Lady led the way. She must have some special talent for finding people, as it almost seemed too easy for her. I kept that information in the back of my mind for later use.

We found Eva lying in a patch of flowers. The fluffy-furred normal-type was sunbathing, sighing softly and staring at the bright blue sky. She was a sight for sore eyes.

A tiny bundle of soft brown fur surrounded by wildflowers. The glow of the sun cast across her cinnamon pelt. Eva's big brown eyes found me, and as I approached her, she swiftly sat up; ears flicking. Her expression was guilty, like she felt bad for running away.

I didn't want her to feel bad. Her confusion and emotions were only natural.

I smiled warmly as I sat down next to her. "Eva, it's okay that you are... or were... angry." I said, and she looked at me in surprise, blinking up at me adorably before smiling back faintly.

So cute!

I wrapped an arm around Eva and pulled her close. I wanted to wash away any negative thoughts she might have had. I rubbed her fluffy hair tuft, before sliding my hands toward her ears, stroking them softly but firmly. Like with Buneary, my actions seemed to cause a visible reaction in Eva. She whimpered, and her enormous eyes melted like hot milk chocolate. My own heart hammered as I gazed back into those glistening orbs.

This was another precious moment of peace- I suddenly understood that I did not have to hide any part of myself from them. I was never honest with anyone regarding myself. Not with Juliet, not with Mabel. Definitely not with my family, but there was no reason to feel unsafe here, or to mince any of my words. Lady and Eva would never judge me. They were my precious partners- they deserved to know the truth about everything. Lately, it seemed that being with my Pokemon were the only glimpses of kindness in my somewhat morbid reality.

I truly loved them.

"Ladies, let's talk. C'mere. Both of you... it's time we had a conversation about our future." I glanced at each of them.

Eva rested her head against my chest and peered up at me, ears twitching. Meanwhile, Lady drifted slightly closer, but seemed to make it a point that she was still a slight distance away. Usually, she'd leap into my arms at a moment's notice. I found that unusual... but chocked that up to newfound independence she gained when she evolved. My classes taught me about that.

Which meant I'd need to get a badge soon, or risk both my Pokemon growing rebellious. Once they were both settled, two pairs of gentle eyes staring at me, I relaxed and sighed softly. "As you already noticed... you have a new sister, you two. A Buneary, her name is Chastity."

Lady smiled faintly. Eva's reaction was the opposite. She scowled deeply and shook her head. "Eva Eev! Eevee eev!"

"She doesn't understand why you need another Pokemon."

I appreciated Lady translating for me. But I seriously wanted her to stop using her powers. How could I make her realize how dangerous it was? Having to see her in the Pokemon Center, sickly and weak, had destroyed me. And she'd been taken away! If something happened to her again, I just knew she'd never be in my life again.

I clenched my teeth. "Lady, please stop using your powers. You don't know your limits, your body could still be frail from last time! Are you trying to end up in the Pokemon Center again? Do you want to be separated from me?"

Eva's fur fluffed up, ears twitching as she stared between the two of us. Her stress was clear. I gave her a comforting stroke on the head as I met my Kirlia's gaze head-on. I expected Lady to at least understand where I was coming from. She was incredibly loyal, incredibly loving- our bond was seemingly unbreakable.

But where I expected warmth and understanding, there was something new. Lady smirked at me and completely disobeyed me.

"Let them try to take me from you again. They will face consequences."

The cold, arrogant gleam in her ruby eyes was beyond alarming.

Staring back at me, stubborn and with a seemingly endless well of confidence- I was at a loss for words. I had no doubt- if someone tried to steal Lady away from me- she would kill them. Or die trying.

I know a fair amount about Pokemon. I paid attention in class... mostly. I know a fair bit of Pokemon trivia too. I forgot that Gardevoir's will do anything for their partner. Kill, maim, and in my case- brainwash, as poor Marissa witnessed herself. And it's said that the bond between one in the Gardevoir line and a human is inseverable.

But she was still so young. When we were alone next, I'd make her understand that.

I gazed at her for just a second longer. Ran my eyes down her new frame.

She was a mixture of elegant cuteness and beauty now, while before she'd been my precious baby. Gone was the little dome, in place for a newly shaped one- with two crimson crests as opposed to one. Her ruby eyes were more narrow, more focused- and her innocent dress-like body was different now too. Her long legs were on display now, as were her slightly curvy hips. Lady's sprinkle of cheek freckles were more prominent now, pink in color. An unfamiliar aura radiated off of Lady, leaving no doubt that she was much stronger now- although probably still low level compared to a Pokemon like Red Ebony. Lady was my unique, powerful little Kirlia. She'd changed, in more ways than one, but she was still my baby.

But her growing power re-awoke that urge in me. That dream I had. Journeying around, battling or doing contests- free as a Staraptor, soaring through the skies- with my three Pokemon at my side. This conversation was a long time coming.

I ignored Lady's behavior, for now, and turned my attention back to both of them.

"You don't understand why I need another Pokemon Eva, because I don't. I just wanted one. Because if I'm going anywhere in this world, I will need powerful Pokemon that I love and cherish. Who feels the same about me, like you and Lady."

Eva cocked her head. "Eev?"

I inhaled. "After we get out of this hell house- I want to travel the world with you. I want to do the Gym Challenge. And not just that, other things too- I want to take vacations all over, I want to enter coordinator contests and show you guys off- there's so much for us to see out there."

I shook my head. "B-But I'm getting ahead of myself, girls. First... we need to talk about what's going on here. About where we are. I haven't been fully honest with you, because I've treated you like children- you know nothing about this place. After roaming around on your own, I'm sure you two figured out that this place is not ordinary."

Lady said nothing, but Eva nodded. I sighed. "Right now... I'm a prisoner to a woman named Vanessa..."

"You're someone's... prisoner?" Lady's eyes seemed to flash like red lightning. She cocked her head slightly, and I shivered as a wave of strange dread passed over me. Eva shifted and rubbed herself into me, letting out a strange weak mewl. Maybe she sensed the change in Lady too. Something beyond confidence.

I interrupted Lady's possibly dangerous train of thought. "Lady, Vanessa is a horrible woman. But in this case, I put myself in this position. To get you back, I had to accept being her servant. She's the only reason you're here and not in the hospital. So please... just relax."

Lady's little mouth fell open. "It's... my fault you're in pain? That you're... a prisoner?"

In pain? Yeah, that was one way to put it. The sadness in her eyes destroyed any doubt and fear I had in her. I probably don't fully understand what changes took place in Lady's psyche after her evolution- hell; I don't even know how or why she evolved! But these fresh changes could be positive. Because there was nothing but love in those ruby red eyes- even if Lady seemed dangerously willing to flex her newfound power and self-esteem.

The fact is, she's always been willing to hurt people for me. I was afraid of that willingness. It differed from Eva's. From any Pokemon's.

Unsettled, I was determined to cast away any of Lady's self-doubts. I'd gotten myself into this position with a series of shitty mistakes. I shook my head. "Lady... It's not your fault at all. It's mine. C'mere..."

I snuck an arm around Lady. And she didn't struggle or complain as I pulled her close too. In fact, all that confidence seemed to crumble as she shivered and tucked herself against me. I hugged them both, kissed the tops of their heads. Enjoyed their warmth. And while I held them...

I told them everything. Every last detail. About Vanessa, about the mansion, about the Pokemon Fanclub and the various shady things I knew about it. Soon, I couldn't stop my mouth. I was just talking and talking- I even confessed about things pushed into the recess of my mind- Zoey, my sister- and Jack. I spit out the sad story of Mabel, how I'd stomped on her kindness and broke her heart. And I explained what happened with Juliet and Angel, trying to excuse my "girlfriend's" behavior as I spoke.

Because she'd raped me. And she'd filmed it.

And in this cursed mansion, filled with Pokemon exploitation and abuse- my own feelings were tearing me apart from the inside. I've been running and running, trying to keep up with this twisted world- but...

It was all catching up to me.

I didn't realize I was crying until Eva kissed my cheeks. Kissed my tears. Then she smushed her soft wet nose against me and snuggled close. Lady wrapped her thin arms around me.

It felt… good…

Like a heavy weight has been eased off my heart.

For the first time in forever...

I felt... free.

Eva was exhausted from all the excitement, so I put her to bed when we returned to the room. I let Chastity out. The adorable Buneary was still very much asleep. I laid them down next to each other. As I tucked the blanket up over their sleeping forms, my Kirlia spoke up.

"Is that a good idea, master? They might fight if they wake up... you know how Eva gets." Lady murmured with some fondness. She was standing at my side, peering at her two sisters.

"Maybe they will. I think it'll do them some good, what do you think?"

Lady smiled. "Maybe it will."

I sighed. "With them asleep... we need to talk, Lady. About-"

"About me. About my powers. About my love for you, and how I'd do anything for you, master- did I guess that about right?"

I frowned. "You sure did. Which means you should be able to know what I'm about to ask of you."

Lady crossed her arms. "I know my limits. Just because you don't doesn't mean I shouldn't use them."

My frustration sky-rocketed. I wanted to yell, but I kept my voice down low. "Lady. That's enough. You're acting like a know-it-all brat. You were just in the hospital, you didn't know your limits and you almost died because of it!"

Lady shook her head, and her red gaze trapped mine. "You're wrong! When I used my powers on that woman... I knew I could die. I determined that it was worth it."

And that only frustrated me more. How could I argue with this!? "How dare you be so careless with your life, you brat?! Why are you acting like this? You changed, and it's not just your evolution- something happened. What was it? My sweet little Ralts would never speak to me like-"

Lady kissed me.

Her tiny hands gripped my face with surprising strength, and she pressed her sweet mouth against mine. The first thing that hit me was her scent. It was alien, but sweet. I felt how soft her lips were, and I was lost in them. I couldn't have stopped her even if I wanted to. I felt like a bastard. One second, crying about my baby Ralts and her lost innocence- the next, kissing her desperately.

And that's just what I did. I kissed her like a mindless madman had taken over.

Her crimson eyes mesmerized me. I couldn't look away from them as her delicate tongue slipped between my lips and graced my own. Our tongues swirled as I shifted. I pulled her into my lap.

Lady whimpered as her tiny frame pushed against mine, and her bottom smushed into my groin. I couldn't help myself. I felt a rush of lightheadedness.

Still, I couldn't look away from those crimson, glittering gems.

A string of saliva connected our lips as Lady pulled away.

I was in a daze as she spoke again, her voice strong and clear in my mind.

"Last night you wouldn't even kiss me. Now, I could get you to do whatever I wanted, master. And I know what we both want. That's what's different. So please... stop treating me like I don't know what's going on- I may not know everything, but I am not a child... For now... For now, I won't use my powers. I'll listen to you; Master, because I love you and I don't want you to be worried but... You don't even have a plan to leave here yet, master, but I do. Do you understand that, master? You can't keep letting things spiral out of control. I won't let you hurt yourself in this place... If you don't figure out how to get us out of here, then I will."

Without another word, Lady slipped out of my lap and walked over to her Pokeball. With one last accusing, searing look my way- she returned herself.

The only sound in the room was my two sleeping Pokemon, and my own racing heart.

I slumped there against the bed.

... She was right...

I needed to get the fuck out of here.

Screw another day, screw a week- I'd burn this place down before risking having anything happen to my precious partners- Something clicked into place in my mind.

From the corner of the ceiling, Vanessa's camera blinked, staring at me.

Was she watching me right now? Did she like that little moment between Lady and I?

I clenched my fists as I sat there. I'd already cried like a baby. Already felt regret a thousand times over.

So I was gonna do it.

I was actually gonna burn this shithole to the ground.

And Cam? Dia? Noella? They would help me. Whether they liked it or not.

Lady wasn't surprised when she reappeared in that familiar red light so soon.

In fact, she was smiling, as if she'd been waiting for me.

As if her faith in me had never wavered.

She knelt across from me, listening keenly, as I murmured, "Ok... Here's the plan..."

Authors Note:

Times are rough right now for everyone. I hope that this update can cast a little light in all your lives- leaving a review with your honest thoughts would definitely shed some light in mine.

Many thanks to Gaijin Gamer for consistently being my beta reader- the story wouldn't nearly be as good if I didn't have you. Love you bro!

Thanks again to Cosmonium, for the fanart and continued support with your own side story - GKEA: Living at Large- Make sure to give that a read if you like female protagonists x Pokemon content!

Thanks, Krazz, for keeping Billy Benjamin and his story alive. Check out the Billy Benjamin Saga if you want some honest good fun!

And thanks Matt, the main man- best admin a guy could ever ask for! You really do keep the discord going!

And thanks to all you readers, for sticking with me and my shitty ass update schedule. I'd like to promise I'll have a more routine update schedule, but life just hasn't played those cards for me yet. That being said, please do join the new discord- Issues with the old one forced my hand, but a link to the new one is readily available- just ask for it in Pm or click the Archive of Our Own link in the GKEA: Sinnoh Saga Bio!