Sorry this one took so long. I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and I hope you enjoy!
Milo wiped the sweat pouring down his brow, the setting sun casting a warm glow on the land, but the extreme heat of the day still lingering on the hard worker. Ever since the rogue Dynamax incident at the gym, it had to be closed down temporarily for repairs, which gave the young man more time to dedicate to his farm.
"Milo!" Called a familiar voice. A young woman stepped onto the field as he was moving some large hay bales for the farm Pokemon. He threw one by one into the barn and greeted her.
"Nessa! What can I do for you?" His fellow gym leader was a very beautiful woman with a thin, athletic body and dark skin. Her straight black hair with blue streaks shone in the afternoon light.
"I heard your gym is down. How about a battle to keep you sharp?" She held out her pokeball with a determined frown. Milo couldn't help but chuckle. Ever the competitive one, she considered him her greatest rival, and while he was honored to be given such a high position in her mind, he thought he was far too easygoing to be that. His greatest rival was himself. Still, a battle didn't sound too bad right about now.
"Sure, why not?"
Closing the barn doors, he walked further out with his friend following. She lifted her leg straight in the air as she winded up for the pitch, and she threw the ball in one smooth motion. Her Drednaw popped out and opened his heavy jaw threateningly.
Seeing as she was starting with her strongest, Milo released Flapple, who flapped his wings to keep himself afloat. They each commanded their Pokemon and watched as they began to battle.
"So how's that Pokemon you and your team took down?" Nessa asked. Milo thought that was strange, she usually waited to make conversation until after they were done battling.
"I don't know," he answered, "I haven't had a chance to check in on the trainer. I don't know where she lives, but I'm sure she's doing fine; I can tell her trainer's a great person."
"Really?" She raised an eyebrow. "You've met her?"
"Oh yeah," he chuckled, "she's nice. She reminds me of a Wigglytuff, and she's a baker, how cool is that!"
"You should look her up, she sounds nice." She suggests. "But maybe drop the Wigglytuff comparison."
He tilted his head in confusion. "What, why?"
"I don't think a girl wants to be compared to a balloon Pokemon like Wigglytuff. She might think you're calling her round."
Milo frowned. It was Dorothy's hair that reminded him of the Pokemon, not her body. He didn't see how that could be offensive, but he didn't argue. Instead he shrugged and carried on with the battle.
Back at Dorothy's house, two days had passed and the woman was moving frantically around the kitchen while the oven hummed with use. Leafeon was sitting calmly in at the entrance as he watched his trainer.
Tsareena had been exhausted from the event, the incredible surge in power draining her of all her energy. Dorothy had waited on her hand and foot, giving her all the massages and poffins along with some soothing oils she bought online from her old hometown. When the Pokemon finally showed signs of returning to normal, Dorothy helped her around the house with a careful hand, holding onto her and watching for any signs of falling or fatigue. Leafeon could tell the constant doting was starting to get on Tsareena's nerves. She was used to being independent, Dorothy's dutiful protector, but he also knew her heart outweighed her pride. Dorothy needed to feel needed, and she needed to know that her Pokemon was safe, so Tsareena swallowed her irritation and allowed her kind trainer to take care of her. Besides, he knew she liked it more than she was willing to admit.
Now that she's starting to return to normal, Dorothy laid Tsareena on the couch with a bag of poffins and a cozy blanket to relax while she worked on a cake.
I don't know what his favorite flavor is. Should I play it safe and make it chocolate? But what if he doesn't like chocolate? Some people don't. Maybe I should put multiple flavors? I don't want to overwhelm him! But two or three wouldn't be too bad, right?
Waving her hands nervously, she paced around the kitchen until the timer beeped. Jumping at the sound, the purple-haired woman scuttled to the oven and put on her oven mitts to protect herself from the heat. With careful hands, she pulled out the round cake and inhaled the scent of it. It was perfect.
Setting it down, she gathered the frosting and mulled over what flavors to use. Chocolate and strawberry seemed like the safe options. But her mind continued to torment her, saying that as a baker, she should be more creative with her confections.
Feeling something brush against her leg, she jolted and looked down to see Leafeon staring up at her. Right, everything was fine. It's just a cake, there's no need to freak out.
Taking a deep breath, Dorothy eventually chose a few more frosting flavors. She could add a nice design to the cake so it doesn't look boring.
She always enjoyed making art on her cakes. The more challenging the better, and it gave her a sense of accomplishment to see it completed.
Her tongue peeked out from the corner of her lip as she concentrated, the butter knife smoothing a light green color over the base. Small brown drops decorated the expanse of it and she added a darker layer of green to form the head and face of the Pokemon she was painting. Brown eyes were the finishing touch to it, and the purple-haired woman stepped away to survey her work. The Pokemon, Eldegoss, was one of Milo's strongest, and was the one he seemed to favor when it came to normal gym battles. Dorothy liked the mon for its cute appearance. It reminded her of Milo himself for some reason.
A small smile formed on her lips, the first one all day. It felt nice to do something other than fret over Tsareena's health. She knew she was smothering her, so this was a much needed distraction from the past two days.
With the gym closed down, Dorothy worried she wouldn't be able to find where Milo usually was. She didn't have his address or number, they'd only spoken once - twice if you counted the wordless interaction at the gym, and both times she'd been a bumbling idiot. But word around the town suggested he was quite easy to find, chasing after runaway Wooloo with his trusty Yamper behind him. So if she just walked around the farmlands, then hopefully she'd run into him.
"Good?" She asked Leafeon, who jumped on a chair near the table to look at his trainer's creation. The Pokemon's ears perked up and he let out a quiet 'oooh' in awe, his caramel-colored eyes widening. She recognized that look, and her hands swiftly removed the cake from the table.
"Uh-uh!" She exclaimed, holding it high above her head as her companion's tongue lolled out of his mouth. The sight made her chuckle and shake her head. He knew better than to get her dishes! "You little brat."
Returning his tongue back to his mouth, Leafeon's shoulders shook with silent laughter. He was hoping that would cheer her up.
Outside, Lilligant hummed quietly as she walked around the soft grounds of the garden. The plants were already growing nicely, the sweet scent of flowers barely peeking through the dirt. She needed to get sun every day to keep her flower in perfect bloom, and with Leafeon promising to watch over Dorothy, Lilligant stepped outside to soak it in and the delightfully fresh air.
Arms outstretched, she spun around with closed eyes and a peaceful smile on her face. Autumn would be approaching soon, and she happily anticipated the cooling air and the delicious pumpkins Dorothy would grow. She made the most wonderful treats from those!
A rustling noise sounded behind her in the bushes, interrupting her reverie. She attempted to brush it off as just being the wind, as it was becoming more common these days, but the next time it happened, it was closer to her destination, and footsteps could be heard padding in the dirt along with it.
Lilligant whipped her head around when the small pattering of feet surrounded her and high-pitched giggling emitted from the bush in front of her. It was like the mysterious force was teleporting. Could this be... the ghost?!
Dorothy nearly dropped her cake when the sliding glass door was swung open by her startled friend, the pale face of the flowering Pokemon showing a frightened visage as she hopped up and down frantically.
"What's wrong, Lilli?" Dorothy asked, setting the cake down and approaching her Pokemon.
She didn't respond, only shutting the door as quickly as she could without outright slamming it. The tense shoulders of the otherwise serene Pokemon lowered with a deep breath, and when she faced her trainer, a small smile was back on her face.
"Lil!" She said cheerfully, her hand going up to scratch her head with a bashful expression, her pale cheeks turning pink.
Dorothy raised an eyebrow. Lilligant may be responsible for calming her when she was anxious, but when the flowering Pokemon was by herself with no one to look after, she could get spooked fairly easily.
"Is there something out there?" She asked. Moving around her, she pushed the door open and went outside with Leafeon on her heels.
"What's going on?" Asked Tsareena's groggy voice.
Lilligant turned from watching Dorothy and Leafeon to see her friend entering the kitchen, her hand braced on the wall. She had just woken up from her nap to investigate the ruckus being made, her eyes droopy yet shining with interest.
"Oh, I... got startled..."
Tsareena was so strong, it was embarrassing to admit such a thing to her. Lilligant knew her role on the team; Tsareena was the protector, Leafeon was the leader, and she was the support. She wasn't built for battle. But getting startled over a little noise when her teammate has gone through far worse was humiliating!
Luckily, Tsareena didn't react, only humming in acknowledgement while she shuffled into the room. She was still tired it seemed, and sore, if her slow pace was anything to go by. "Dorothy finished the cake?"
Lilligant's eyes followed hers to see the cake.
Oh right, she thought, that's what she was doing. Her cheeks burned once again. At least she hadn't interrupted Dorothy while she was decorating.
Get a grip. You're the supposed to be the one that calms people down, not the other way around!
Shaking her head, she slapped her hands over her cheeks while Tsareena occupied herself with the cake.
Meanwhile, Dorothy was searching the garden with Leafeon, whose skilled nose sniffed for any intruders. If it was in fact a ghost, then he doubted he'd smell anything, but it didn't hurt to check for any other beings.
"Nothing over here." Dorothy told him, approaching with slumped shoulders. She really wanted to see a ghost Pokemon. "Anything on your end?"
Leafeon's rump could be seen sticking out of a bush as he sniffed around, his tail waving lazily. When he turned back to Dorothy, he was holding a large ball of cotton in his mouth.
"Again?" Dorothy groaned. "We really need to figure out what's leaving these."
"It's a nice cake," Tsareena observed quietly, her chin resting on her hands as she admired the design.
Lilligant nodded. "I hope Milo likes it."
Milo. That made Tsareena pause. He saved her and brought her back to Dorothy. She was grateful, but the entire ordeal had left her with a myriad of conflicted feelings.
As a Bounsweet, Tsareena was helpless, weak, vulnerable to the large predators of the world. Dorothy was the one who brought her home and gave her her first sense of safety and kindness, and the fruit Pokemon had never forgotten the warmth that encompassed her trainer's presence. She vowed to always protect that warmth.
When she was defeated by Milo and his allies, that cold, vulnerable feeling returned, reducing her back into a helpless little Bounsweet. But the large hand that rested on her head just moments later washed away that coldness, the gentleness soothing the anxieties running through her entire being. She'd never felt that with another person - she didn't trust easy, Dorothy had been burned by other humans enough to leave Tsareena on edge, but Milo...
The glass door slid open again, pulling her from her thoughts. Dorothy and Leafeon walked in, the former with slumped shoulders.
"I take it nothing was there." Lilligant said. Leafeon only nodded, the cotton preventing him from speaking. He spat it out with a loud 'pleh' and flicked his tongue, grimacing at the dryness in his mouth.
"Thupid cotton," He responded. He padded over to his water bowl and began lapping up the liquid to clear his mouth, and Lilligant fought a giggle at her friend's grumpy disposition.
Figuring she should make herself useful, Tsareena picked up the slightly soggy ball and carried it to the trash can.
"Wait," Dorothy said suddenly, halting her Pokemon's movements.
Tsareena sighed. Was she really going to stop her from doing this? It was a cotton ball!
"We've just been throwing these out, maybe I can learn to make you guys sweaters or something." She took the bundle from her friend and eyed it thoughtfully.
Tsareena raised an eyebrow. She loved her trainer, but her sense of fashion was not something she shared.
"Hehehehehe..."
Everyone's ears were alerted to the sound emitting from above. Tsareena straightened and got in a fighting stance, her legs poised and ready. Leafeon immediately stopped his drinking and crouched low, his ears perked up to listen closely, and Lilligant jumped in surprise and ran to hide behind Dorothy.
Dorothy kept a surprisingly calm face and looked for the source of the sound. Her hand calmed Lilligant and cautiously strode forward. "I have some poffins left if you want some."
The night after Tsareena's incident, Dorothy had made too many poffins in a panic and left a bowl out for the ghost; the next morning, not a crumb was left. Since then, everyone was on the lookout for it.
"Oooh..." Everyone's eyes trailed upwards where the sound was coming from, but nothing was there except for the blank ceiling.
"Alright... I'll put them out for you."
The giggling continued and a swift breeze passed through the group, making everyone shiver. Dorothy brushed her hair back with her hand and nodded firmly. If their new housemate wanted poffins, then she would get them some!
Tomorrow she had to go to work, so after leaving a new plate of poffins, Dorothy picked up the freshly made cake and exited the house with her antsy team in tow. They were all quite eager to be away from the house for a while.
She made her way down the same road she walked when she first entered Turrfield. Luckily there was no sign of that giant Wooloo that nearly knocked her over, but others of the same species grazed lazily on the grass on the other side of the fence. Unfortunately, there was also no sign of Milo.
She debated asking some passing people if they'd seen him anywhere, but when she opened her mouth to speak, her throat seemed to swell up and her mind blanked.
Dang it! She had been making so much progress, but that Dynamax incident had her acting like a timid little Growlithe with its tail between its legs again! She cleared her throat and huffed in frustration. She was not going to allow one setback to degrade all her progress.
"Excuse me, do you know where-"
"FLAAAAAAAA!"
Dorothy's question was promptly cut off by a red apple hurdling straight towards her and landing only a few feet away from where she was standing. Letting out a surprised shriek, she ducked her head and covered the cake from the dirt kicked up by the crash.
When Tsareena popped out, her purple-haired trainer got a huge sense of deja vu. Why did this keep happening?
Standing in front of her human as the dust settled, Tsareena instantly recognized the Pokemon that had landed by them and silently wished she had decided to stay at home.
"Ack- Pluegh!" Flapple sputtered, flapping his wings frantically as he righted himself. The little dragon type looked up when a shadow covered him and saw the female he and his teammates had fought just two days ago. "Oh! It's you!"
She shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot and avoided his gaze. "Yeah... I remember you..."
"How are you feeling? Dynamaxing for the first time can be pretty tough!"
"Um, a little tired, but nothing I can't handle." She responded, standing a little straighter. He didn't need to know how exhausted she'd been, physically and mentally. But if he noticed her unconvincing lie, he didn't show it.
She felt the weight of Dorothy's hand on her head and her shoulders relaxed slightly. Flapple's eyes landed on her and he gave a wide grin, which made his goofy face look even goofier in Tsareena's opinion.
"We were just talking about you two!" He exclaimed.
She stiffened in response. Talking? She wasn't sure how she felt about that.
"Oh, hey!" Called a voice. When Dorothy turned, she saw the man she was looking for jogging towards her, tailed by a very pretty woman. She recognized her from TV as one of the gym leaders. Stepping over the fence, Milo grinned when Flapple returned to his side and nodded to Dorothy. "We just keep meeting like this."
Dorothy smiled tightly and gave a small nod, the cake feeling heavy in her hands all of a sudden. "Mhm."
The female gym leader stood beside him and put one hand on her hip lazily, gazing at the sight before her with an unreadable expression. "I think I won, by the way."
Milo nodded. He had been far too casual during the battle, seeing it as a fun exercise while he waited for his gym to open back up, but apparently Nessa didn't see it the same and went all out, causing his Flapple to get sent flying.
"Sorry about that, buddy." He told his Pokemon sheepishly, his hand scratching the back of his neck. His friend merely crooned and landed on his shoulder to nuzzle his cheek, causing him to chuckle and pat his little head.
Dorothy couldn't help but find the display cute. He seemed so gentle for such a buff man, it was heartwarming to watch him interact with such a small creature.
After returning his Pokemon to his ball, he turned to Dorothy. "Oh, Dorothy, right?" She nodded and he gestured to Nessa. "This is Nessa, she's the gym leader of Hulbury."
Dorothy gave a small polite wave. Nessa was so pretty; it made her feel a little self-conscious with her frumpy outfit. Nessa nodded at her and returned her smile with one of her own.
"Nice to meet you. You're the baker." It was more of a statement then a question, and before Dorothy could wonder how she knew, she remembered the cake in her hands.
"Oh- uh, yes." She stuttered. Clearing her throat, she held out the box to Milo. "I made this for you, a- as a gift for saving Tsareena."
His green eyes widened and his grin became bigger. "Oh? You didn't have to do that!" He carefully took it out of her hands and lifted the lid, looking over the art on the cake with appraising eyes. "This is amazing, I almost don't want to eat it."
Nessa leaned over and eyed it, her eyebrows raising as she gave a half smile. "It looks good. I'll eat it if you don't want to."
"No way!" He chuckled, pulling the box away to glare playfully at her.
They were obviously close, Dorothy wondered if there was something deeper going on between them. Social media painted them as rivals due to Milo's type advantage and Nessa's skill and competitiveness, but many people thought they'd make a great power couple. She could see why, they were both very attractive and had an obvious love for battle, but something about that sentiment made her chest tighten. She shoved it down and turned her eyes to Tsareena. She looked a bit dazed, and Dorothy could see a slight unsteadiness to her stance.
Milo, who had looked up from the cake, lifted his head and observed the tired Pokemon. "How has Tsareena been feeling since the incident?"
"She's... been very tired." Said Dorothy. She laid a hand on her Pokemon's head and gently rubbed the crown. "She was really sore afterwards."
Milo nodded in understanding. "That happens after a Pokemon's first Dynamax. The process usually isn't so bad if their trainer has a Dynamax band, but because it was a freak accident, she got the full effects."
That made her feel even worse. Going to the tournament had been such a mista-
"I'm sorry I didn't check in on you," He continued, "I don't know where you live. But I knew she'd be in great hands, and look! She's walking around just two days later." Walking to the two of them, he crouched down to look Tsareena in the eyes. "Most Pokemon stay sore for almost an entire week, but she's up and about already."
"Well, she's always bounced back fast." Dorothy responded quietly.
He grinned up at her. "But I bet you were a great help in that." He looked back at Tsareena and began talking to her. "You had the best trainer looking after you and got all the best foods, right Tsareena?"
His endless praise was making her heart do a strange jump. She bit the inside of her cheek and smiled shyly, fighting off a blush. Tsareena, in spite of her usual arrogance, matched her trainer's expression and looked away with a redness to her cheeks.
"I hated seeing her so hurt. I kind of panic made a bunch of poffins to help her feel better." Dorothy admitted.
He chuckled and stood up, leaving a gentle pat on Tsareena's head. "I bet those tasted good. Are those a specialty of yours?"
"Sort of. They're a common treat in Sinnoh."
Apologize, you idiot! You destroyed his gym! Her mind shouted. She twisted the hem of her blouse nervously as she prepared her apology.
"Uh... listen, I'm really sorry about your gym. If I had been paying attention to Tsareena, then that would've never happened." Instinctively, she leaned forward and bowed her head in an apologetic gesture. It was common for people in Sinnoh to do it out of respect, and though this was a different region with different cultural norms, the act felt necessary to her in conveying her regret.
"Hey, don't worry about it!" She heard Milo say from her prone position. "It wasn't your fault. This incident happened all over Galar, it was just some troublemakers causing a panic. And no one was seriously hurt! So don't feel bad."
Dorothy stood back up straight and gave him a questioning look. All over the region? She hadn't heard that; she just thought it was an isolated incident, not a region wide one - but then again, she was too busy caring for her Pokemon to check the news much.
"Oh, I... didn't know that..." She suddenly felt foolish. "But still, I'm sorry for causing you trouble. And... thank you, for everything."
"No problem! I'm just glad you and your Pokemon are safe." He rubbed the back of his head with a bashful smile on his face.
Nessa, who had been watching the exchange silently, came up beside Milo and crossed her arms over her chest. "If you're new in town, why don't you come to a party I'm hosting at my house next week? We're celebrating the release of my new clothing brand. Milo and the other gym leaders will be there, along with a few of my friends. It'll be a fun time."
When she heard Nessa's invite, her mind momentarily blanked. A party? When was the last time Dorothy had been invited to a party? Never, she kept her head down back at home to avoid the stares and bullying, and people who knew of her were more than happy to give her a wide berth.
"That'd be fun, wouldn't it?" Milo chimed in. "You could see Hulbury and meet new people, maybe you'll make some friends, too! I'll give you the address."
"Uh- well..." Her mind raced as she wracked her brain for excuses not to go. "I... I work a lot next week... we just opened and I'm the only baker..."
"The party's on the weekend," Nessa added. "Will you be working then?"
She wasn't. "No, but..." They just moved in, there's a ghost haunting the place, her Pokemon needs her attention after growing five times her normal size and going on a rampage, none of those were good enough excuses. She was finished packing, the ghost wasn't harmful - unless you counted eating too many poffins, and Tsareena would be back to normal by next week. It was so impolite to reject an invitation, especially from a gym leader who was kind enough to offer after she'd been irresponsible in watching her Pokemon properly!
Eventually she sighed and answered honestly, "I'm sorry, I'd love to go, but I don't do well in large crowds." She bowed her head once more, but in a more subdued manner. "I appreciate the invite."
Nessa remained silent before giving a lazy shrug. "That's alright, there'll be more parties."
Even with those words, Dorothy still felt awful. She lifted her head but was unable to keep the remorse off her face. Her hands were starting to tremble, and she hid them behind her back.
Tsareena noticed the obvious signs of her trainer's growing anxiety and stepped closer in case Lilligant was needed.
"You know, if you change your mind, you can always call." Milo said with that easygoing smile. "Nessa knows a lot of people. You can have her number."
"Milo's too," The woman said, taking her phone out of her shorts.
"Yeah, both of ours."
Dorothy watched as they took out their phones and she clumsily typed in their numbers with shaky thumbs. Two. She now had two more phone numbers in her contacts, and they weren't work related. That was progress, wasn't it?
"Thank you," She replied. "I'll call if I change it."
She doubted she would. Crowds of people weren't her thing. The stadium incident was only two days ago and she was only coming down from it now. What if something else went wrong? She didn't know if she could handle another potential accident so soon after the last.
"We better get going." Milo said. "It was great seeing you again, thanks for the cake! It looks delicious!" He nodded to Tsareena and gave a salute as he backed away "Bye Tsareena, take good care of her now."
"Nice meeting you." Nessa gave a small smile and walked away with a sway of her hips.
"Goodbye," Murmured Dorothy, waving at them. When they were a good distance away, she let out a long, shaky breath and dropped her shoulders. Her body felt boneless and heavy, and when she looked down at her hands, she saw them trembling still.
She'd been making so much progress. The cake was made and given to Milo, Tsareena was healthy and recovering smoothly, she was invited to a party and got two contact numbers. By all accounts, today was a success, so why did she feel so lousy?
Dorothy had offered to return Tsareena to her pokeball, but the fruit Pokemon refused, wanting to stay by her side as they silently walked home. She could tell her trainer was feeling discouraged just by her slouched posture alone, and she wanted to be there to offer some support. Her small purple hand reached out to hold Dorothy's, and she relaxed when she felt her fingers curl around it.
When they made it home, Dorothy sighed and released her other Pokemon from their confines, and when they gave concerned looks, she only smiled and retreated to her room.
Tsareena stepped forward but was stopped by a leafy tail blocking her way. She gave a questioning look to Leafeon, but he just shook his head and padded to the couch.
"She's being too hard on herself," murmured Lilligant, absently fluffing up a decorative pillow on the couch. "Going to a party would be very stressful, it was wise of her to decline. And she wasn't rude about it."
"Yeah, but she hates that she can't do it all." Reasoned Leafeon. He pawed at the carpet as he thought about their trainer and sat on his haunches with a huff.
"I remember when she couldn't even leave the house without getting a panic attack. She's come so far, but she needs to realize that if she forces it too much, it'll backfire."
Tsareena hops up on the couch and lays her head on the newly fluffed pillow. "Milo was very patient. She's so awkward, but he didn't care. That Nessa girl is suspicious, though."
Leafeon huffed and shook his head at her assumption. He wasn't in the mood to refute it. "If you say so."
After changing into her nightgown, Dorothy plopped on her bed with a long sigh. She'd gifted the cake to Milo, but she barely made any conversation. He was polite to not mention it, but she could tell her behavior was off putting. She wasn't used to talking much, though, and her Pokemon destroyed his gym and put him out of the job until it could get fixed! He had every right to dislike her and avoid her, but he didn't. He just gave her that sweet smile and told her not to worry.
Didn't he say it happened all over the region? I should've asked what he meant. I'm so stupid.
And Nessa, oh, she was so pretty. Dorothy remembered reading that she was a model, and she certainly looked it. Her body and face were perfect, and Dorothy felt so intimidated. She could only dream of looking like her. And she seemed polite enough, but she could've been pretending for Milo's sake, but then why did she invite Dorothy to the party and give her her number? Dorothy hadn't counted on another gym leader being there when she gave Milo the cake, and it threw her off.
Her thoughts continued to spiral and she groaned in frustration and rubbed her face. She was hoping to get to sleep without needing Lilligant's help, but her mind had other ideas and just wouldn't let her rest.
The gang turned when they heard the door creak open and saw their trainer walk out with a sheepish look. "Sorry Lil. I can't sleep."
The flowering Pokemon immediately approached the woman and led her back in the room, her sweet scent emitting from her flower and soothing Dorothy. The others followed suit and watched as Dorothy laid down, this time looking much more at ease. It wasn't often Lilligant was needed to put her to sleep these days, but she was more than happy to give her assistance.
She cuddled up to Dorothy as the woman held her head close to her nose, humming in appreciation as she felt her mind grow fuzzy. Leafeon hopped up and rested his head on Dorothy's legs while Tsareena laid her head on her back, the purple haired woman sandwiched between her loving companions. They couldn't speak her language, but the meaning was clear; 'we're here for you.'
Her lips turned upwards and she whispered quietly before drifting off. "Thank you."
Thank you to everyone for your continued support. See you next time!