"Come out! I know you're in there!" Aaron shouted outside West's door, even if there was no one in the house. He's been going all out on Crystal still refusing to battle him since the few days he declared a battle to win back his Eevee. Because she was still in a weak state, a battle was the least of her problems. She fears that if she stays too long in the village, Brenda might find her

Even in her daily walks for the exercise she needs to help her body stay active, Aaron never fails to show up to demand a battle every time she leaves the house. Never catching a break, Froslass got annoyed as well and started attacking to get him away, but even if it kept him from getting too close, he doesn't stop showing up at the most random times

His Eevee follows the couple around the town every morning, ignoring its former trainers' callings and sticks by the ones who wouldn't judge it for any reason.

Knowing his cousin was unreasonable and hard-headed, West decided to claim Eevee until Aaron learns to control his temper

"When is he going to realize that I'm in no condition to fight?" Crystal sighed, leaning on the plaza in the middle of town, watching the sunset in awe. The mixture of pink and purple in the sky made it look like it came from a painting. West laughed next to her while petting Eevee on his lap

"Don't mind him. He's always like this. One time he was drinking late at night and got drunk. He got into a battle with some bikers. He won the battle, but that didn't stop the people from beating on him like a punching bag" he sighed "Our family is known for our anger issues. Aaron is someone that thinks about winning too much to properly understand that thinking about his actions works better than running into scenarios that can hurt him."

"I feel bad for you. Your family sounds complicated" he laughed

"We are, but we are a happy bunch, really! We just like battling a lot! Like I said before, it's in our blood" Crystal nodded and looked back at the mountain view "Anyways, are you ever going to tell me your name?"

"Why does my name matter? I'll be leaving soon and you'll never have to see me again" He smiled widely, putting his hand on her head. Surprised, she stared at the color of his eyes, never getting tired of seeing how bright they were when gazing at her

"Awe, don't say that! It'll make me sad!" She snorted, a little amused "I thought we were friends! You know my name. How come I can't know yours? and don't say we'll never see each other. Friendship last forever!"

"It does not... idiot" He looked down

"To tell you the truth... I am actually-" heavy breathing could be heard behind them. Crystal groaned and turned around to spot Aaron facing them, out of breath

"There you are... I don't know how you manage to get past me, but I'm not letting you get away this time!" He took out a Poké ball from his pocket and made it full size "You took my Pokémon away from me... and you have the nerve to ignore me?! Battle me! Battle me!" Crystal's vein popped from her forehead, remembering when Rhea demanded the same way he did.

"How annoying... The look in your eyes seeks revenge. It's disgusting to look at" she stood from her seat, taking Froslass's hand for balance "A battle between you and me is not going to change the fact that Eevee decided to leave you."

"That's a lie! You were the one that told-"

"What could I have possibly said? Pokémon have their own will to do whatever they want. This little one chose to leave you with its free will. How disappointing to think I'm the source of your problems" he started shaking, outraged "I came to Hana Village to enjoy myself for a little while before leaving. This was about Eevee at first, but now I'm going to make you regret ruining my first experience in being in the open world for the first time in forever!" West frowned at her taking out a pokéball "I don't care if I'm in no condition to fight, you've made me angry... That's your biggest mistake" West looked up to see Rhea standing a few feet away, staring at Crystal shaking in anger

"That's what I like to hear" Aaron smirked "but you honestly think you're going to be the one to make me regret on my actions? I'd like to see that" Crystal looked at West, surprising him with the stern look on her face

"I would like to battle over at Red Feather lake" the family around her looked at her surprised

"You want to battle there? I told you it's forbidden. That's a sacred place... no one is allowed to go there, nonetheless battle there" Froslass pulled on her arm, walking her to the path of red trees leading to the only place in Hana Village West never took her to during their walks

"Hey" West jogged over and held his arms out to stop them "I told you this place is sacred. They won't let you pass here"

"You said you were going to take me here"

"Yes, but I said to a spot no one knows about. We need to turn back now before we get caught"

"Only a few people can come here" Rhea walked over "It's forbidden for anyone to be here without special permission from the shaman. If we don't turn back now, we'll all get in trouble. I know you're not used to consequences, but this is the real world, princess" she crossed her arms "You have to follow the rules and not make your own" Crystal smirked a little, knowing where she was getting at

"Is that right? If I didn't know any better, from the tone of your voice, I'd have to say that you really do not like me" the boys looked at each other confused

"What? I thought you liked her, Rhea" West said

"Weren't you the one going on and on about how wise she was and how strong she was?" Aaron said. Rhea stared at Crystal's unamused expression

"That was before I found out who she was" oh? So she's going to reveal who she is right here? She's surrounded by the Kimana family. This is the worse time to have all of them right in front of her and demand a battle at any second once she tells them

"And who exactly is she?" West crossed his arms. Rhea looked at the stern look in his eyes and looked away

"I don't think it's going to matter now... You'll have to find out on your own. You'll be leaving soon, right? You'll be going home too?" Crystal can see the anger in her eyes, finding that amusing more than her trying not to expose her so quickly... for some reason

"Yes, you are correct. I'll be going home soon... you look like you want to take something out your chest. Why don't you come out and say it?" Rhea blushed with a glare

"I have my reasons..." she took out the pocket watch Crystal thought she lost. The pocket watch that was given to her by the mysterious old woman in Everest Town who could also possibly be the witch of the Frost forest following her

"My pocket watch!" She reached out to take it back, but was out of reached "give it back! That's important!"

"I'll give it back once you leave now..." Crystal furrowed her brows confused "You've played with my little brother's heart for too long. The sooner you leave, the better" West blinked confused, blushing. Did she just say... played his heart?

"Sorry, I don't know what you are talking about" Rhea grabbed her arm and walked her to have a private moment where the boys couldn't hear

"Don't think I haven't figured you out! You inconsiderate bitch!" She loud whispered. Crystal snatched her arm away, enough to hurt Rhea. Crystal hid her smirk behind her finger, forming her eyes in a way that made Rea freeze and soften her expression in nervousness

"What would that be exactly?"

"You're trying to embarrass my family again! I won't let you do it... Especially not in front of the Red feather shrine. I also want to keep my little brother's heart from breaking"

"I don't know what you mean by that" Rhea groaned

"My brother cares very much about friendship. Since he is a Kimana, he has the same hatred towards your family just like I do, and like all my family does... If he finds out who you are, it'll break his heart. He's sensitive and very protective... He has his pride and isn't afraid to speak his mind, even when he's broken" she looked down "I don't want that for him. I need you to leave as soon as possible" she lifted the pocket watch "This is a beautiful piece of jewelry. You seem to care about it very much. I'll only give it back once you leave"

"It sounds like you're trying to threaten me, but not exactly in that order... I could tell from the tone of your voice that you hate me. You don't even know me"

"Hate is a strong word... You've embarrassed me, and you and your family embarrassed mine"

"You embarrassed yourself. You didn't really care about becoming Champion. You cared about representing your family name. That doesn't work on our terms. This whole rivalry between your family and mine? It doesn't exist. Your family is overreacting, and there's no reason to bully us. You're trying to take down my family when we're not even doing anything to yours!" Rhea took a step back, being taken back by her words

"You throw a fit because I will not allow you to have a battle with me. If I battled you, it would be a waste of my time because of the way you stand, the way you speak, and the way you demand... There's no power in the way you show your being. You show weakness in every direction of your body and not the kind of weakness that will keep you from battling me..." Crystal held her heart

"I read people like a book... Your family's book is a book that's been forced to be written on. There is no potential in it. The pages were written for revenge of my family. There was no real goal... It fueled the fire, burning the pages with hatred. Once burned, it can never be brought back. You think about only one thing... That one thing kept the story from reaching a good ending" she turned away "You called me a princess who makes up her own rules... but how are you any different when demanding battles like a child? Don't worry about me leaving, because that's on my to-do list anyway. You'll never have to hear from me again" she looked back at her "Because you're banned from ever entering my gym again"

Red leaves gently started falling around them, slowly easing the intense argument. Crystal calmed her mind and stared at the beautiful color she never sees in the winter forest "like you're trying to represent your family for what happened years before my grandparents were even born, I tried keeping your family from embarrassing mine. We did nothing to you... Stop bullying us" Crystal walked into the path of red trees, leaving Rhea shaking her fist and biting her lips with a cold sweat creeping on her forehead

"What happened?" West approached Rhea after Crystal left when a calm look on her face "What were you two talking about?"

"Before her grandparents were born? I... I didn't realize the grudge was that long. We were the ones that were angry. I thought I had the right to be mad at what she did, but what I... We... did was much worse. Is it even worth to hold so much anger now?" she covered her face, remembering the look on every gym leader's face when meeting them for the first time and explaining her actual goal. Crystal looked right through her and refused to battle in the name of keeping her family from taking in someone who doesn't care about them and wants to bring them down... Even if there was never any evidence that the Otashi family did anything to bring down their family, the Kimanas wanted revenge on what happened perhaps centuries ago... it's like Crystal said, the rivalry wasn't real. It's Rhea's family that climbed the pit of fire when it wasn't necessary

"What?" Aaron asked. Froslass appeared in front of them, taking the pocket watch Rhea had in hand and went back to Crystal standing under the shrine gate, in front of a small shrine with flowers and coins opened for the public "Mind explaining to me what happened? You've been acting really strange since she's been here" Rhea held her heart, feeling guilty

"You know... when I first met her, I could easily tell she was different. When seeing her in the marketplace, hearing her inspiring words, I admired her, and after all that about we talked about, I still feel the same way. She is worth someone to take care of... even so, even if I had to be told to realize reality, the rest of the family won't feel the same way I do" she frowned at Crystal looking around then she looked over at the trio looking back at her

"You're really talking nonsense here. If you have something to say, say it already!" Aaron groaned. Rhea pocket her hands, looking up at Crystal staring at her in confusion. Rhea held her cheek and sighed in awe

"Don't judge a book by its cover, because there are more things to see between the lines" she quoted before facing West. Crystal blinked confused at the possibly bipolar moment and crossed her arms "I know I'm not really making sense, but listen to what I'm about to tell you. I need you to stay strong with whatever may happen in the future. I can tell you like her, so be careful with your words" he blushed hard

"My words? What do you-" a scream could be heard from inside the shine. Crystal snapped her head back to the entrance of the lake and rushed over to whoever screamed.

A woman in a traditional kimono was laying on the floor while holding a Pokemon egg in her arms. Crystal wobbly hurried to her side to place the woman's head on her lap and shook her shoulders

"Wake up, what happened?" The woman opened her eyes a little to notice her surroundings and snapped up to look around in a panic. She stopped when seeing Crystal's face blankly staring

"You..." The woman reached out to hold her cheek, but later flinched when hearing crashes inside the temple nearby

"What's going on in there!?" West asked, running towards them with the rest of his family. Crystal eyed Rhea staring at her with guilt for a second and looked back at the woman holding the egg with tears in her eyes

"I never thought I'd be so happy to see trainers! Please, you have to help my papa! He's in trouble!" A guy wearing a black poncho with a red dress shirt underneath, baggy pants tightening to his knees and calves reaching to his expensive looking shoes, walked out the shrine with an elderly man and threw him towards the woman

"Papa!" She gasped, catching him as soon as she handed the egg over to Crystal. The old man groaned and reached for his daughter's cheeks

"Oh my dear, you're okay" the guy in dress clothes snorted, slapping his blue gloves together to clean, and in disgust

"To think someone of my class has to deal with these disgusting peasants" he looked at the trainers in front of him "Oh great. There's more of them... No matter. What I need isn't here. I'll take my leave."

"You got to be out of your damn mind to think you can just do that to the shaman!" West shouted "What makes you think you can do something like that and get away with it?!" Crystal stared at his anger, not knowing someone as gentle as he was could hold such anger. He is a Kimana, after all.

"I am a respectful member of Team Victoria. We only accept the few people who are worthy of being part of our team. We look down on people who dare to think they can be better than us" Crystal sweatdropped at his weird accent

"You look down at a class lower than you and yet you have the audacity to fake your Kalos accent?" She pointed out. Everyone froze, sweat dropping

"H-how dare you insult me! Do you know who I am!? You low life peasant!?" Crystal stood up with the egg in hand

"I might not know who you are, and you might not know who I am, but if you want to play pretend and act like you're in a higher class, try putting on something that doesn't look tacky" the guy glared, jumping off the steps to tower her. She didn't even flinch

"A peasant like you has no right to look down at someone like me" she held the egg closer, lifting her chin

"Who said I was a peasant? I seem to remember that the status of a person doesn't define who they are. We are human beings in the end. You're the one who has no right to look down at me."

"Don't make me lose my cool. I'm trained to be a gentleman" his accent was gone

"And yet you dare to stand this close to a lady. Your posture tells the whole story."

"That's it! I'll teach you to talk down at a Team Victoria member!" He lifted his fist to aim for a punch. She flinched, watching someone jump in front of her to take the hit instead. He landed on the ground with a bleeding lip that matched the color of the red leaves scattered on the concrete. Aaron?

~

edited on grammarly 12/1/18