"Operation make a brand new best friend out of our new classmate is underway and going fast, troop!... isn't this so exciting?!" Mallow clapped her hands together with the world's largest of grins, a grin that could light up the darkest of taverns. It was lunch once again for the students at the Pokémon school, and the group of seven ate together discussing the events of the previous day.
"Mallow... she's going to be okay right? She's... she's not here..." Lillie said, holding herself back from biting her nails
"Of course Saki will be fine, Lillie," Kiawe said in with both a calculated and soothingly calm tone. "It's only natural the girl would take a day to rest after what happened."
"Listen to Kiawe and don't worry that girly little head of yours," Sophocles said giving Lillie a thumbs up. "She'll be fine!"
"So, let's focus on the brighter sides of things!" Ash leaned back with a relaxed composure. "She might be beginning to like us! I mean, we're all friends now!"
"Yeah, exactly! Did you see the look on her face? We're making progress!" Lana said holding her fists up in success. "And Mallow..."
Mallow looked back at Lana with her usual large eyes, filled to the rim with levity and girlishness.
"You impressed me, you did." Lana made her statement with extreme casualness, which didn't stop the comment from making Mallow's face blush up. "And as for you Bibby Bob, you impressed me quite a bunch too. After such a rough start, you still helped and even befriended the girl. Can't I say that you are quite the amazing boy?"
Once again, Bob thumped onto the ground with an "Oof!" An amazing boy, is that what she just called him? An amazing boy? His beating heart couldn't take anymore of this, Lana and those aqua blue eyes of hers were about to make it beyond functioning!

"Operation make a brand new best friend out of our new classmate is underway and going fast, troop!... isn't this so exciting?!" Mallow clapped her hands together with the world's largest of grins, a grin that could light up the darkest of taverns. It was lunch once again for the students at the Pokémon school, and the group of seven ate together discussing the events of the previous day.
"Mallow... she's going to be okay right? She's... she's not here..." Lillie said, holding herself back from biting her nails
"Of course Saki will be fine, Lillie," Kiawe said in with both a calculated and soothingly calm tone. "It's only natural the girl would take a day to rest after what happened."
"Listen to Kiawe and don't worry that girly little head of yours," Sophocles said giving Lillie a thumbs up. "She'll be fine!"
"So, let's focus on the brighter sides of things!" Ash leaned back with a relaxed composure. "She might be beginning to like us! I mean, we're all friends now!"
"Yeah, exactly! Did you see the look on her face? We're making progress!" Lana said holding her fists up in success. "And Mallow..."
Mallow looked back at Lana with her usual large eyes, filled to the rim with levity and girlishness.
"You impressed me, you did." Lana made her statement with extreme casualness, which didn't stop the comment from making Mallow's face blush up. "And as for you Bibby Bob, you impressed me quite a bunch too. After such a rough start, you still helped and even befriended the girl. Can't I say that you are quite the amazing boy?"
Once again, Bob thumped onto the ground with an "Oof!" An amazing boy, is that what she just called him? An amazing boy? His beating heart couldn't take anymore of this, Lana and those aqua blue eyes of hers were about to make it beyond functioning!

"Oh no! Bob! Not again! Please, not again!" Lillie, once again, helped him up with her gentle touch. She shook her head when he finally stood, perturbed due to her thoughts on the subject. "At this rate Bob, you and your falls are going to make me get you one of those Life Alert devices."
The comment causes Lana to lightly giggle, the delicate and silky sound echoing throughout Bob's ears. Once again, he fell from Lillie's arms, and thumped right back onto the ground with an "oof!"
"B-Bob?!" Lillie called out with her shaky voice.
"Sorry! I'm only a boy, I can't help it!" Bob shouted back, his words stumbling into each other. Lillie stood still in her confusion, not quite understanding what would have caused him to say such a thing.
Before another word on the subject could be said, Kukui's call could be heard for the children to return to class. Bob took the opportunity to sprout right back up, and run to class with the faltering steps of a man running from imminent doom. Mallow, Sophocles, and Kiawe, with awkward glances at each other due to Bob's lack of grace, followed the same path back to class. Lana followed as well, but with an apparent fulfilled smile and a nonchalant walk. After packing away his empty containers back into his lunch box, Ash stood up to go after them, but was stopped by Lillie's hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Lillie, what's up-..." Ash was about to ask her an average question with an ease to his voice, but he paused when he turned and saw Lillie sweating bullets with chattering teeth, her whole body shaking. "Uh... Are you okay Lillie?"
"No! I mean!" Lillie exclaimed catching herself in her accidental honesty. "Um... so, um... my butler... Hobbs... he suggested I have someone over my place because I should be more... um... social or something..."
Lillie's voice trailed off, as Ash's mind stopped processing what Lillie was saying after he heard to word "butler."
"Wait, you have a butler?" Ash asked.
"Does it matter?!" Lillie's shrill voice shouted, as she was extremely high strung. "What does matter is that I'm asking you to come to my place after school!"
"Bzzzzt!" As if it were summoned by a que, Rotom floated in the middle of the two, startling them both and causing them to jump. "Thatz zzhouldn't be no problem! Ash hazz nothing to do anywayzzz! Can I comezz too, Lillie?"
Rotom's sudden interruption, and the shock that came with it, seemed to lessen the tension that was building up against Lillie's spine. Her body loosened and her breathing softened. "You can come too, Rotom. That would be fine."
"Zzzzzzounds like a plan! Come on, class in starting! Zzzzzst!" Making arrangements for apparently both itself and Ash, the floating Pokédex spun around in the air before zooming into the direction of the classroom. Ash laughs a little watching it's dashing movements, it vanishing from close view.
"I would have said yes anyways, but looks like Rotom was the decision maker for today!" Ash continued to laugh for a moment, before giving Lillie the second thumbs up she received that day. "I'll meet with you after class, okay?"
"Okay..." Lillie said with the tiniest of smiles, before the two of them headed to their class.

Time passed, and soon the two found themselves in the back of a limousine. Ash pressed his face against the window, feeling like the richest man in the universe. "Wow Lillie," he practically cheers while watching the trees go by. "You really ride a limo home everyday!? AND, we're already on your estate!?"
Lillie picked at the ends of her dress, avoiding looking at the land owned by her family. "Well, yes, that is true... "
"So cool!" Ash's eyes were wide and gleaming, admiring the scenery out before him. He was far too distracted by the surroundings to catch onto Lillie's discomfort. "It must be awesome to live like this, Lillie!"
"I guess..." Lillie said, right before the house she lived in came into view. Actually, the more accurate word would be mansion. Actually, that was the only accurate word.
"No way! THAT'S where you live?! SO COOL!" Ash's eyes sparkled in the light, the boy who was raised in the small town of Pallet was completely blown away from the glimpse of luxury. If he were to look anymore impressed by her welfare, Lillie would worry Ash's head would implode on itself. Pikachu at his side seemed no different, pressing its face against the window with bright eyes alongside it's trainer.

Soon enough the limo began to slow it's pace, and pulled up to the mansion's entrance. In front was an older man in a red tux, with his back straighter than a number two pencil fresh out of the factory. He approached the door facing his direction, which happened to be the side Lillie was on, and opened it with the refined gracefulness of a true gentleman. The pristine white gloves he wore helped flatter his distinguished appearance.
"Welcome back, Madame Lillie. I see you've brought a friend of yours, how splendid!" The man took a formal bow as Lillie stepped out, with a welcoming smile on her face.
"Thank you Hobbs!" Her smile remained as she nodded to the man in joyful acknowledgement. "And, uh... This is Ash. He's here with his Rotomdex and his partner, Pikachu."
"Yeah, nice to meet you! Your name is Hobbs, I'm guessing?" With his usual friendly attitude, Ash stepped out of the vehicle after Lillie. Without first extending his hand to invite Hobbs into the greeting, Ash simply and quickly grabbed the man's hand and shook it with hefty movements.
Hobbs nodded his head with a smile, about to confirm Ash's theory with a statement. However, with deja vu coming across Ash's mind, Rotom floated in between the two with a spin. "Zzzzzt! Are youzz the butler Lillie mentioned?" It asked Hobbs the question, with a question mark popping on top of it's screen.
"Why yes I am. I am Hobbs, the butler of this estate." Hobbs formally bowed once again, before cupping his hands together with a unfitting, goofy, wide toothy smile. "My oh my, it really does warm my heart to see Madame Lillie coming out of her shell like a squirtle expanding its horizons!"

"H...H....H...Hobbs!" Lillie spat out the man's name in the same way a young child would do so to their father, high pitched and in a whine. She shifted her body weight side to side, continuing to pull at the ends of her dress.
Yet Hobbs didn't say a word back to her, as he placed one of his hands on the side of Ash's shoulder. "Make yourself at home, Master Ash. I'll show you where you could put your shoes, and please do tell me how Madame Lillie has been doing in school."
Ash eyes darted from side to side, uncertain on what words that were entering his mind to chose. For a solid ten seconds, he stood still with no sound coming from him except for the occasional "uh." Finally, he decided an the extremely complex statement. He make direct eye contact and said to the man, "Sure."
"Excellent! Though I must ask for you to have your Pokémon wait out in the yard," Hobbs instructed as if it wouldn't be of an issue. However, Pikachu hopped onto Ash's leg and wrapped it's small arms around him with an iron tight grip. No way was it going to let Ash and Ash alone adventure through the fancy building all on his own, leaving both it and Rotomdex behind! With a guilty look, Lillie stepped in.
"No no, Hobbs. It's alright, Pikachu and Rotom aren't any bother! I'm used to being around them, I'm in class with them everyday. So please, let them come inside." Lillie shyness seemed to be absent as she made this request to Hobbs, secure with looseness in her face. Hobbs nodded his head, as he made a gesture for everyone to follow him.

The inside of the building was well kept and spotless, the furniture and decor showcasing wealth and it's expense. Ash was breathless, barley saying a word as he took in unique display that was far from typical for him. Lillie was wordless as well, as she wrung her hands repeatedly with her glance directed down. Hobbs guided them to the shoe rack, where they both kicked off their shoes, and where Ash hung his hat and backpack on a hook. Rowlet continued to laze around inside the backpack, as Hobbs raised an eyebrow hearing it's snores from within. He didn't question it, however.
Afterwards, the group headed in the direction of Lillie's room. As they walked, Hobbs questioned Ash about school life.
"So what's it like at that school? I ask Madame Lillie about it all the time but she usually just tells me 'it's fine' and leaves it off at that," Hobbs stated. "Maybe you-"
"Hooobbs!" Lillie held the O in "Hobbs" for a long moment, trying to shut down the conversation taking place to alleviate her embarrassment.
Lillie's whine caused Ash to hesitate, once again silent to try and decide the right words. This time however, Rotom swept in and stole the spotlight from the boy, pointing one of its arms into the air to present it's explanation.
"Wellz, I could fill you in, Hobbzzz." Rotom pulled up a picture of the classroom on it's screen, and began to scroll through different pictures of the class to accompany it's points. "The Pokémon school is a great place, but nothing is better than Kukui's class! There are tonzz of field tripzz, and projectzz, and great information to learn! And itzzz a place of friendship too! And itzz would probably also be good for you to know that Lilliezzz a teacherzz pet-"

"Rotom!" Lillie snapped, placing her hands on her warm, red cheeks. She looked to Hobbs, who was grinning his bright toothy grin, and to Ash, who was chewing at his lip in the awkward moment. "Please stop! Please stooooop!"
"But Lillie, I-" Rotom began to speak, until it noticed something in its peripheral vision. "Gollyzzzz, what is that?!"
Rotom zoomed over to a large window which gave a beautiful view of the outdoors, followed by the rest of the small group. On the other side of the display window was what could have only been described as the cutest and littlest of all playgrounds. Wild Pokémon, both big and small, played on the provided equipment together with vigorous and blissful faces. Pikachu turned to Rotom, and Rotom turned to Pikachu.
"Pikachu," Rotom stated.
"Pika," the electric mouse said in understanding.
The two dashed away from Ash's side, a pep in their step, and ran to find the nearest exit. It didn't take long for the three who were left behind to figure out that they wanted to join the wild Pokémon in their enticing playtime. Ash sweats with a little hollow laugh, while Lillie and Hobbs share the same uncomfortable glance with each other.
They all continue to watch through the window as Pikachu and Rotom quickly find their way, and began to join the playful frenzy. Ash inevitably began to smile in awe, as it brought bright and pure enjoyment to him to see so many Pokémon getting along and having fun together.

"This is really cool, guys! What gave you the idea to build this?" Ash asked, turning his head back towards the two.
"Well, Madame Lillie loves Pokémon so much but... she still can't touch them." Hobbs face began to slowly deteriorate into a frown, his previously perfectly straight shoulders beginning to drop. "So I suggested the construction of this playground, so she could watch them from a distance she feels safe."
Ash remembers the one aspect of Lillie he has yet to really understand or completely grasp. Why on earth what she be utterly terrified of something she adored and admired? He remembered first meeting her, and first being exposed to her fear. When she asked, she denied and closed away the reasoning of the terror that had come across her at his Pikachu's touch.
And the topic clearly was a great source of her repetitive discomfort, as she gripped her left arm with her hand and kept her glance to the side. Hobbs noticed it almost immediately, as he tried to regain a lighter mood while at the same time pushing away his regret of even mentioning the subject.
"I'll keep a watchful eye on your two companions as they play, Master Ash. Madame Lillie, I'm sure your guest would be delighted to see your room... Leave the door open though, young lady." Hobbs soft and formal speech shifted to that of a firm, authoritative adult mid-sentence. Lillie began to fan herself with her hand, preventing herself from putting her face in her hands, as she nodded wordlessly. She turned away and began to head in the direction of her room, the oblivious Ash beginning to follow her all the while wondering what on earth has come over her.

Lillie's room was as well furnished as the rest of her home, and was notably large and expansive. Ash couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit envious, since his room all the way back at home pales in comparison. Then again, he hasn't been a constant resident of his own home for quite a long time, while Lillie has likely spends everyday enjoying her family's wealth.
It was that line of thinking that made Ash curious where the heck all the money that paid for this come from. Aliens? Likely. But he had not the time to ponder it as Lillie asked him to sit with her at a table set in the middle of the room. On the table were two teacups, belonging in the same set at the teapot that was also present. However, what made Ash's mouth water was the plate of macaroons that sat in the table's center. Without hesitation, Ash jumped into his seat and began to chow down with the sophistication of a starved Scoutland.
Lillie sipped at her tea with a sweatdrop, politely waiting for Ash to finish. Once he did, leaving slightly less than half of the macaroons for Lillie, he leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.

"Whoever made those, tell them they were delicious!" Ash exclaimed with a satisfied sigh, picking up his own teacup to wash all of his eatings down. "Ah you know, the taste of macaroons make me a little bit sad."
"Sad..." Lillie put down her cup, looking back at Ash with upward tilted eyebrows of concern. "What do you mean when you say... it makes you sad?"
After a large gulp of tea, the boy returned Lillie's gaze with a look of his own. It was somber, but at the same time, uplifted. There was no frown, nor shining teary eyes to be found. "A really good... friend of mine used to make really good macaroons. I guess they kinda remind me of her, and make me miss her little bit. She was... very nice..."
Ash tilted his head up and stared deeply into the white ceiling, pausing as the two children sat in ridiculing silence. That was until the boy broke it with a piercing question. "Do you ever miss anyone Lillie?"
"..." Lillie's face grew downcast, her eyes closing and her mind falling into reflection. After another merciless instance of lengthy silence, the girl stood up in a steady dullness. Ash snapped out of his own remembrance as he began to wave his hands, attempting to retract the heavy atmosphere he has unintentionally created.

"I'm... I'm sorry Lillie! I didn't mean to-"
"No Ash... Don't worry." Lillie stopped his recoil, as she walked over to her night stand. On top of the stand, besides her lamp, vitamins, and alarm clock, was a framed photo that was worn at the edges. She picked it up with the greatest of care, as if it were a frangible vase that could crack if a stray piece of dust hit it too hard. She sat back in her chair, placing the object of personal value on the table to display to Ash.
Ash leaned in, narrowing his eyes at the object in question. In the photo was three figures, two children and a women. The smallest of the children shared Lillie's face, hair, and even fashion sense. However, she was doing something he could never imagine Lillie doing, holding a lillipup. Standing behind her was an equally blond boy, smiling with a childish bright glimmer. Leaning forward, behind them both, was a tall blonde women. He would have guessed he was their mother, if she didn't have a such youthful look to her.
"Is that you Lillie?" Ash tilted his head at the photo, before pulling away back into a normal sitting position and focusing back on Lillie. "It sure does look like you... except for the fact-"
"Yes. That is me... s-sorry to interrupt!" Lillie said, wringing her hands together like she was previously that day. "But yes... that's me... and my brother... and my mother..."
Ash's mind was becoming overloaded with questions at a pace he could barely keep up with. She didn't always have a fear of Pokémon? Why did she have a fear? What happened to her brother? Her mother? Why did her mother look so young? Maybe it's maybelline?
"I miss them... I miss happier times with them... sometimes I ask... why?" Lillie's voice was barely a whisper, however, she was still understood by Ash. She spoke with yearning. "I want those old days back. I want to go back to those old days before... my family just left me. Before I was left... alone."

Lillie's eyes begun to water, her hands jumping to frantically attempt to wipe away what would become tears. Ash's stomach dropped with an extreme feeling of guilt, so he stood up and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm sorry I asked... I can't really do anything about your family but... we're here for you. You have tons of friends now and we'll stick by your side. See when I'm sad, I always remember someone is there for me. I... I always have pikachu at my side!"
Though he was attempting to be uplifting, and to an extent he was, his final statement filled Lillie's heart with more weight. She shifted her gaze away, as it gained a new focus. She looked to the egg that was given to both her and the general class by Samson Oak, which rested on a bundle of pillows on a couch by the balcony. Ash recognized it immediately, remembering the assignment that was given to the class a mere few days before Bob first came in. Oak would raise a mysterious red egg from Kanto, the class would raise a mysterious white egg from Alola. Mallow recommended Lillie take it home, and this the first time Ash has seen it since then.
"O-oh! The egg!" Ash decided to try to change the subject... desperately. He thought maybe that would help raise poor Lillie's spirits. "How has that been? Any trouble?"

Lillie hesitated to answer, but soon enough, she dipped her head and answered. "Yes. Not to long ago, a salandit came in and tried to snatch the egg away. If Hobbs weren't there I... I have no idea what could have happened. It's... it's not like I wasn't there or anything. I... I was right there! But I couldn't touch it! What could I do if I can't even touch it! I... I worry so much everytime I leave it on its own but... I can't even carry it! Even in its container! I... I can't even put my hands on the container while it's inside! If it weren't for Mallow carrying it.. it... wouldn't have ever even got here in the first place! If I can't touch it, how am I even to befriend the Pokémon that will hatch from it!"
Already provoked into a hyper emotional state due to the short lived conversation about her brother and mother, the thought of Ash's friendship with Pikachu caused for an entirely different outburst. Ash opened his mouth to speak, but Lillie's voice raised, overpowering him.
"I... I want to befriend a Pokémon! I want to love a Pokémon! I want to go on grand adventures like they do on T.V! I want to be victorious and... and fight through anything that opposes me! I want to be strong.. and... and triumph over evil doers just like you, Ash! I want a bond with Pokémon like you have, Ash! I want to be like you! But!...but!... that's only a dream. A stupid dream. An impossible dream..."
The girl's voice faded into brittleness, her breath vanishing into the heavier sound of still air. She pressed her fist against her chest and held herself from sobbing. She paused before saying to the wide-eyed Ash, "I'm sorry. I don't mean to burden you with my problems."

"You're not Lillie! Listen... your dream is not stupid! If your dream is stupid, then all of mine are too! Then everyone's dreams are stupid!" Ash had a fire burning from within him, a sort of passion of caring that was so rare in the majority of people. He stood up, catching Lillie by surprise. With a confident stature, he strode over to where the egg was, and slowly picked it up. Lillie would have shouted for him to be careful, except that all the words seemed to be missing from her throat.
Ash approached Lillie with the egg in hand, and knelt down so that Lillie could reach it right in her seat. He extended it out to her, she automatically scooting to the side to make the most distance between herself and the egg. Ash did not falter or back it away, he continued holding it with a firm expression upon his face.
"Whenever you have a dream, you've got to go step by step Lillie" Ash said with confidence and stableness filling the brim of every single word. "This would be step one, you see? Holding this egg. And bit by bit, you can move beyond that. So please Lillie, hold the egg. I've got it, okay? My grip is tighter than uh... tight! It can't hurt you..."
Taunting Lillie in her subconscious, was the bitter memory of a slimy body entrapping her and giving her a drowning sensation. The utter thought of touching another "Pokémon" that could possibly give her the same feeling made her shake. She shook right before Ash, but that confidence that floated around him sparked a little light in her. She decided to act upon it, before it would fade once again and cease to exist.

Her hand extended, slowly, shaking. She closed her eyes tight, and clenched her teeth, as she pushed her hand forward and laid it on the egg. The whole world around the two seemed as if it has stopped in its tracks, as Lillie slowly touched it with her second hand. She slowly began to open her eyes, and when she did, the instantly realized that Ash has slightly lifted his hands off of the egg's surface. She was holding it, completely on her own. She repeatedly blinked, as if not even believing what she was doing, before pulling the egg to her chest.
"It's... so warm..." The tears began to spill from her eyes as if a dam has been broken, a strange mix of excitement and shock rushing over her. "So.... warm..."
She laid her cheek against the egg as she promised to protect it with everything she had.

After hearing the screaming of the girl, a man stood outside the door rims. He was crying, wiping tears from his eyes, as he saw the girl holding the egg with tears of her own.
He wanted to thank Ash desperately, but decided to let the moment pass without his interruption. With a peaceful smile, Hobbs turned and walked away from the room.