"One for the memory, a hidden melody~!"

Blue hadn't quite fallen asleep yet when he heard a certain someone start whimpering in her sleep. Umbreon was curled up against his side, purring softly away as she slept, but his mind had been racing from what he had seen on the S.S Anne. The boy was exhausted, but sleep was evading him and all he could think about was that horrid encounter.

He thought he had seen the extent of El's emotions back when she first found him beaten up in the underground hideout, but even the face she wore on the raft on their way here to Fuschia City was nothing in comparison to look she had when that villain- Richard- had been charging straight at her. Blue had seen her sobbing over his bruised and bloody, feverish form, so relieved he was alive, but he had never seen her so scared.

El had looked like she had seen a ghost, or had come face-to-face with the grim reaper himself.

It made Blue feel sick to the stomach just remembering. Even more so, thinking about what could have happened if he hadn't found her in time and used Aerodactyl to snatch Rich away from her, tossing him out of the ship. She had grown so much from the time they first met- back when she had been nothing but skin and bones with dark circles under her eyes, and a face devoid of nearly all emotion. He would even dare say she was a bit taller now, too, at least by a few inches. She looked ten instead of- what? Eight? Six? Her face had filled out more and her skin now had more color in it, and man when she smiled she could smile.

It never lasted very long, but when she told that dumb joke in the pokēmart the whole room seemed to light up- even if she tried to hide her grin. And when he, ugh, begrudgingly told a few jokes on the ship to lighten the mood and she actually laughed… it felt like some of the damage that had been done to her heart had been bandaged. Not healed, but… better. Blue had felt more proud of himself for getting that kind of reaction out of such an emotionally-stunted kid than he did when he and his pokēmon had won the Indigo League championship.

…Honestly, if this had been a year ago- or even just a few months- Blue's not sure he would be climbing up the ladder to the top bunk to check up on the kid. He's not sure he would have gone out of his way to help her the way he has been doing. He definitely wouldn't have made himself crawl onto the mattress and lie down, and he definitely wouldn't have tried to make her feel better by asking her random questions to distract her.

Blue…

He just wasn't a nice person. He never was. Maybe as a kid, back when his parents were alive- but after the car accident… things changed. His grandfather took Blue and his older sister, Daisy, in to look after them, and since the Oak family's ancestors had practically founded Pallet Town everyone was really supportive of the two siblings after the funeral. Blue was still a baby at the time- just a toddler- but he remembered the day his grandfather got the call.

Blue remembered being confused. Being hurt. Being angry. His grandfather did everything he could to raise Blue and Daisy, and was incredibly loving towards them- warm and patient and knowing when to give them space. Despite also being heavy with grief, he did everything he possible could for them. But… he wasn't their parents, and Blue's anger over their deaths remained with him for many, many years.

The worst part is… he didn't have anything to direct his anger towards.

The person who had crashed into them was also killed in the accident, and therefore there had been no survivors. His dad died on impact, and his mom didn't make it to the hospital. Blue just hadn't been able to fathom what had happened, and didn't even fully comprehend they were gone until a week passed and his parents just never came home. Daisy had shut herself in her room, and their grandfather had started moving his things into their house.

A few months in, they started packing up their parents clothes into boxes- moving everything out of sight, yet never throwing away- and it was then Blue understood that "Mom" and "Dad" were gone for good.

His sister… by the third month, she started talking to people again. She tried to take care of Blue. Blue, who had no friends and now no parents and was just so angry at everything but lacked a way to direct that anger. He hated to admit it, and even more ashamed to remember those days, but after their parents' deaths Blue had said some really nasty things to Daisy.

He also remembers asking what the point of their grandfather moving in was, when he's probably just going to disappear too. Blue would never forget the look on the old man's face when he said that, and just how heartbroken his grandfather had looked. That was the first and only time Blue ever saw him cry after the funeral.

"Not today and not tomorrow." Professor Oak had said, dropping to his knees and pulling a young Blue to his chest, holding him tightly, shaking. "Not for many more years. There's someone you haven't met yet, and I… want to be there when you do. I'm old, but I'm stubborn, Blue. I'm not leaving you. You or your sister."

Blue called him a liar, but had clung to him anyway- crying despite his best efforts not to. That night, he had gone to his sister's room while she was sleeping and climbed into the bed, shaking her awake. He didn't apologize, no; even as a child, Blue had always been a proud, spoiled little thing, but Daisy knew right away what him being there meant, and when he asked her if she really was going to go away after what he said, the boy on the brink of tears, she pulled him into a hug and said that no, she wasn't.

Daisy let Blue stay in her room that night, curled up against her side with an arm draped over his form, the boy far too scared to be alone after all the horrible things he had said to her.

Eventually, as enough time passed, Blue began to direct his anger towards the town. His started to associate the place with the memories of his parents, however faded they were, and wanted nothing more than to leave that place. If he left, surely he would feel better- right? He had grown up in that big old house, and pictures of their smiling (dead) faces could be seen every time he entered a room. Blue just wanted to hurry up and get his first pokēmon and the pokēdex, so he could start his journey and hightail it out of Pallet Town.

Blue… he had planned to leave and never come back.

But on the day his grandfather- after much pleading on Blue's part to have a special pokēmon, instead of one of the standard starters- took him out into the forest to catch his first pokēmon… he had found his Eevee. Or, rather, the Eevee had found him. Blue and El were similar in that aspect. Just like Ansem had done to her, Blue's Eevee had discovered him lurking through the tall grass.

Unlike Ansem, however, who had charged a frontal assault on El, Blue's Eevee had jumped him from behind, biting his shoulder and knocking him down. Blue's grandfather was horrified at the sight, and was a panicked mess when he saw the blood seeping through the boys' shirt.

Blue didn't care he was hurt, though. After a quick wrestling match, he had earned the female Eevee's respect and it became his partner pokēmon- having left route 17 to seek a trainer. It was such an unexpected sight, but Blue was ecstatic because not only did he have an Eevee, one of the coolest pokēmon in his opinion, what with their many evolutions, but he could finally start his adventure and get out of the hellhole he called a home.

One-by-one he began to form a team, saying goodbye to the pitiful little town his ancestors had built, that his parents' memories haunted, and slowly but surely the boy took down every gym leader in the region, collecting their badges. Blue was determined to make it to the top, because if he did that then not even the past could look down on him or make him feel inferior or weak or scared or hurt, because he would be the strongest and the best, and becoming Champion was the surefire way to make that happen.

Except, when Blue finally made it to the Indigo League…

He had lost, for the first time in his life, in a way so spectacular it left him stunned speechless. The ice-type specialist was only a few years older than him, yet she defeated him so easily. With a wave of her hand, Lorelei's pokēmon swept his off the battlefield like they were nothing. Their moves had been as cold as her gaze, yet as he fell to his knees in shock, defeated, baffled, so confused and not at all able to understand how the team he had so carefully crafted and trained and raised had been defeated, the woman approached him and rested a hand so gently on his shoulder, and spoke with a voice so soft that Blue wondered how this woman could possibly be the same one who had just defeated him so soundly.

She told him exactly why he had lost: while he had trained his pokēmon to be powerful, he did not raise them with trust or with love, and that made all the difference. He had been viewing them as tools, using their strength and abilities to further his goals. He hasn't… He hasn't cared for anyone since the accident- instead having always pushed people away and never letting anyone get too close.

He was scared, not wanting to be hurt again.

The day his parents died had been the worst day of his life, but the day he lost the match- the day he realized just how terrible he had been acting towards everyone; his pokēmon, his sister and grandfather, the only family he had left- was certainly a close second. The realization left Blue so sick he almost threw up once he left the League's hall. He knew he was going to have to change his ways, change how he treated pokēmon and people. He just didn't know how.

So he went back to Pallet Town, the town he had despised for so long.

He… was too proud to really apologize for his behavior, so he tried to make up for it with actions instead. He helped his sister train her pokēmon for contests, made her and their grandfather coffee in the mornings, and even offered to help with their research. He also learned how to cook- though only simple things- to try and make things easier on them and to help feed their pokēmon.

He just didn't know what else to do. He was barely twelve at the time, and felt so lost over everything. He didn't even really know how to talk to them, the boy so socially awkward when he couldn't bring himself to put on an arrogant mask. His sister was the people person, not him.

All Blue knew how to do was brag about how strong his pokēmon were or how smart he was, but because of how wrong he had been about so many things until his loss against the Elite Four's Lorelei, he didn't feel as if he had the right to do even that.

Thankfully, that didn't seem to bother Daisy or their grandfather. They both just seemed happy to have him back in their lives again… if their bone-crushing hugs and annoying hair ruffling was any indicator of that. It was as if they had forgiven him the moment he had walked up to the doorstep of their parents' old house, the two seeing him standing there uncomfortably and shifting in place, looking up at Daisy and Professor Oak with eyes that showed just how apologetic he was, the young boy knowing he had gone astray.

Blue still felt guilty over how he behaved, but he wasn't suffocating anymore. He could let them into his heart, hard and painful as it was for him to do so, and that… led to him and his pokēmon bonding in ways they couldn't before. They understood each other now, he loved them now, and Blue will never admit just how surprised he was when one night, sitting on the couch with Eevee on his lap, grooming her fur, his pokēmon had evolved into an Umbreon.

That… left him stunned silent, the boy staring wide eyed at the beautiful ebony-furred pokēmon on his lap, her red gaze such a brilliant crimson that Blue almost wondered if he had been dreaming.

But no. She was real. His Eevee had evolved- and it was through her friendship with him that she was able to make it happen. Blue was not the same person he used to be.

And with that thought, he challenged the Indigo League again. Only this time… he won. He won and became Champion, at only thirteen-years-old, and he had never felt more proud of himself. His sister and grandfather were there in the audience, cheering for him, and he was at the top of the world. Unfortunately, time passed… and as Blue waited day-after-day for new challengers, he began to question what he was really doing there.

He didn't really want to be Champion anymore. The only reason he wanted that before was because he wanted an escape from the nightmare he had considered his life. But becoming Champion didn't solve anything, and only gave him responsibility he didn't really want. Battling felt more like a chore now.

Blue soon found out that… well, he wasn't sure what it was he wanted now.

Things were so different than what they were three years ago.

So, he called his sister. She was a contest star, popular and beloved by both people and pokēmon. Even the most violent and aggressive pokēmon would calm down in her presence, as Daisy simply radiated warmth and love. She was the most compassionate and kind person Blue has ever known- a woman so different from him, Blue honestly wondered if they were truly related at times.

They were.

She looked so much like their mom, despite having their grandfather's eyes, and Blue was the spitting image of their grandfather despite having their mother's eyes. Neither of them really resembled their dad that much, save for their hair color- which both Blue and Daisy had inherited. As different as their personalities were, there was no denying their physical resemblance.

When Blue called Daisy to ask her for her opinion, she suggested he take a short break. Visit home, maybe talk to their grandfather- and after some hesitation Blue begrudgingly did so.

He found Professor Oak working out in the field- which, Blue thought, the old man really shouldn't be doing due to his old age- and rather than trying to talk about his problems Blue just asked his grandfather if he could help out. Well, not really asked and more demanded that the old man let him help. He used Daisy as an excuse, saying that his sister would have a heart attack if anything happened to their grandfather too.

Thankfully, Blue had helped with pokēmon research before when he first returned to Pallet Town, so he overall remembered what to do, but… something about it was different this time. Out in the open field, watching and observing, cautiously interacting with unfamiliar pokēmon and trying to understand their habitats. Their way of life. It felt… exciting. It felt new. His heart was pounding in his chest as they tried to stay quiet, so as to not to scare away the pokēmon they were watching.

Blue wondered why he hadn't felt this way last time he helped with research.

He discovered what he truly loved wasn't battling, but really interacting with pokēmon. He quit being the region's Champion shortly after turning fourteen, and started working with his grandfather as an official assistant researcher. To his surprise, his sister was also there- working as their grandfather's right hand whenever she wasn't busy with contests. The whole family, what remained of it at least, were all devoting themselves to pokēmon research.

But… as surprising as that was to him, he never could have predicted what would happen next.

A few months after turning fifteen, Blue's grandfather had found her lost and wounded in the forest. Back before she was El, and was simply a strange child his Gramps had brought back to the lab for treatment. She had been malnourished and pale, no more than skin-and-bones, with dark circles under her empty eyes and her body covered in far too many bruises and scars to count. Half of her right arm was completely covered in burns.

If you told him the day they met that he would care about her as much as he did now, he would have scoffed and laughed right in your face.

But he did.

Somehow, that strange child left such a strong impact on him that he'd felt compelled enough to go after her when his grandfather offhandedly commented one day about how worried he was about her. That strange, quiet child who went by the title Grunt instead of a normal, ordinary human name.

She was cold and even more awkward that he was, so much so that he genuinely thought she was just a robot with a human face since she seemed to have so much trouble showing even the most basic of emotions. It left him so uncomfortable when they first met that he purposely tried to get a rise out of her, and it didn't take long for him to realize antagonizing her about the crappy dawn stone was the best way to do it.

Seriously. Blue wasn't the nicest kid on the block. He knew that. Even if he had changed a lot from how he used to be, he still had that blunt way of talking and a habit of pricking others in just the right places with sharp words to get the reaction he wants. He was rough, crude, and has been told several times he lacked a filter most people should have.

But… because of that, Blue learned something incredibly important about this strange child his grandfather had found, that he wouldn't have learned otherwise if Blue wasn't just so blatantly himself.

Grunt, now El-

She was just like him. A bit more broken, a lot more quiet, but the rage was there- buried deep in her eyes. The first time he saw it was when he handed her a pokēball, suggesting she become a trainer, and the second time… was when he had found her after she exited the Pewter City gym. Blue may have gone through hell growing up, but this kid had lived in it.

The second biggest difference between them? She had a source to direct her anger towards.

She had Team Rocket to hate.

When he saw her that day, he knew then; he had to keep an eye on her. He had to help her. There was no way he was going to let her take on her abusers alone. By the time he had heard the rumors of a talking pokēmon, Blue already knew it was too late for him to turn back- to try and pretend that he didn't care, to push her away just like he pushed away everyone else. Blue would never admit it aloud, even if Brock- someone he had once cared nothing for back when he was badge collecting, yet now also, begrudgingly, saw as a friend, perhaps his only friend outside the little weirdo girl he was helping- tried to point out, but… Blue saw a bit too much of himself in El.

He wondered, had he not lost to Lorelei that day, if he would feel just as scared and empty as El did.

Team Rocket had been straight vicious to Blue after they had captured him. They stole his bag and his pokēmon, and when he refused to join them they beat him black-and-blue. For three days he had gone without food, and if El didn't show up when she did with that bottle of water he was certain he would have died from dehydration before his wounds killed him. That place was pure torture to live in.

And… it was only a little of what they were capable of.

His eye had been bruised, his lip busted, his cheek swollen, his ribs broken as his body was cruelly starved of food and drink, and yet still that was nothing compared to what they've done to the children they've kidnapped back in Hoenn. Nothing compared to the horrors they were subjected to. He didn't even want to begin to think about what might have become of his darling Umbreon if El and Brock hadn't rescued her in time.

Just the memory of how she had been chained up because of her aggressiveness towards Blue's attackers left him boiling with fury.

So Blue had been rather reckless when he was trying to find the talking pokēmon El mentioned saving; he'll admit that. But when has he ever hesitated about doing something? Once he had his mind set on something, he becomes as stubborn as a Tauros. He doesn't care what it takes to accomplish it. He'll find that talking pokēmon, and with any luck he can convince it to help them out on their journey to stop Team Rocket.

Because now that he's personally experienced their cruelty…

Blue wants nothing more than to help El make them pay for what they've done.

Letting out a small sigh, Blue gently moved his arm from across the girl's shoulders to pat her on the head. He had hazy memories of his sister doing this to him when he was smaller, when he couldn't handle being alone at night- whether it was from nightmares or if he was just scared she would disappear, like his hideous words would become a curse that would come true- and he always remembered finding it comforting.

Of course, that may just be because Daisy is, well… Daisy.

Everyone loved her. People, pokēmon.

Honestly, El sort of reminded him of Daisy too- what with how pokēmon just seemed naturally drawn to her presence. She could calm them down just like his sister could, though with a bit more difficulty given her habitual nature of trying to lock her emotions away. She could get quite the creepy face when trying to shut everything down, but once she starts crying she doesn't really seem to know how to stop.

Like now, for instance.

Sweet Arceus, it made him so mad. She was constantly blaming herself and getting angry at herself, and- okay, sure, fine, it was a pretty shitty move to chase after a cracked stone instead of prioritizing their lives, but Blue is pretty damn sure that without that stone El wouldn't have even survived growing up in Team Rocket. So he's not mad over that, per say.

What he is mad over, is that Team Rocket attacking the S.S Anne is what caused this mess in the first place- because without them, El wouldn't have dropped the stone and they wouldn't have gotten trapped, and El wouldn't be blaming herself right now and feeling like she's been a horrible friend to Blue and Brock.

Like, okay. So she's not been a great friend. It's not like Blue's been any better.

Brock is constantly the one handling her outbursts of emotions because Blue is just not mentally equipped to deal with that; Blue's never had a single friend his whole life growing up. He doesn't know the first thing about being a friend. He's been a horrible brother, a bully to random trainers he's battled back when he was still trying to collect badges, and an even worse grandson. Sure, he's had a few fans because of his battling prowess and even a few- blegh- love letters, and while now he's actually famous because of his previous status as Champion, atop of being the pokēmon professor's grandson and the little brother of the contest star, Daisy, that didn't equate to friendship.

That didn't equate to bonding. Blue knew more about pokēmon than he did people.

Brock is literally the only one in this weird, mashed up group who actually has experience dealing with people- and that's because he's a gym leader, a people person, and the older brother to nine younger siblings. Like, damn. Brock was caring incarnate.

Blue has tried a couple of times to… guide El's train of thought, to tell her it was okay to not be okay and that healing hurts and takes time, because Blue himself is still healing and knows what it's like to hurt. He has no idea what he's saying half the time during those conversations,, because really he's just trying to channel his sister who always seems to know what to say.

Again, seriously, how are they related? Whatever.

Gently prying the exhausted, passed-out El's fingers away from the stone she was clutching near her chest, Blue tried to get a better look at it. It was hard to believe such a small object could be the source of so much stress and relief. So much hope. He couldn't even imagine what the person who gave the stone to her looked like. It just seemed so unreal.

She only met the person once, right? For just one day, before getting snatched up by Team Rocket? It was like something out of a bedtime story- or even a fairytale.

"...Is she asleep?" A voice quietly asked from below the bunk. Brock.

"Yeah."

The bottom bunk creaked and Blue turned his head to see Brock pop up from the side of the bunk, the boy standing up on the bottom mattress and grabbing the wooden railing to keep himself upright and from falling. He frowned deeply, watching the girl as she slept. "...She seems a lot more peaceful now."

Blue curled her fingers back around the stone when the girl furrowed her brows, and carefully wrapped his arm back around her. "I think she had a nightmare earlier. Woke up sobbing, clinging to the dumb stone."

"It's not dumb."

Blue resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know."

From across the room, Misty rolled over and scowled at them, hissing quietly, "Do you guys have to be so loud? You'll wake her!"

"You're the one shouting." Brock stated. Blue almost snorted. He caught himself just in time when he saw El's face start to twist, the girl starting to stir from all the noise. Brock, hearing the girl mumble, went "Oops" and slapped a hand over his mouth. Misty and Blue both froze. A few seconds of tense silence passed, and El had returned to peaceful slumber, nuzzling closer to Blue's chest in search of warmth. The boy tried not to feel too awkward about it. A stupid grin curled up on Brock's lips. "Yeah, she does that. She's a cuddler."

"Shut up."

"Hold on. I'm coming up." Blue's eyes went wide when Brock said that and he looked over at the taller boy in alarm, there not being nearly enough room for all three of them plus El's pokēmon and Blue's Umbreon. "Whoa, careful. Sorry, girl."

Brock pat the startled Umbreon, trying to calm her when he accidentally bumped into her with his knee. The pokēmon moved out of the way as best as she could to make room, and squeezing between the wall and Ansem, Ruby, and Sapphire, Brock laid down on the opposite side of Blue, facing El's back.

"There." Brock was still grinning, and the fuzzy pokēmon all woke and gave him a look before moving to clamber on top of their trainer and between what space there was between Blue and El. This allowed Brock to move in closer and wrap his own arm around El. "Better."

"...I don't like this." Blue stated, scowling. He made to move his arm- but had practically nowhere to put it thanks to Brock and the pokēmon. He had no choice but to leave it where he had it. "Go back to your own bunk."

"I don't want to."

From across the room, Misty groaned. She slapped a hand over her face. "Just go to sleep, you morons."

"You should join the cuddle pile, Misty." Brock suggested. "El loves the hugs."

"Where would I even fit?"

Brock stopped to think about that. "...You could lay on Blue?"

The boy received a firm smack to the shoulder at that from the researcher in question, and Misty barked out a, "No way!"

"It was just a suggestion!" Brock laughed.

A mumble made them all go silent again, and El tried to shift in place- only to very quickly realize she was trapped. Blinking groggily, confused and a bit alarmed, she looked up to see Blue staring down at her, Ruby and Sapphire between them, and trying to turn she noticed that not only was Ansem draped over her waist, but Brock was behind her as well. She was in a very effective Brock-and-Blue pokēmon sandwich. Blinking a few more times, she made a face, turned back around, and closed her eyes. She held her dawn stone even tighter, hands seeming to shake a bit as she did so.

"Do I even wanna know?" She asked, voice cracking a little in the way it tended to do when she was overwhelmed by emotion.

Blue hummed. "Probably not. Brock saw me up here and decided he wanted to join in."

"Hey, cuddles are good for you!" The former gym leader protested. "Besides, you said she had a nightmare!"

"Just go to sleep already!" Misty exclaimed. "Or I'm gonna have nightmares."

"...Y-You can go back to your bunks now." El tried to say, yet made no effort to move. Blue and Brock knew right away she didn't actually want them to go. The way she curled further into herself, trembling as she held the dawn stone, said it all. She's been trying to push them away ever since the outburst on the raft, despite not actually wanting to do so. It was as if she was terrified of allowing herself to receive affection, and even more scared to give it. "I'm fine."

"Hmm." Brock thought about what to say for a moment. "I'm not, though."

That sent the girl into alarm mode. She started to sit up, trying to look at him, but the pair of arms over her kept her down. "Wh-What!? Why? What's wrong? T-Team Rocket didn't hurt you, did they? You… You didn't hit your head when the ship fell, or-"

"Nope. None of that."

"Then what's-"

"I'm worried about you." He said, and El froze. Blue could see the sheer panic in her eyes at that, having a clear view of her face, and he knew she was becoming more and more aware that they weren't going to just willingly abandon her. "So I'm gonna stay here until I know you're feeling better."

El tried to send them away again, too afraid of their friendship to let them stay without a fight. "I-I just said I'm fine-"

"You're not." Brock and Blue stated, the boys speaking in unison and startling not only her, but each other.

Brock sighed and laid his head down on one of the pillows. "I wish you would stop lying to us, El. Remember what I said before? You have to let us help you."

"...I'm fine."

It was Blue's turn to sigh, and the boy just rested his hand against the side of her head. "Then go back to sleep. Jeez. You aren't gonna be in any shape to take down Kōga if you keep this up. Do you wanna stop Team Rocket and find your mystery prince, or don't you?"

It was a little too dark to see, but El's ears turned red. She ducked her head down, trying to hide her face, the girl close to tears again. "Th-That's-"

"Exactly." Blue said. "Go back to sleep."

The tiny girl huffed. She really didn't like losing in these arguments. Unfortunately for her, Brock and Blue were both as stubborn as she was, and both were determined to help her and protect her for as long as they were able. And they were going to help and protect her, until either Team Rocket is defeated or they die trying to defeat them. This was bigger than just trying to help a friend, anyway.

This was to help everyone- humans and pokēmon- alike.

Team Rocket was a menace to society. Thieving, killing, kidnapping; they've done it all. They've roamed free long enough. El escaping was nothing short of a miracle, and while Blue wondered why his grandfather decided to take a walk on that day of all days- despite his back having been bothering him and Daisy giving him constant lectures to look after himself- he couldn't be more glad that his gramps had done so.

Afterall, Professor Oak finding El saved her life- and now Blue had finally made not just one, but two friends. Three, maybe, if he had to include Misty. She was a bit annoying, but teasing her and riling her up was really fun. Yeah. He'll call her a friend, too.

"You'll get that gym badge, shortie." Blue promised El, causing her to pause and glance up at him. He kept his hand on the side of her head. "Then we'll go to Cerulean, travel through the rock tunnel, and get the one in Celadon City. No matter what it takes. We'll stop Team Rocket together, and… with any luck, we'll find your mystery guy too."

They were friends.

Normal friends might not supposed to be endangering one another, but when has their situation ever been normal? Brock's parents abandoned him at a young age, leaving him with crushing responsibility to manage both the gym and to raise his nine siblings. He's never been able to really leave town unless it involved gym leader responsibilities because of his family. He's been trapped, forced to behave as an adult when he should have still been a child.

Blue's parents died when he was kid, and he's been angry ever since. Only recently has he been getting better, but he was still loud and crude. He was determined to do things his way, very rarely making compromises unless his sister and grandfather were involved. He lost everything, tried to restart, became Champion at only thirteen, and then quit to become a researcher. His life has been one wild experience after the next.

And El… only Arceus knows the true extent of what she's been through, but she was just as messed up- if not even more so. They were all broken, each in their own way. Misty was probably the most healthy one out of the four of them, but she still had her issues. They all do. And they were going to stick together, because…

That's just what friends are supposed to do.

El, despite important memories still being gone, seemed to realize and understand this, but remained too lost and scared and confused by everything to fully accept or embrace it. She couldn't let herself accept or embrace it, because she still felt she was at fault, that they should hate her, that they should just abandon her, even though she knows they wouldn't. So she just curled further into herself, and Brock, Blue, and the pokēmon moved closer- continuing to let her know that they would never let her be alone.

Not again.

Not like she was back in Team Rocket, where she suffered all by herself. They were here, and they were friends, and they were in this mess together no matter what might try to tear them apart.

Suddenly, the ladder attached to their bunk bed began to creak. Misty popped her head up, giving them all a sour look, and she reached over to smack Brock's leg. "Scootch it, will ya? I'm starting to feel all left out with everyone over here."

Brock raised his brow before starting to laugh, and Blue leaned his head back with an groan. "We don't have room for this!"

"O-Okay, guys, seriously." El tried to sit up again now that Brock was moving, but Misty had quickly taken the spot between Brock and El, half laying on the girl as Brock made to scoot back in place so he was up against the wall. El was starting to be tangled up in a human-pokēmon pretzel. "Y-You can go back to your bunks, I-I don't think the boards will hold all of us-"

"Vulpix!"

"Zuuu!"

"Geodude?"

Oh no.

"Staryu!"

"Starmie!"

Staring at the remaining pokēmon that were trying to climb up, noticing that their trainers were gone from their bunks, the group of four all looked at each other. They were all kids, so they were fairly light, but anymore pokēmon- especially Geodude- would actually break the boards holding the top bunk up and send them crashing down.

"...Pillow fort?" Brock suggested, looking at Misty.

Misty made a face, then nodded. "Pillow fort."

"Pillow fort?" El looked so confused.

"I can't believe we're about to make a pillow fort." Blue deadpanned. "This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever been about to do." Looking at Brock and Misty, he waved a hand dismissively at them. "Well, hurry up and get out of here, losers! El and I can't get off the bed until you two get off first! You're suffocation' us here!"

"You're suffocating? I'm suffocating!" Misty exclaimed. "I'm the one crushed between Brock and El! You're like a twig compared to him!"

"Hey!" Brock actually looked offended by that. "It's because I use rock-type pokēmon. I have to train my muscles, otherwise they won't have anyone to spar with. It's not Blue's fault he's weak."

"Um, excuse you!?" Blue wriggled his way into a sitting position, sending the two a glare. "Who the hell are you callin' weak!? I could beat you up anyday!"

"Ha!" A grin curled across Brock's lips. "Is that a challenge?"

"Oh my god." Misty rolled her eyes, giving Brock a slight shove with her arm so she could start moving. She carefully maneuvered her way off of El and past Umbreon, shooing the curious pokēmon on the ladder away so she could climb down. "El, why do you put up with these two? I don't have the patience."

"It's because she loves us." Brock joked. El said nothing, neither confirming nor denying his words. "We're her new big brothers, obviously."

"She needs better brothers, obviously." Misty mocked, but the grin on her face showed she was clearly teasing. "You two are ridiculous."

"Meh." Blue shrugged. "No more than you are."

Misty stuck her tongue out at him, then jumped down off the ladder. Brock climbed down then, and Blue started to as well- before pausing to glance at El, who was still curled up on the bed, clinging to the dawn stone in her hands and staring at it very intently.

"You good, squirt?"

The girl tensed, then hesitantly began to sit up. "Y-Yeah. I'm… I'm fine. Sorry."

"...I know you're lying again, but I'm not gonna question it because you won't really answer." Blue stated bluntly, before carefully letting go of the ladder and landing on the floor. He turned towards Brock and Misty, placing his hands on his hips, and slowly but surely El started to make her way towards the ladder. "So, how're we doin' this?"

"Good question." Brock mused, bringing a hand to his chin. "I figured we could take the mattresses from the bottom bunks and put them together, and then play around with the blankets from there."

"I haven't made a pillow fort since I was smaller than El." Misty grinned. The girl moved over and started to snatch up the blankets. "Let's do this! If we're gonna make a fort, it's gonna be the best fort we can make!"

Peering down from the top bunk, El worried her bottom lip and furrowed her brows, seemingly reluctant to go along with their shenanigans due to her guilt. "Wh-Why are we… even making a fort? What's the point? We'll just get in trouble…"

Brock and Blue glanced at each other, and Misty paused in her gathering of the blankets.

"Nurse Joy is… is nice, but she might get mad if we-"

"It'll be fine if we put everything back together before we leave." Brock said, flashing the small girl a reassuring smile. El still looked hesitant, but there was no denying the comfort she found in his words. Blue couldn't quite figure out what it was about Brock, maybe it was just because of his caring nature, but he could be incredibly soothing when he wanted to be- especially towards El. Blue had no doubt Brock would be an excellent pokēmon doctor in the future. "You've never been able to build a pillow fort before, right?"

El went silent for a moment, then shook her head. Her expression darkened, emptying itself, as she looked down- as if ashamed of herself for not having been able to do what most kids were normally allowed. As if she was ashamed for having been kidnapped, even though it wasn't her fault. A deep frown adorned Blue's face when he saw this, and a bad feeling began to twist in his gut.

He wasn't sure what that feeling in his stomach meant, but he really didn't like it.

Brock was quick to cheer the girl up, to let her know everything was alright, the boy ever the optimistic. "Then this will be a new experience for you! It's… like cooking together, you know; a way for people to bond!"

El's milky brown eyes lit up- just for a second- before pain suddenly flashed across her gaze and she ducked her again. "But…"

Blue hung his head to the side, sighing dramatically. "We don't blame you for the S.S Anne, kid. We don't care. We're mad at Team Rocket- not you. So get down here and help us with the blankets while Machamp gets the mattresses."

The tormented brunette looked like a deer-in-the-headlights when he said that, and, though uncertain, she began to do as told and make her way down the ladder. The pokēmon remained atop the bunk, curious as to what was going on and entertained simply by watching, and one-by-one Misty handed El and Blue the pillows before the ginger herself grabbed the rest of the blankets and tossed a handful to Brock.

One bed cleared, Machamp, having awoken from the noise, moved to hoist it up upon request- and the group of kids awkwardly scuttled over to the opposite bunk, dropping the pillows and blankets on the floor out of the way so Blue's pokēmon could do what it needed.

It took about ten minutes, but eventually the second bed was cleared and the mattress was lifted, carefully situated next to the one already on the floor. From there, the real fun could begin. Brock and Misty were grinning all the while as they tucked the hems of the blankets between the top bunks' mattresses and boards, and tied them together in the middle. The blankets made a faux ceiling of sorts, and Brock had an extra blanket they could use to make a little door- blocking the actual view of the fort's inside from anyone who'd enter the room.

Blue felt a little silly doing this, but it was kind of fun once they started hanging everything up and began decorating the mattress with the pillows and stuff. The pokēmon even had enough room to join in, Zubat and Machamp helping reach the higher places, and after everything was done all the pokēmon climbed onto the bed to surround their exhausted yet very pleased trainers, El the only one not appearing to having a completely good time.

She looked… bothered by something, like she was restraining herself from enjoying it all.

"So." Misty said, crossing her legs. She beamed. "Now what? I'm too awake to go back to sleep now."

"I guess we could play a game or something." Brock mused. "I have some playing cards in my bag."

"Ooh, ohh!" Misty sat up straighter, suddenly excited. "I know! Why not truth-or-dare?"

"Ew, pass." Blue said, scrunching up his nose. "You'll dare something weird."

"I will not." Misty huffed, pouting at him. "Just humor me, okay? Do it for El! She's probably never had a sleepover in her life!"

They all looked to the girl, who was shifting uncomfortably in place, still holding the dawn stone tight in her hands. She was sitting near the corner of the bed, away from them all, her pokēmon all surrounding her protectively as if to try and comfort her, knowing from the emotions radiating from her that she was hurting and in a bad mind place. "I-I'm fine. I can just go back to my bunk, so-"

"Nope." Blue scooted over and lightly bopped a fist against the top of her head, startling her and preventing her from getting up. "You're staying. That's final. If I have to play some dumb game, so do you."

The sour look she gave him was probably the most feelings she had let herself feel and show all day. "That's lame."

"You're lame."

She just made another face, scrunching her nose up at him. Blue smirked.

Rolling her eyes, Misty clapped her hands together to get their attention. "Okay, okay; I'll go first! Um… hmm. Oh, I know! El, truth or dare?"

"W-Wait, we're starting with me?" The girl looked alarmed. She cringed as she tried to think of an answer. "Uh… t… truth?"

"Yes! Okay. Brock hasn't ever hit on you, has he?"

"Hey!" Brock turned to glare at Misty. "I would never!"

"I wasn't asking you, mister." Misty said, scowling at him. "I asked El. I know you have a habit of hitting on every girl you see."

"B-Brock hasn't…" El furrowed her brows again. She looked so genuinely confused by the question. "N-No. Why… Why would he?"

"Thank you!" Brock exclaimed, throwing his hands out in the air. "I have standards! El's like a little sister to me."

Blue didn't fail to notice the way El went silent, the guilt in her eyes only growing stronger. She lowered her head, stone in her lap and pressed between her palms as she laced her fingers together. It was frustrating, seeing her like this. She had been doing so well these past few days; she had been growing from the trauma that kept her fearful and quiet, but now because of Team Rocket attacking the ship it was like she was trying to fall right back to square one. It pissed him off.

Blue didn't want to scare her though, so he tried to keep his anger buried. Reaching over, he tapped her head again. "Your turn to ask, squirt. Me or Brock?"

"Huh? Oh, uh…" El looked at the stone in her hands, before hesitantly lifting her head up to look at Blue. "T-Truth or dare?"

"Meh, truth." He feels like dare would be too much for her to handle right now. "Hit me with your best shot."

She fumbled for something to ask. It was honestly kind of funny to watch. "D-Do… Do you like Brock's cooking?"

Wait, really? That's what she's asking? Blue raised a brow at her. "Yeah. It's pretty good; better than mine, anyway."

"Why are all these questions about me?" Brock asked. Blue snorted and Misty giggled, and El looked seconds away from stammering out a dozen apologies. "Didn't realize I was that popular. Hmm. Well, I'm glad you like my cooking, Blue." Brock cracked a grin. "Your turn to ask me a question."

"Truth or dare." Blue said.

"Okay… I guess I'll go with dare."

A wicked grin curled upon Blue's lips. He pointed at the ginger sitting beside him. "I dare you to give Misty a hug."

"What!?" Misty looked horrified. "Why you would dare him to do that!?"

"Brock gives good hugs." El awkwardly piped up, clearly feeling like she had to defend the taller boy. Blue barked a laugh and Brock shook his head, exasperated, before turning to Misty.

"Let's just get it over with, Misty. It's just a hug."

She grimaced, holding her arms up to her chest as Brock moved in to give her a quick hug. "At least it you and not Blue, I guess…"

"Hey, I give great hugs." Blue said, turning his nose up at her. "You just aren't privy to them. Blue hugs are reserved for a select few."

Brock pulled away from Misty as soon as his arms had wrapped around her completely. "Okay. That dare's over with. What do you want, Misty? Truth or dare?"

"...I don't trust you guys anymore, so I'm going with truth."

"Why are you always fighting with Blue?"

"Oh," Blue raised his brows, "now we're makin' the questions about me. I see how it is."

Misty made a face. "Pass."

"No, no, no." Blue grinned, leaning over and wagging a finger at her. "We never agreed on the "pass" rule. We just said "truth or dare". Go on. What don't you like about me? My good looks? My sense of humor? My charm?" He sat up straight and brushed his hair back, flashing the girl an arrogant smirk. "It's my charm, isn't it? You can't resist it, so you're hatin' on it."

"This. This is why I fight with you." Misty deadpanned. "You're insufferable."

"Heh, and you're in denial." Blue leaned back against some of the pillows and folded his arms over his chest. "I'm amazing."

"I will throw a pillow at you."

"Okay, you two!" Brock exclaimed, intervening by clapping his hands. "Calm it. Misty, ask someone a question."

"Fine, fine. Uh… Blue, truth or dare."

"Dare." He stated.

"Hmph." She squinted her green eyes at him. "Hug El, then."

"Seriously? You're so petty."

"Says the pettiest guy in the room!"

He rolled his eyes. "If you're gonna dare me to do somethin', at least make it exciting. Jeez."

The boy turned towards El, who was sitting there so dumbfounded by the conversation that was happening. She blinked, seeing him turn to her, and Blue grimaced slightly. It wasn't like he hadn't already hugged her… technically. There was the time in the underground hideout where he couldn't walk by himself and she tried to help carry him, and they were basically hugging when he climbed up on the top bunk to comfort her. It just felt weird being dared to initiate a hug.

"Alright, whatever. Don't freak out, kid."

El, surprisingly, did not freak out. She accepted the hug with ease, though seemed unsure of whether or not she was supposed to hug back. The hug didn't last for more than three seconds, Blue pulling away after giving her an awkward pat on the back, and he blew a raspberry in Misty's direction mockingly. She just stuck her tongue out in retaliation.

Blue looked at El again, tilting his head thoughtfully. "Truth or dare?"

"...Truth." She settled on, a bit more confidently this time. There was still that uneasiness in her eyes, the feeling that she was holding herself back, but that was fine. She may have taken several steps back right now, but Blue knows that she'll get back on her feet again. He'll make sure of it.

Blue thought of what to ask. He recalled her tears on the raft, the way she snapped at them and cried, pleading with them to abandon her. Her patience, her temper, finally breaking loose as she wailed, sobbing, about how they couldn't possibly imagine how it felt to be her- to choose a faded memory, a memory of someone so important to her yet not being able to remember who that someone is, over the friends she had now. How she was a danger to them, and that they should just give up on her.

It angered Blue. The look on her face- the way she spoke about herself- it reminded him of the face he would see in the mirrors sometimes, when he was alone and the pain just became too heavy to handle.

Meeting her gaze, brown eyes staring into brown, Blue couldn't help but ask, "Why do you hate yourself so much?"

A heavy silence filled the room.

El didn't answer for a long time after he asked that. Her eyes were devoid of all emotion, the girl shutting everything down and only worrying her pokēmon. Ruby and Sapphire, who were unused to their trainer's self-loathing and constant repression, could only mewl in worry and climb further into her lap, standing on their hind legs and nuzzling the girl's chin and neck with their noses. El did not move.

Blue figured it out then. She was remembering.

Remembering her time in Team Rocket, and the bastards who had made her think and feel this way. What did she say their names were again? Richard and Velga? She also mentioned someone else- someone she called Mistress. He didn't know why, but that last one sounded especially vile; as if just the way El had referred to her made her seem somehow even more evil than the two Team Rocket goons who clearly had it out for her.

Maybe… this Mistress was the biggest cause of El's self-loathing.

Maybe that's who he should really be asking about.