As we stepped out of the building, the sunlight hit us, but it did little to warm the chill that lingered in my chest. Red carried me gently, his arms wrapped around me just like they had been when I was little—when I was two and he was six, and I’d fallen while trying to keep up with him. The same protective warmth radiated from him now, even after all these years. My head rested against his shoulder, my arms looped loosely around his neck as if I were that little girl again.

The sight that greeted us outside was unexpected. Brock, Sabrina, Surge, Blue, Lance, and Lorelei were all waiting, their eyes widening as they saw us. The expressions on their faces shifted quickly from surprise to concern.

“What happened to her?” Brock’s voice was the first to cut through the silence, his tone filled with worry.

Blue stepped forward, his usual confident smirk replaced by a deep frown. "Yeah, she looks... bad. What the heck happened in there?"

Red didn’t say anything, of course. He just tightened his hold on me, his silent strength grounding me even as I felt tears threaten to spill again. I buried my face in his jacket, not wanting to see their reactions—or let them see mine.

“She tried to reason with Giovanni,” Lillie explained softly, stepping forward as she glanced at me with a mixture of admiration and concern. “She... she stood up to him, but...”

“She didn’t back down, even when it got dangerous,” Paulo finished, his voice low.

Lance’s sharp eyes narrowed, his arms crossing over his chest. “Giovanni, huh? That man has no boundaries. Mia, what were you thinking?”

“She was doing what she thought was right,” Misty interjected, stepping in before anyone could say more. “She fought for what she believes in.”

“She nearly got herself killed,” Surge muttered, shaking his head. “Kid, you’re brave, but Giovanni’s not someone to mess with like that.”

“Stop,” Lorelei said sharply, her icy tone cutting through the air. Her gaze softened when it landed on me. “She doesn’t need lectures right now.”

Red finally broke his silence, his voice quiet yet firm as he spoke for the first time since we left. “She’s fine. That’s all that matters.”

Everyone froze, the shock of hearing Red speak rendering them momentarily speechless. Even I blinked against his shoulder, surprised. His words were simple, but they carried so much weight. He was standing up for me, just as I had tried to stand up for Pokémon.

Blue cleared his throat after a moment. “Well, I’ll be damned. The silent knight speaks.”

“Not now, Blue,” Sabrina said, shooting him a sharp look.

Lorelei stepped closer, her eyes scanning me carefully. “She doesn’t look fine,” she said gently. “Let’s get her somewhere safe.”

Red nodded, his hold on me unwavering. He started to move, and I felt the sway of his steps as he carried me like I weighed nothing at all. It was so familiar—so comforting—that I almost let myself drift off.

“Red...” I murmured weakly, my voice barely audible. “You... you’re not mad?”

He stopped walking, and I felt his arms shift as he adjusted me slightly so he could look at my face. His eyes were warm, filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite name. “Mad?” he repeated, his tone soft. “Mia, why would I be mad?”

“Because... I messed up,” I whispered, tears welling up again. “I made everything worse. I—”

“Stop,” he said gently, cutting me off. “You didn’t mess up. You did what you thought was right. And... I’m proud of you.”

I stared at him, my tears spilling over now as I choked back a sob. “You... you are?”

He nodded, his expression serious. “Always. You’re my sister. I’ll always be proud of you.”

The others watched in silence as Red carried me past them, their faces filled with quiet awe. It wasn’t every day you saw Red speak so openly—or show so much emotion. And as I clung to him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against me, I realized something important.

No matter how many battles I lost, no matter how scared I felt, I would never be alone. Red would always be there, just like he had been when we were kids. He was my brother, my protector, my unshakable constant in a world full of uncertainty. And for now, that was enough.

As we stepped out of the dim, oppressive atmosphere of Giovanni’s domain, the crisp, fresh air hit my face, though it did little to lighten the weight in my chest. My arms clung tightly to Red as he carried me, just like he used to when I was little. His grip was firm yet gentle, his silent reassurance the only thing keeping me grounded in that moment. I buried my face in his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his jacket and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

Red had always been my protector, even when I was too stubborn or too scared to admit it. And now, as he carried me like he had when I was two and he was six, I felt a bittersweet sense of safety. It reminded me of those simpler times—before everything got so complicated, before fear and doubt crept into my heart.

We hadn’t gone far when we saw them. Brock, Sabrina, Surge, Blue, Lance, and Lorelei were waiting outside, their expressions shifting from casual curiosity to alarm the moment they saw us. Their eyes locked on me, bruised, battered, and cradled in Red’s arms, and a wave of tension passed over the group.

“What happened to her?” Brock demanded, his voice sharp with concern as he stepped forward.

“Is she okay?” Sabrina asked softly, her usually stoic demeanor cracking ever so slightly.

Surge crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. “Looks like she’s been through hell. Who was it? Giovanni?”

Blue raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, his sharp eyes flicking between me and Red, taking in the way his friend held me so protectively. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by an uncharacteristic seriousness.

Lance and Lorelei exchanged a worried glance before Lance spoke, his tone calm but firm. “Red, what’s going on? She looks like she just survived a war.”

Red didn’t respond right away. He just held me closer, his arms steady and comforting. I felt him shift slightly, as if to shield me from their probing eyes. For a moment, I wondered if he would say anything at all. But then, in a low, quiet voice, he finally spoke.

“Giovanni,” he said simply, his tone laced with an undercurrent of anger. “She stood up to him.”

A ripple of shock went through the group. Lorelei’s eyes widened, and even Lance looked surprised. “She what?” Lorelei asked, her voice rising slightly.

“She told him off,” Blue said, his tone somewhere between admiration and disbelief. “Tried to make him see that Pokémon aren’t tools.”

Brock let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Mia... That was brave. But—”

“But dangerous,” Surge interrupted, his voice gruff. “Kid, you’ve got guts, but Giovanni’s not the kind of guy you can reason with.”

I flinched slightly at his words, guilt and doubt bubbling to the surface again. Red must have sensed it because he tightened his grip on me, his hand resting protectively on my back. “She did what she thought was right,” he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “And that’s what matters.”

For a moment, there was silence. The others seemed to be processing his words, their expressions softening as they looked at me. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, and I buried my face deeper into Red’s shoulder, not wanting to meet their eyes.

“She reminds me of you when you were younger,” Lance said after a moment, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Stubborn, determined, and with a heart bigger than her own good.”

Red didn’t reply, but I felt him shift slightly, his hand brushing against my hair in a way that felt both comforting and familiar. It was the same way he used to hold me when I was little—when I scraped my knee or had a nightmare, and he’d carry me to bed, whispering that everything would be okay.

“She’s tougher than she looks,” Blue added, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. “But next time, maybe don’t try to take on Giovanni alone, huh?”

I managed a small, shaky laugh, though it felt weak and hollow. “I’ll... I’ll try to remember that,” I murmured, my voice muffled against Red’s jacket.

Lorelei stepped closer, her expression soft but serious. “Mia, what you did was incredibly brave. But you don’t have to carry that kind of weight on your own. You’ve got people who care about you—people who’ll fight by your side.”

Her words struck a chord, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I blinked them back, refusing to cry in front of everyone. But deep down, I knew she was right. I didn’t have to do this alone. I had Red. I had Blue, Lillie, Paulo, and everyone else. I wasn’t as alone as I sometimes felt.

Red shifted me slightly in his arms, his quiet strength grounding me once again. “Let’s get her somewhere safe,” he said softly, his voice filled with a quiet determination. “She needs to rest.”

The others nodded, stepping aside as Red carried me past them. And as we walked away, I felt a sense of warmth and safety that I hadn’t felt in a long time. For the first time, I let myself believe that everything would be okay. Because as long as Red was there, holding me like he did all those years ago, I knew I wasn’t alone.

As we stepped out of the building, the cool evening air brushed against my face, soothing my battered body. Red held me tightly in his arms, just like he used to when I was little—back when I was two and he was six. His arms cradled me with a strength and care that made me feel safe, even now, after everything that had happened.

I clung to him without realizing it, burying my face into his jacket as exhaustion weighed heavy on me. My arms were weak, my legs trembling, but his steady presence grounded me.

We hadn’t gotten far when a group of familiar faces came into view. Brock, Sabrina, Surge, Blue, Lance, and Lorelei stood at the edge of the path, their expressions shifting to concern the moment they saw us.

"What happened to her?" Lance asked, his sharp eyes narrowing as he stepped forward, his voice laced with worry.

Blue crossed his arms, his usual smug demeanor replaced with something more serious. "She looks like she’s been through a war," he muttered.

"She has," Red finally spoke, his voice calm but firm, carrying the weight of what had just happened. His arms tightened around me slightly, as if to shield me from the world. "She stood up to Giovanni."

Everyone froze at that, their eyes darting to me as if trying to process what Red had just said.

"Giovanni?" Sabrina repeated, her tone flat yet tinged with surprise. "And she came out of it like this?"

"I’m fine," I mumbled, trying to lift my head, though it felt like it weighed a ton. "Really, I can walk on my own."

Red glanced down at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. "No," he said simply, his voice soft yet resolute. "You can’t."

I blinked, caught off guard. "But—"

"You’re not fine, Mia," he cut me off, his gaze serious. "And even if you could walk, I’m not putting you down."

I felt my cheeks heat up as embarrassment crept in. "I’m too heavy," I protested weakly, looking away. "You don’t have to carry me."

Red’s expression softened, and he let out a sigh, his tone quieter but still firm. "You’re not heavy, Mia. If anything, you need to gain weight. A lot of it."

I stiffened, my hands gripping his jacket. "But I’ve always been this way," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"That’s not a good thing," Red replied, his eyes full of something I didn’t understand—concern? Guilt? "You’re underweight, Mia. You always have been. You need to take better care of yourself."

The others exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from confusion to sympathy. Lorelei stepped closer, her gentle voice breaking the silence. "Red’s right, Mia. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. You need to rest and heal."

I didn’t know what to say. My thoughts were swirling, the weight of their words pressing down on me. I had always thought I was fine, that I didn’t need anyone to fuss over me. But hearing it from Red, the one person I feared disappointing the most, made it harder to brush off.

"Red..." I started, my voice trembling, but I didn’t know how to finish. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to apologize or thank him or cry.

He didn’t say anything, but the way he adjusted his grip on me, holding me closer like he had all those years ago, said more than words ever could. It was the same comforting embrace I remembered from when I was small—when the world felt scary, but Red made it okay.

"It’s going to be fine," he said finally, his voice steady and calm. "You don’t have to do this alone anymore."

I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe him. Maybe I didn’t have to be strong all the time. Maybe, just maybe, it was okay to lean on someone else. And Red, despite everything, had always been there, even when I didn’t realize it.

As the others fell into step behind us, their quiet support unspoken but clear, I felt a flicker of hope stir in my chest. We were moving forward, together, and for now, that was enough.

As we stepped out of the dark, cold building into the sunlight, the sight of our friends waiting nearby made my chest tighten. Brock, Sabrina, Surge, Blue, Lance, and Lorelei stood in a group, their eyes immediately locking onto Red as he carried me in his arms.

My arms were looped around his neck, and I buried my face against his shoulder, trying to avoid the curious and concerned looks of everyone around us. Red's hold on me was firm but gentle, just like it had been when I was little. I felt so small, so fragile, like I was two again, back when Red had carried me out of harm's way without hesitation. He was only six at the time, but I had always felt safe in his arms. Now, as a ten-year-old, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t deserve the same care, even though part of me longed for it.

"What happened to her?" Brock’s deep, steady voice broke through the silence as they all hurried over. His tone was a mix of concern and urgency.

Sabrina's usually calm expression faltered, her eyes softening as she looked at me. "Is she hurt?"

"She’s fine," Red said, his voice low but firm. "Just exhausted."

Blue frowned, crossing his arms. "Exhausted doesn’t explain why you’re carrying her like that, Red. What really happened in there?"

"Team Rocket," Paulo muttered behind us, shaking his head. "We tried to stop Giovanni, but things got... rough."

Lorelei stepped closer, her sharp, perceptive eyes narrowing on me. "She looks pale... and too light. Red, are you sure she’s okay?"

Red’s grip on me tightened slightly, and I could feel his heartbeat against my cheek. "She’ll be okay," he said, his tone calm but protective.

I swallowed hard, pulling my face away from his shoulder to look up at him. "Red... I can walk on my own," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "You don’t have to carry me."

He glanced down at me, his expression soft but unyielding. "You’re not walking anywhere," he said simply, his voice firm but not unkind.

"I-I’m too heavy," I muttered, my face burning with embarrassment as I tried to wriggle out of his hold. "Just put me down, Red..."

Red stopped walking, his eyes narrowing slightly as he shifted me in his arms to look me in the eye. "Mia," he said, his voice quiet but stern, "you’re not heavy. You’re underweight. You’ve always been underweight. You need to gain a lot of weight."

The bluntness of his words made me freeze, my eyes widening as I stared at him. I knew I was smaller than most kids my age, but hearing it so plainly from him made my chest tighten.

Lorelei frowned, glancing between us. "Underweight?" she asked, her tone sharp with concern. "How bad is it, Red?"

"Bad enough," Red replied, his jaw tightening slightly. "She’s always been like this. I’ve been trying to get her to eat more, but..." He trailed off, his gaze flickering to me.

I looked away, my cheeks burning with shame. "I’m fine," I whispered, though the weight of his words hung heavy in the air.

"You’re not fine, Mia," Red said gently, his tone softening as he adjusted his grip on me. "And that’s okay. You don’t have to pretend to be strong all the time."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I quickly buried my face back into his shoulder, not wanting anyone to see. His words were kind, but they only made me feel more vulnerable.

"She’s always been stubborn," Blue said with a faint grin, though his tone lacked its usual teasing edge. "But hey, at least she’s got you to keep her in check, Red."

"Yeah," Red murmured, his voice barely audible. I could feel the warmth of his hand as he gently rested it against my back, holding me close like he had all those years ago.

The others exchanged looks, their concern still evident, but none of them pushed further. It was clear that Red wasn’t going to let me out of his sight anytime soon, and honestly... I didn’t mind. For the first time in a long time, I felt safe.

As we stepped out of the building, the sunlight hit my face, but it felt cold. The weight of the battle lingered, a reminder of what had just happened. I was cradled in Red’s arms, held tightly against him like I was something fragile, something he needed to protect at all costs. His grip was firm but gentle, just like when I was little.

I buried my face into his chest, hiding from the world. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this—beaten, weak, and overwhelmed. His warmth and steady heartbeat were the only things keeping me grounded.

As we reached the clearing outside, I heard voices—familiar ones.

"What happened to her?" Brock’s voice was the first to cut through the quiet. He sounded alarmed, his usual calm demeanor breaking.

I felt Red’s arms tighten protectively around me, and I peeked out to see Brock, Sabrina, Surge, Lance, and Lorelei approaching. Their faces were a mixture of worry and confusion as they took in the sight of me in Red’s arms.

"Is she okay?" Sabrina asked softly, her sharp eyes narrowing as she scanned me for injuries.

"She looks pale," Lorelei added, concern lacing her tone.

"Did Giovanni do this?" Surge growled, his fists clenching.

Red didn’t answer. He just shook his head and adjusted his grip on me, holding me closer like he had all those years ago. When I was two and he was six, he used to carry me like this after I fell or got scared. The memory of that comfort, of being so small and looking up to him as my protector, hit me like a wave.

"I’m fine," I murmured weakly, though my voice was barely above a whisper. "I can walk on my own."

Red stopped walking and looked down at me, his expression soft but firm. He tilted his head slightly, as if silently asking, Are you sure?

"I-I’m heavy," I mumbled, looking away from him. "I don’t want to make it harder for you."

He blinked at me, his brow furrowing. "Mia," he finally said, his voice quiet yet steady, "you’re not heavy. If anything, you’re too light."

I flinched, the weight of his words sinking in. "What?"

"You need to gain weight," he said plainly, no judgment in his tone, just an observation. "You’ve always been underweight. It’s not good for you."

I bit my lip, feeling my chest tighten. "I’ve always been like this," I muttered. "It’s not a big deal."

"It is a big deal," Red replied, his voice growing a touch firmer. "You can’t keep pushing yourself like this."

The others watched the exchange in silence, their concern evident but unspoken. Lance stepped forward, his expression softening. "Mia," he said gently, "it’s okay to let someone take care of you. You don’t have to do everything on your own."

I glanced at him, then back at Red, who still held me like I was a precious little sister he’d do anything to protect. The weight of his love and concern was almost too much to bear.

"Red," I whispered, my voice trembling, "I... I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just—"

He cut me off by shaking his head. "Don’t," he said firmly. "You didn’t make me worry. I just want you to take care of yourself. That’s all."

I nodded slowly, unable to find the words to respond. Instead, I let myself relax in his arms, feeling the safety and warmth that only he could provide. For the first time in a long time, I felt like that little girl again, the one who used to believe her big brother could protect her from anything.

As we walked toward the others, Brock leaned closer to Red. "She’ll be okay, right?"

Red nodded silently, his grip on me tightening just a little. I felt a small, warm smile tug at my lips despite the pain and exhaustion. Because even though I felt broken and beaten, I knew one thing for certain: as long as Red was here, I’d be okay.