"We're here!" West shouted for the whole city to hear. Crystal walked pass the snow covered forest without stopping to notice people questioning where it came from and if the two were responsible since West's hair was sharp due to ice freezing his head and Crystal walked out untouched

"It's warm!" He shouted again

"Hurry up, will you? I have to see my sister" Crystal said

"Oh right!" He hurried over, rubbing his arms "Are you cold?"

"I don't get cold" he chuckled

"Oh right, you're the princess of ice, you don't get cold, huh?" almost thinking that was true, she shook it off and stopped in front of the Pokémon center to sit on a bench and take her medicine "So where is your sister?" He sat next to her

"Hm..." he wants to have a gym battle and she wants to see the gym leader. They're going in the same direction. She has to keep him from figuring out that they're related, and she has to keep Samantha from seeing her when West is around. Because of her new outfits of different pastel colored dresses and running shoes, and years of not being around, it won't be easy even for her own blood to recognize her

"Well, not knowing where she can be, taken that I haven't seen her in years, we can always just go straight to the gym you've been wanting to challenge" trying his hardest not to cheer, he stopped

"Wait, how do you know she's even living here if you haven't seen her in years?"

"My parents tell me where they live. They don't all live in the same place. So that's why I know"

"I heard this place is famous for their circus" Crystal looked back at a memory of Samantha loving the idea of joining the circus. She loved the idea of walking on large balloon balls, fire-breathing, training Pokémon to do tricks, and balancing on strings with a stick.

Attempting to do these things when she was younger, she always end up getting broken bones, but it never stopped her from practicing to be the best. It wouldn't surprise Crystal to see Samantha choosing to have her gym here just to be part of the circus

"Want to check it out after eating?" West asked

"You mean today?" He pointed at a nearby poster of Samantha wearing a red one-piece suit while holding up a hula hoop and surrounded by a Rapidash, Zorua, an Alolan Marowark, Darmanitan, Flareon, and Volcarona.

The only ones Crystal knew were hers was Rapidash, Volcarona, Darmanitan, and Flareon, only because those were the Pokémon that she grew up with and looked like evolved through time

"Yeah, there's a show today! I want to see who this girl is before I challenge her."

"Wanting to get to know your opponent... That's smart" she smiled a little "Not bad, but it'll take more than that to defeat her. I mean... Not picking sides or anything" which she really doesn't care about "but you have one Pokémon while I heard she uses 3."

"I heard she has four" Flareon is not a fighter, like Samantha. Though a gym leader, she's more of a lover than anything

"How should I know? I don't know much to confirm anything" which was true. West nodded and looked around

"I'll have to... catch more Pokémon, huh?" He smiled "but I have Houndour and Eevee, and if I need to... I'll use my special Pokémon if I'm in trouble."

"Even if Houndour is in good shape, Eevee hasn't gotten enough training, and what's this Pokémon you're hiding from me?"

"No, I'm not hiding it from you! I just want to make it a surprise" he took out a love ball "This Pokémon right here helps me win my battles in the battle tower, and it also saved my life..." he smiled down at it "When I was younger, I had this friend who backstabbed me. He wasn't a true friend and laughed at my face when betraying me

"-I was bullied by these kids, and I soon realized that he was part of them, only using my friendship to find out embarrassing things about me and tell everyone about it" he frowned, staring at the floor "I was fed up with them and wanted to get angry, but I remembered something my mom told me. Anger will not make me feel better and that it was okay to cry. That was the reason why I'm not like my family, who explodes in anger like Aaron or Rhea. I ran away crying after what that guy did to me... I feel like that so called friend was persuaded by that bully... because he wasn't a bad kid up until he met that bully. That bully ruined him, he ruined everything. I would never forget his name till this day"

"Which was?" Crystal asked, trying not to sound too curious

"Ryan" that sounds familiar, almost "Anyway... I ran away and got lost in the forest around the battle tower. Keep in mind that that forest was dangerous and filled with high leveled Pokémon who could easily kill a kid like me with no Pokémon at all. Luckily the Pokémon didn't care about me, but I couldn't find my way back home. It was late and I was tired, so I decided to rest" his hands were shaking "I suffer from night terror, and I woke up to find myself about to fall on the edge of a cliff before this Pokémon rescued me. I haven't had a night terror ever since, because I knew this Pokémon kept me safe"

"So that's why Rhea said you were sensitive..?" He chuckled, calming down

"Sort of... Sorry I randomly told you this, but I thought I'd give you an explanation of this Pokémon before I show it off to you. I can give you a hint of what it is" she bit her lips, not saying anything "full moon"

"That doesn't tell me anything" he stretched his legs

"Exactly!" He offered a hand "Come on! We've been walking that forest for hours, and I'm surprised we didn't get lost like that Admin" she took his hand and stood

"She was only playing a trick. The path went straight" she huffed "Irritating people... She looked empty-handed. How was she possibly going to take us and the ice orb? Doesn't legends say that it can freeze someone to death? Like I would hand myself over like that... Good thing I had Castform to help me"

"Right? She called me a slave... She knew that version of the legend. I don't seem like a slave, do I?" She looked away, ignoring that stupid kind of question

"I'm not going to answer that" he hugged her from behind, making her blush "W-What are you doing?"

"I was thinking back when she tried getting you to go over to her and surrender. The thought of failing to keep you safe kinda got to me" huh? "Sorry, I'm being overly dramatic. I just like knowing that I can be a good friend to someone who thinks of me as a friend as well. No one is going to get you, not while I'm here. Okay?" She looked down, nodding

Even if he was equivalent to an actual friend, Crystal still doesn't know what it means to be one. She's still wanting to see how he would react once finding out who she is, but the fact that he might or might not care about who she is somewhat affects her, though she does like how he isn't like the rest of his family.

He's a calm soul, quite loyal, and gives her space when she needs it. She knows she won't backstab him... in the friend department. He is her first friend after all and she doesn't care whether he'd find out. She can be his friend, but will he be the one to backstab her once he finds out she's an Otashi?

West let go and rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed "Sorry, I just really needed that after telling you about my Pokémon earlier" she stared at his slight pained eyes, knowing he was trying to hold in the hurt in his heart. What did this Ryan guy do to make him like this?

She felt a twitch in her heart and reached to hold his cheeks, surprising him. They stood there, looking at each other for a long while until she slapped him once, making him jump

"What was-" she turned away

"We're friends, alright? I'm not Ryan. So don't think too much about it. I didn't do anything to make you think otherwise... or have I?" She raised a brow

"No. Even if you're cold, a little heartless, and mean, you still have a warm soul" he took her hand and kissed her knuckle, increasing her body heat "You're wise and know what you want. I respect you, princess" this moment sort of felt familiar in a way. Her heart kept twitching from a memory she couldn't see, but her body felt. Froslass appeared as soon as it happened

"Froslass, where have you been?" She asked. West had an idea

"Oh, Cris!" Again with the nickname "Since Froslass isn't officially your Pokémon or anything, and since I don't have that many Pokémon, can I borrow her?"

"You're kidding, right? I never battled with her. What makes you think she's willing to listen to anyone's commands? Let alone... She's a ghost type. She probably won't even listen to anyone at all"

"I know. She's the body of the actual Snow Princess who turned into a hollow piece of ice and came to life to continue her body collecting those who get lost in the Frost forest. Her soul came to you in the marketplace of Everest town to personally hand over the ice orb and her actual body took hold of Froslass to hold safely since its following you to make sure you're well because of your condition" he said without stopping for a breath. Crystal's face turned blue, hiding the terror in her face of Froslass being an iced corpse following her. Froslass tilted its head to the side confused

"You're... going too far" she hugged her body, holding in her shaking "What's that got to do with anything...? and you're asking the wrong person anyway... ask Froslass for all I care"

"Good idea!" He squatted down to the ice-type eyeing him "How about it, Fros? Do you want to be part of my team for today? This will be the only time!" He put his hands together "I swear!" Froslass's cheeks grew pink a little, confusing the trainers at the ability to turn a different color on her ice

"Talking to Pokémon again, Cousin?" Aaron walked over

"Aaron!" West stood. Music could be heard not too far from where they were standing. A crowd started forming when a parade started walking the streets. People playing drums led the parade, backed up by ladies in one piece suits and feathers dancing to please the crowd, leading the road of floats following them. Crystal took notice of the hearts in West and Aaron's eyes

"Wow... They're hot!" West drooled. Crystal looked back at the parade, trying to ignore that comment and drooling as much as she can

"I'll say. They can call me anytime" West snapped out of it and looked over at Aaron confused

"By the way... I didn't expect to see you here" Once the girls left the view, Aaron put his attention back to his cousin

"It's been a minute!" Aaron smirked

"It has! How's your journey going?"

"It's only the beginning. I've decided to represent the family name by challenging the gym leaders of Kannena!" West's jaw dropped while Crystal snorted at the joke. He can't be serious...

"What? I was doing that! After what happened to Rhea, I decided to do this! I told you that!" Aaron laughed

"It's okay! There's nothing wrong with any of us representing the family... besides, I was kidding. I'm doing it to show off my strength" he looked at Crystal staring at the floats "and grow stronger so I can challenge you! What do you say? Want to battle?" She huffed, annoyed

"I'm not going to waste my time on you. The only reason why I battled you in the first place was for Eevee, not for your entertainment" he glared. West waved his arms to lightened the tension he and everyone around them felt

"Let's lighten up the mood here guys. Aaron, your Eevee is doing good by the way. He's getting the hang of his balance better than usual" Aaron calmed down and smiled at him

"Oh, that's good to hear"

"What's this about balance?" Crystal questioned

"Eevee was found a few months back, hurt and hungry. It was still young when we found it, and it had trust issues" West explained "He couldn't ever keep a good balance, but Aaron worked on that to help improve its disability"

"I know I was hard on it, and I know I have anger issues. I tried to help it, but my attitude was getting the better of me, and Eevee lost its confidence in me" Aaron sighed "I'm not giving up on him just yet!" He stood in front of Crystal, tall and confident "I'll show him that I can be better! I already set up an appointment with the gym leader of Summerlight City. Good thing you're here too. I want to show you how much you're going to regret looking down on me!" His loudness caught the attention of everyone around them and even others in the parade

"Aaron... calm down" West waved his hands, sweat dropping

"Looks like your attitude hasn't changed" Crystal said. Aaron's face turned red "I don't know why you're bothering to put up a fight with me. I didn't do anything to you"

"You took my Eevee from me!" She groaned, spacing out a bit

"Again with this..." Froslass flinched, seeing Crystal's body shaking and feel it weakening "You're letting your anger get the better of your brain... Not that I expect it to be any bigger than your ego"

"Say that again! I dare you! You little brat! Who do you think you are!? Looking down at me when I'm taller than you! Look into my eyes and say that again!" She snapped her eyes to his, shocking him to see the anger she made possible for him to see only, and had him fall on his butt, now definitely being looked down on

"Shut your..." Twitching her eye annoyed, Froslass felt the tension and lifted its arms to aim a shadow ball, showing Aaron that he was going too far again and to back off. West stood in front of her, wanting to separate the two

"We need to cool down, okay?" He helped Aaron up "Eevee is fine, so stop bringing him to this conversation when it was already dismissed. You're letting your anger get the better of you!" Crystal stared at her shaking hands like she was having a spasm. Froslass took her hands to hide the shaking

It's happening already, so soon. She learned to keep control of her anger long ago to avoid these kinds of episodes. Feeling her muscles weakening on her, she glared to herself for failing to keep herself calm and lowered her hat while the boys talked

"With that attitude, Eevee is never going to accept you back" West said. Cleffa woke up despite all the yelling and shaking and hopped on Crystal's shoulder to see her face stiffening, trying to hide the fact that she was utterly powerless at the moment and knows her speech will be lacking in a minute

"Not talking anymore, huh?" Aaron huffed "I'm really tired of you... I'll show you once I win the Summerlight City gym leader!" he pointed at her hat "I'm going to battle you! So you better be prepared for that! My Pokémon went through a lot, so I'm not going to lose to you again!" A pair of boots landed on the ground unexpectedly in between them, breaking the "fight"

West snickered with a wide smile. It probably wasn't apparent to others that this guy pretending to be West was actually a Pokémon and throwing everyone off, especially West, but it was obvious to Crystal... seeing a tail behind him wagging around

"Hey! Knock it off!" Another same pair of boots came jumping from a float and landed between them, grabbing on the imposters tail to turn it back to a Zorua laughing at its prank

Edited on grammarly 12/5/18