan to see if anything was very wrong. Now that I know of the toxin and how special it is I think they saw that in the scan, and I think t-those results caused what happened next."

It took Lillie a moment to continue and overcome her relapsing hysterics. Ash remained patient. Because of the time he explained his situation to everyone, he could empathise with how difficult this probably was for her, how brave she was being.

"I-I don't think my mother was aware of it, but F-Faba, that employee from earlier, asked me to assist them with an experiment to help me get over my fear of Pokémon. I believed him, so I joined them. He asked me to stand in the centre of the room while they started up a machine with Nebby – Cosmog inside. I was hesitant, but I did as he said. T-The machine exploded, and because I was stood in front of it, I was nearly caught up in it."

"What?!" Ask asked on reflect, his eyes widening.

"It terrified me so much. Things carried on normally – what was normal at the time – and then Faba planned a second test a few months ago. H-He said I was the key to the experiment succeeding. To finding it again. I r-refused, but he… he had his Hypno use Psychic to make me stand there even though I didn't want to…"

"He… he what?" Ash breathed out in disbelief. He had to push aside the fleeting question that came to mind with a twinge of pain: why did people always use Psychic-Type Pokémon in such ways?

Lillie nodded, and her earlier hysterics returned.

"I-It was horrible. Not being able to run, just watching as the machine exploded again. T-This time, some of the explosion hit me…"

"Those scars…" Ash deduced.

Lillie nodded. "T-Two of them, and two on my leg… I already had the other one, and I think that is where the neurotoxins came from."

Lillie started rushing then, forcing herself to finish the story, as if the words were a curse on her lips. Ash didn't blame her. The more he heard, the more he hurt too.

"I-I was lucky that Wicke arrived and stopped everything. The next day, she told me to take Nebby and leave because she thought my mother and Faba weren't in their right minds. I'm not sure what she meant, m-maybe something to do with those neurotoxins. On the way out, I was almost caught, but Nebby teleported me away just in time. I woke up on the beach in front of Professor Kukui's house, where Professor Kukui and his girlfriend, Professor Burnet, found me. I met everyone, then I met you, and everything improved until my thoughts became too strong.

"Professor Burnet told me about the neurotoxins, and that Pokémon moves can theoretically heal them, but – I can't be near Pokémon. I-It's so hard to deal with, Ash. I just wish there were some way to heal them that wasn't impossible for me."

Lillie finished there, falling into her tears once more, her body almost collapsing against his now, her head resting on his chest this time. Ash kept a hold of her. He would for as long as she needed.

While Lillie cried, Ash pondered everything. His chest felt heavier because of Lillie's story, and his heart seemed to sting. As her friend, that was inevitable. But he felt something more, some powerful devotion to comfort and help Lillie that he knew wasn't normal. He didn't think about that for now, nor the scare it gave his heart.

Lillie's situation was tragic, and it made him realise they weren't too different in some ways. They were both forced to run away after having their whole lives collapse around them, and he too knew what it was like to be controlled by Psychic. He dared not compare his situation to hers, though.

It was about an hour later that Ash's mind reached some semblance of coherence – it was still difficult to believe, however – an hour in which they hugged and he tried to comfort her as best he could.

Understandably, Lillie had yet to calm down, so Ash began thinking of ways to help her. But there weren't many viable options given her fear of Pokémon. Heal Pulse, Refresh – there were all sorts of moves that benefitted humans too, but they required that she be close to them. Normal doctoring practices would take too long and were impossible without knowing what the toxin was. The solution had to be something Pokémon-related. But with her fear…

Ash felt a cloud of despair settle over him. From his immediate knowledge, there weren't any viable solutions. Maybe he couldn't think properly, as focused as he was on comforting Lillie, but at any rate, he couldn't figure out how to help her.

"There's nothing I can do…" Lillie said, and she repeated that sentences a few times in a teary voice. Each repetition was more saddening than the last. "I-I even thought of finding Tapu Lele, but the Tapu are nearly impossible to meet, a-and Tapu Lele is too mischievous to risk meeting."

Ash paused, and it was as if that tiny flicker of light separated the dark cloud over him. Whether she realised it or not, Lillie had just figured out her solution: Tapu Lele. Ash had experienced Tapu Lele's power to heal any injury himself, her scales were dispensable over an area, and Lillie had said it herself at the festival the day they met:

'Tapu Lele has the power to heal any injury or scar but is incredibly rare to meet.'

The only complication was the latter half of Lillie's statement. By the standards of the average Alolan native, seeing Tapu Lele was a rarity, let alone meeting her. But Ash had met her three times now, the final of which was by Tapu Lele's request. Given Tapu Koko's actions too, he couldn't say those meetings were mere coincidence. It was a long shot, but it was all he had. For Lillie's sake, he had to trust his seemingly magical ability to meet Legendary Pokémon.

Ash gently tapped Lillie's shoulder. She looked up at him with watery eyes.

"Lillie, you considered visiting Tapu Lele?" Ash asked.

Lillie nodded. "Yes. But Tapu Lele is so rare and mischievous that I do not think I would have any luck…"

"…If you don't have that neurotoxin anymore, will things finally go back to normal for you?"

Lillie nodded, making a quiet noise of confirmation.

"…I think I can take you to Tapu Lele," Ash said.

"W-What?"

"I know that sounds impossible, but I think, and I don't want to get your hopes up, I might be able to meet Tapu Lele. I did the day we visited Konikoni."

"Y-You can?!" Lillie asked, lifting her head from his chest. The hope in her eyes and voice was everything Ash had not wanted in case he couldn't make good on his word. That only meant he had to do everything he could to make this work.

"Would you like to go?"

"Y-Yes, if you don't mind." Then Lillie flinched, looking away from him. "C-Can I wash my face first?"

Ash smiled. "Of course."

As Lillie moved to clear her tears– the sudden loss of warmth when their hug ended was disappointing – Ash hoped with all his heart that his idea would work.

Lillie immediately missed the warmth and comfort her long hug with Ash had produced when they separated. That warmth had been her blanket on a winter night; it had soothed her heart enough to let her trust in him and overcome her doubts. It was like a warm coat of relief for finally having discharged her emotions that protected her from the chill and left her mind and heart unburdened. She did not know if it was a momentary feeling, but it was amazing.

Lillie finished washing her face and entered the main bedroom again. Ash was putting a few shrunken Pokéballs in his pockets.

"Ah, these are just in case," Ash said, evidently having spotted her questioning eyes. "Are you ready?"

Lillie nodded, but it turned out washing away her tears and a moment to collect herself was not enough preparation. Ash gently grasped her hand in his and led the way, his strides considerate to her. All Lillie could focus on was their hands. After their hug, holding hands should be nothing, but it flustered her anyway.

When they ventured downstairs, Pikachu leapt from the counter in the nearly vacant lobby onto Ash's shoulder, and Ash thanked Nurse Joy for healing him.

By the time they reached the forest path, Lillie accepted the contact of their hands and even discovered a form of comfort in it. That was when another issue arose. She was out in public still wearing her bolder outfit. She nearly panicked again and moved closer to Ash to hide. Nobody was on the path they were walking along, but she remained close to Ash anyway. Thankfully, it seemed Ash did not mind, and Pikachu considerately leapt from his shoulder to give her space.

Ash led her through a deserted Hau'oli and Diglett's Cave, making sure she was safe from any wild Pokémon which was a rather touching gesture. He veered left onto the route when they exited the cave, and they were soon approaching the familiar pillars that had signified Tapu Koko's shrine on Melemele. Lillie could not stop her heart from beating faster and faster as they stepped beyond the pillars.

"Ash… Are you sure Tapu Lele will come?" Lillie asked. She did not doubt Ash at all. Rather, she doubted her worthiness to meet with one of the revered Tapu.

"The day we visited Konikoni, Tapu Lele was the one that approached me," Ash announced. "We even battled. I think there's something she wants from me, so I have a good feeling about it."

"B-but, Ash, meeting Tapu Lele, let alone getting her to listen to you, is impossible…"

"We won't know unless we try," Ash said, flashing her a wide grin. Lillie watched, awed, as he stepped into the open space before the shrine, Pikachu marching at his side. Doing so made him release her hand – something she missed immediately, just like their hug.

"Tapu Lele! I need your help!" Ash called, and Pikachu mimicked him in cry-form.

There was no answer. Lillie felt her emotions drop again.

"I know you're listening! You're interested in me for some reason, right?! I don't get it, but I know you're here now! Please, I need you to help Lillie! She needs to be healed! She's really important to me! I'll do anything to help her!"

Lillie couldn't withhold the smile and the warmth that enveloped her upon hearing Ash say that, even as the doubt that Tapu Lele would listen strengthened. But then, Lillie's breath and doubts vanished when Tapu Lele floated down from a nearby tree behind Ash.

"Please–" Ash began. Tapu Lele shoved him in the back, stopping him, causing him to topple forwards and onto the floor. As Tapu Lele and Pikachu started laughing, Ash jumped to his feet. "Tapu Lele…" he said, sounding relieved.

Lillie watched them stare at each other, unable to believe what she was seeing. Maybe, finally, there could be a solution to her problem.

"Does this mean you'll help?" Ash asked, his voice hopeful. Lillie flinched when Tapu Lele glanced at her. The Deity's mischievous glare was somewhat terrifying. Tapu Lele glanced back at Ash.

Suddenly, the area, the grass and flora, and the very air around them assumed a pink, wavy appearance. If Lillie was correct in her assumption, this was Psychic Terrain, something she had read in a book somewhere. Her attention went to Ash and Pikachu, both of whom had moved further away from her and adopted fighting stances already.

Was this going to happen? Was Ash really going to fight one of the Tapu? Was Ash really going to go so far just for her?

Lillie's questions were answered when Ash called for Pikachu to use Thunderbolt and Tapu Lele used Psybeam, the two moves colliding with such power that Lillie's hair billowed behind her from the resulting gust. The moves exploded, equalling one another – a sight that, in the black of the night, looked like a firework – then Pikachu dived through the smoke with Volt Tackle. Tapu Lele took the attack, charging another Psybeam at her palms. Both Pokémon bounced back, and then Ash called for Pikachu to use Iron Tail, which he used to block the incoming Psybeam with some struggle.

Lillie watched the battle continue with tears once again brimming her eyes, making the scene look somewhat watery – even wavier beyond the Psychic Terrain. She had already cried enough that night but seeing Ash so determinedly fighting one of the strongest beings in Alola all for her sake was enough to make her tearful again. She did not take her eyes off the action and Ash.

Thunderbolts and Psybeams, and Volt Tackles and Dazzling Gleams collided in a tempest of colour and power, each Pokémon receiving and dealing damage to the other. Their attacking powers were equal, their speed nearly so with Pikachu edging it, but their defences were noticeably different. Tapu Lele's attacks dealt more damage to Pikachu, proving why it was one of the strongest beings in Alola. But Ash and Pikachu's determination seemed to negate whatever damage they were taking.

Sometime later in the battle, when Pikachu used Volt Tackle and struck Tapu Lele in the back, but the Deity retaliated with a Dazzling Gleam-Psybeam combo, Lillie saw Ash wince and clutch the same side of his chest Pikachu had been hit. He grinned through the apparent pain, a fierce determination shining in his expression, and he and Pikachu fought even harder, their movements becoming more synchronised by the second. Their speed and the number of hits they inflicted upon the Deity increased with the fierceness of the fight. Strangely, Lillie thought she saw red sparks among Pikachu's Thunderbolts.

Then, Pikachu slammed into Tapu Lele with a Volt Tackle, bouncing off the barrel she rested in and into the air. Tapu Lele fired a Psybeam directly at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled, and Pikachu started charging the bolt in mid-air. This time, the colour of Pikachu's electricity started fluctuating between yellow and red. When Pikachu unleashed the move, his Thunderbolt was glowing red, and the tiny, miscoloured strands were now yellow. This Thunderbolt clashed with Psybeam for only a second before overpowering it completely, crashing into Tapu Lele and knocking her to the ground for the first time in the fight.

Lillie looked straight at Ash, and her heart promptly stopped. He glanced at her for only a second, and even from where she stood, Lillie could see the joyous, determined fire burning with life in his brown eyes. Ash's cap had been blown away during the battle, leaving his spiked black hair blowing in the wind. Some dust was flecked on his cheeks beneath those lightning bolt markings. Coupled with a wide smile full of excitement, Ash looked more awe-inspiring than he ever had before.

It was during that brief moment of eye contact, of connecting without words, of witnessing that Ash's determination was for her sake, that everything he was doing was all for her, that Lillie finally realised it. She finally accepted that which she had been suspecting and doubting up until that point.

Lillie accepted that she had fallen in love with Ash.

Ash's eyes flicked back to Tapu Lele after that eternal, fleeting glance, bewilderment overtaking them – probably because of the red lightning. There was caution in his stance, too, but it seemed he didn't need it. Tapu Lele rose, clapping and laughing despite the scrapes and dust she was covered in. It seemed, to Lillie at least, that Tapu Lele was congratulating Ash.

After catching his breath, Ash stood up tall to Tapu Lele. "Does – Does this mean you'll help?"

When Tapu Lele nodded and turned to her, the tears waiting in Lillie's eyes fell. This time, they fell as a pure, ecstatic smile rose on her lips.

Tapu Lele coaxed her forward, and Lillie complied, stepping towards the centre of the clearing. Ash and Pikachu stepped back, the former offering a reassuring smile.

When Lillie stood a short distance away from Tapu Lele, a distance she could manage, the deity floated higher in the sky. She started dispersing the pink scales Lillie had seen before. They gently floated down on her like slow raindrops. When the first one touched her, Lillie felt warm from the inside. Then, everything became numb for a moment, before a refreshing cool enveloped her body.

Lillie wiped at her eyes to rid her tears, and she noticed Tapu Lele had stopped dispersing the scales. Immediately, she curled up the corner of her top and found that two of the scars there had vanished. Then she saw Ash watching her and quickly righted her top, blushing, before the happiness of the ordeal hit her with such force that her legs collapsed again. Ash was there to catch her again.

"Thank you, Tapu Lele," Lillie heard Ash say, his voice the most emotional she had heard it all day. Tapu Lele cried out, and Lillie looked up in time to see her about to depart.

"T-Thank you!" Lillie called as loud as she could. Tapu Lele glanced at her, nodded, and flew away.

Lillie and Ash watched her disappear before either of them spoke.

"I'm so happy for you, Lillie," Ash said.

"Thank you, Ash," Lillie said. She hugged him tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Hey, it was your idea."

"Yes, but still!"

"It's ok. I'd do anything for you." Ash smiled, hugging her back. "Come on. Let's head back."

Lillie nodded, allowing Ash to help her to her feet. This time, she grabbed for his hand.

On the way back to the Pokémon Center, Lillie tried to comprehend her new reality, that her wish had been granted. She would have to check with a scan from Professor Burnet, but she could already feel the difference. The effect that her thoughts had on her were nowhere near as powerful.

Luckily, they arrived back in the Poké-Center just before a rare flurry of rain started. When they reached their room, it became heavier, playing a light, soothing melody on the windows and the roof despite its ferocity. Still, the room was enveloped in that silvery glow.

Lillie could not think of what to say as they both changed for bed in turn. She supposed most of her speechlessness was because she had realised her feelings earlier and was still processing them. Ash, on the other hand, looked nervous, as if he were waiting for her to speak.

While changing in the bathroom, Lillie couldn't help checking the corner of her belly in the mirror. All of her scars except the small one she had received earlier than the rest were gone, but that part did not matter anymore, not really. She had heard her mother say once that a physical scar was only a problem if a mental scar accompanied it. She still remembered her past, but hopefully, her thoughts would have nowhere near as potent an effect on her now that the toxin was gone.

When she stepped back into the main room, Lillie decided she had to thank Ash again, with all her heart and despite her usual nervousness. Ash was standing beside his bed, folding open the corner of his covers. He turned to face her just as she threw her arms around him with enough force that they fell to lie on the bed again, this time their heads on the pillows. It was a slightly awkward hug; their faces were so close their noses were almost touching, and their arms were sort of trapped together. Lillie could tell how red her cheeks were.

"Thank you, Ash," Lillie said as sincerely as she could. Then, because he truly was, she added, "Y-You're my hero."

"I'm glad I could help," Ash said. "Just remember Lillie, you don't have to fight alone anymore."

"I-I don't have to fight on my own?" Lillie asked.

"That's right. I'll be here whenever you need someone," Ash said, and they were the last words Lillie heard all night. She shuffled into a more comfortable position, nestled her head over his shoulder, and they lay, hugging, for a while. Eventually, Lillie fell into the most peaceful sleep she had had in a long, long time.

Ash registered when Lillie fell asleep by the way her breathing settled into a gentle rhythm, light, and calm. Thankfully, the lights were all off and the curtains were closed, so Ash needed only to reach for the blanket as carefully as he could. He pulled it up and over them, and settled in. Lillie looked so comfortable and content he didn't have the heart to move her.

There was so much on his mind – Lillie's situation, Pikachu's red Thunderbolt, the wormhole at Aether Paradise – but it was all rendered insignificant by the comfort of that moment. Ash had never slept that way before, but he didn't mind. So, he shut his eyes too, welcoming the easiest sleep he had had in a long time, soothed by the sounds of the pattering rain in the background.

Hi!

So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! As you can see, I decided to add a bit more depth to Lillie's story. For example, it never talks about how Lusamine's obsession with ultra beasts - which may be even worse in this case - affects Lillie and Gladion's lives.

I imagine you can understand where from this mysterious neurotoxin originated, but Lillie's case is only a fraction of what it can do. If you know the cause, then it'll make a bit more sense when I say I'm amping up their abilities because, really, they should be more powerful than they are given credit for. That's a little cryptic, but you shall find out what I mean in due time!

With that, let me know what you think, and I shall see you next time!