No matter how much she turned, her blanket wasn't enough to keep her in a lovely sleep she always had. Feeling a poking on her cheek, she opened her eyes to see the Froslass from yesterday standing over her, reminding her she wasn't back in the castle, but out in the open with only her cloak and dress to warm her cold skin.

She sat up from leaning on a tall dead tree behind a fence and away from the houses, later to stand when yawning and accidentally fell forward on her hands

"Oh man..." she bit her lips behind her scarf "I haven't felt this sort of numbness in years" back before, and during her time in the hospital, her body would often stop on its own. Her consciousness would fall immediately, sending her to sleep without anyone ever knowing why. The medicine she takes helps the problem, and she hasn't felt that way since taking her medication Wyatt recommended better than the doctors. Speaking of medicine...

"W-what time is it?" Her Castform came over and handed her her bag "oh..?" She dug inside to grab her morning medicine "so..." she looked up at her surroundings of the outdoors. Seeing houses of various designs, and children running around in the snow, building snowmen while the adults worked in the market. Crystal hid deeper behind the tree to stare at them all. She wasn't just seeing things... She's really out the castle!

"Wow... This is better than I imagined" Froslass handed her a cup of water "huh? Where did you get this?" Froslass pointed towards a nearby well. Taking the pill with the cold water, she shivered off the chills and sighed, rubbing her arm from the sudden shaking. Even if she was wearing boots, pants under her heavy long skirt with fur underneath, gloves, a scarf over her mouth, and a thick heavy cloak, it was all just in case of sudden shivers even if she knows she's pretty much immune to feeling cold

"If the temperatures don't rise dramatically, I should prevent myself from getting sick. I have to be careful" Castform sat on her hood over her head "can't overthink things. We can always come back to this town when we're coming home. We need to find the train" walking away from the tree and out to the public, she had eyes on her from the suspicious clothing she wore

Ignoring it all, she soaked in as much as she could see under the hood hiding most of her sight. Her main reason to hide was to avoid recognition, even when knowing no one knew her, she didn't want to risk Wyatt going out and asking people if they've seen her

It was lovely to see the open snow covered town she never got the chance to really look at when the day she traveled here with Wyatt to arrive at the castle for the first time a few years back. It's a big change from seeing the narrow hallways of her home or the throne room she spends her time in when trainers annoy her for a battle

"Come on. Let's get going" she hugged Castform close under her cloak and hurried away from the town. A group of kids were playing around with a Lillipup, playing tag and laughing together. She couldn't help but stop to stare at them having a good time

As young as five years old, Crystal had always kept to herself and watch her older and younger sisters playing in the yard of the Pokémon league. Her family knew she was the quiet type and liked being taken seriously, to not be looked down upon or think she was the weak one even if she needed more attention than others. Wise for her age, she knew how to set an image

Her sisters were playful and very different than she was. The children of the Otashi family all had different personalities. Even with this being a fact, no matter what, the Otashi family were always close to each other. Sometimes thinking of the past made her wish she could have done more for her family instead of being their burden

Already making the decision, she looked away from the children playing and continued walking to find a sign pointing outside the town to lead to where the train was.

The decision consisted of seeing as much as she could and finding those who had been waiting to see her again and those she has yet to meet. Living in the hospital and castle kept her from a normal life, and nothing is going to stop her from reaching her desires

There was a wide field of fallen snow with frosted covered leaves on their trees. The path towards the train station was simply astonishing to look at. There were only patches of tall hay growing from the ground hiding Pokemon wondering around them.

From a distance, she spotted the kid she banned before, running around with his Pokémon and training with a tree while his mother cleaned the snow away from a building that looked like a small café. Mareeps were crying on and about to each other behind the fence by it

The mom felt someone staring at her and looked up to see the tall figure flinching when almost making eye contact and hurried away "hold on!" The mom yelled. Crystal froze "I haven't seen you around here before. Did you come here on the train and decided to leave already?"

"Y-Yes..." Crystal's voice muffled behind the scarf. The kid stopped his training and looked over at her confused, questioning her appearance. Tall and wears the kinds of dresses no one even wears anymore... especially in the Kannena region. It wasn't hard to figure out who she was by the blue hair sticking out her hood, but he kept quiet and watched from behind a tree

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but due to the snow storm that happened last night, they might not even run the train for anyone right now" his mom informed

"Even if the storm stopped... It's that serious, huh?" Crystal looked at the open route that waits for her to travel by "I guess I'll have to wait until its safe enough to leave" the mom hurried over, almost making her move away, but remembered the mom didn't know what she looked like

Froslass stood in front of the lady to keep her from getting too close. "oh!" The mom stopped a few feet away, relieving Crystal and allowed her to walk away without possibly getting followed "wait, don't go out there. It's colder than usual"

"I'm used to the cold weather" the boy came out a little more when she said this "I have to wait for the train"

"The train won't come here until the ice on the rail tracks come off. You'll know when the train comes. Please come inside. I'll give you something to eat" Castform frowned at her master, knowing she was hungry but didn't want to show it. If she doesn't eat with her medicine...

"I'm trying to save my money, thank you" taking a step forward, she fell on her knees when feeling a stinging sensation in her head. Castform flew from her arms to freak out "I'm fine..." she lied, holding her head in pain. A pair of small boots walked to face her. She looked up confused to see the boy crossing her arms at her

"When my mom offers a meal, you should take it. You don't look all that hot either" she looked up a little more to glare at him

"Don't think I'm going to take your hospitality so I can unban you from my gym" she whispered. His cheeks went red, but tried his best to keep a straight expression when clearly he got irritated

"I-it's not about that! I'm just not going to let a girl just sit here when she needs help!" She looked away and stood up with Froslass's help

"I don't need pity, little boy. Bribery doesn't work on me" when trying to walk away, he stood in her path "move out my way!"

"No! Look, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be a jerk!" She turned away, snorting "I was just mad! I'm learning my lesson! I'll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I can be a better trainer!"

"It's not about being just a trainer" she looked up at the snow covered trees "it's the fact that you thought your ego could get the best of you. Giving away something as precious as badges you earn... I see the motivation in your eyes. Although I'm glad you have something like that, you were cocky. If you said you're learning your lesson, I'm hoping you mean that you are trying to mature as a person and take your belongings seriously. There are bad things out there that others can't handle. The way you behave impacts on how life will take you" he looked down

"So you were looking out for me. Is that what you were saying?"

"I never said that" she shrugged "but I guess since you think that, I see no reason to tell you otherwise" he noticed her stubbornness, but put on a smile anyway

"I can show you that I can mature!" She shrugged again

"I don't care what you do. Leave me alone, will you?"

"No way! Mom offered you a meal! It's going to be on the house, so take it-" she wobbled in place and nearly fell on him, but bend her knees to land safely "whoa!" His mom rushed over and helped her on her feet, taking her by the arm and held her up by the shoulder

"Come on sweetie, there's a warm meal with your name on it" the mom felt on Crystal's wrist "You're freezing!" The family of two helped the princess into the empty café. The mom, Tia, left to get her chef of a husband to cook something up for her while the boy, Jeramy, sat in front of her. She kept her eyes away and looked at Froslass and Castform floating beside her. Never had she been this close to strangers in a long time...

"What are you doing out here anyway? Isn't a princess supposed to stay in her tower?" Jeremy asked. His Charmeleon tried climbing the chair next to him but failed, making Crystal giggle silently and look back at Jeremy asking such a stupid question

"Nothing that concerns you. I'm not here to talk, and if you think all this is going to convince me to let you battle again, I'll leave before it seems that way"

"Geez, can't you just take someone's generosity without thinking they want something from you?"

"You do" he pouted, closing his eyes

"W-well, even if I do want you to let me battle, you almost died on me. I'm not going to use that to my advantage" he crossed his arms

"Tough words for a five-year-old" he nearly snapped

"I-I'm twelve years old!" She leaned on the table, snorting

"Right... Children can be wise for their age. It's nothing but a number. I, out of anyone, should know that" Jeramy's mom and her husband came back to place a bowl of warm soup in front of her. She merely stared at it, watching the steam rising

"Eat up! It's still hot!"

"I don't have the money for this. I'm trying to save as much as I can" even if the money she saved from her parents was a decent amount to get her through a long journey, she needed every bit of it to see everyone just in case

"It's on the house!" Jeremy said. Crystal sighed and nodded, looking around the empty café

"Is this place always empty?"

"We're really slow around this time" nodding again, she removed her hood and continued staring at her bowl. Froslass made a few icicles to cool it down. Not expecting that, she put her hands together for a prayer

"Thank you for the meal" opening her eyes, she sat there silently. The family looked at each other confused

"Is something the matter, sweetie?"

"Oh... no" she blew the steam away as much as she can without falling dizzy "it's too hot"

"What's wrong? Can't take the heat, princess?" Jeramy joked, laughing. Crystal didn't take it as a joke and stared at him with her serious eyes that could make anyone nervous... even Wyatt

"I'll give you something to laugh about, kid" he looked down

"S-sorry" feeling like her food cooled down, she started eating with no regards of others watching her dine as a princess would. Back straight, elbows off the table, and chin up

"You have such wonderful table manners, dear" Tia put her hands together in awe. To those who had seen her eat for the first time, like her maids, it doesn't surprise her that all of them watch her like she was doing a magic trick

"Thank you... The meal is delicious, by the way. I don't deserve this" she said while looking at Jeremy looking at her surprise before looking down with guilt

"Don't worry about it. We wouldn't want anything happening to anyone in the middle of the cold like you were" the chef bowed "I'm Robin, this here Café's head chef. We are popular among the tourist who comes to this very town to taste my food. We've been family owned since I moved here from the Sinnoh region back when I graduated culinary school" Crystal nodded politely

"You made a wise decision. Very admirable to move from somewhere you grew up to pursue your dreams" Robin rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. Even if she doesn't meet that many people in her lifetime, she learned to talk like a lady and say the right words without fearing she might say something she'll regret... which is rare "You had the freedom to do what you wanted, and now you have a family to surround you" Tia sat next to her

"What brings you here to Frost Town?"

"Uh..." she glanced away, knowing Jeremy was the only one that knew she was a gym leader "I just came to visit... I'm planning on taking the train today, or as soon as possible. I'm in a hurry" Froslass pulled on her cloak, holding her bag up for her to remind her to take her next medicine. It would be nice if she remembered to bring a watch to remind her of when she can take the medicine. Sighing, she did as she always does, and looked at the family staring at her

"You all really like staring, don't you?" She commented

"O-oh! I'm sorry, in all honesty, we just never seen anyone of your class" understandable... even if she didn't have a class. Nobody in her family acted like they were a higher class than anyone, even if they owned the Pokémon league. They were just ordinary people, believe it or not

"There's nothing to keep staring about. I'm just like everyone else" Jeramy rolled his eyes, later talking to her and his family the whole time she ate in silence. The family laughed and shared some jokes. Even if it wasn't her thing to respond to those things and join along, she smiled a little while watching them having a good time

"May I ask, but what is this?" Tia asked, picking Crystals pill bottle from the table. Froslass took it back for her

"Simply vitamins is all" Crystal lied

"In a prescription bottle?" Robin asked. She stood up, brushing on her dress and made sure her cloak was on correctly

"If it's not too much trouble, I was never here"

"What? Why?" Jeremy asked as she put her things back in her pockets

"I don't have to explain myself"

"Gee... would it hurt you to be nice?" She rolled her eyes and walked around the café to stare at the photos of the family and customers, the menu, and decoration

"Tell you what" she faced him "if you can keep your mouth shut, I'll reconsider letting you battle again" He gasped

"Really!? So does that mean I can have my badges again!?"

"Wait... you're the gym leader of that castle we went to the other day?" Tia gasped. Crystal ignored her and stared at Jeremy about to tear up

"I'm not saying that at all. You bet on your badges, so I'm not giving them back. I don't take pity out of anyone. You'll have to try to earn them yourself"

"Oh" she petted his head

"But I'll only reconsider because you did say you're learning from your mistakes. When I get back, I'll see how I feel about everything" she faced the family "if you'll excuse me, I have to-" a train horn could be heard a few miles up "the trains here..?"

"Looks like it came just for you!" Tia giggled, then bowed "thank you for giving my son another chance"

"I never gave him another chance. I said I'll reconsider. If I come back and see he hasn't matured, he can forget everything" she nodded

"I understand... have a safe trip. Is there anything else we can do before you go?" Crystal headed for the door

"No, you've done enough. Thank you... I'm not sure when I'll be back, but you never saw me"

~

Crystal is one unique character. I didn't make her as hardcore as I like making some of my characters, but she is just very elegant and mature, not as aggressive. Her illness is something I think I made up, but it also came from something ancient that you'll have to see where it actually came from!