People cry not because they are weak,
but because they have been strong for to long.
✮.✯*✮.✯*🌟*✯.✮*✯.✮

My mind stirred to the sounds of yelling, something that was unfortunately normal for me to wake to but something I still found quite frightening. The others I don't think realised how much it scared me as I still had not brought it up. I felt my muscles tense, but I didn't make a sound as the boys' voices filled the room.

"We have to do it now!" Nick's yelled harshly, causing me to flinch as my subconscious told me to expect someone to hit me.

"No, leave her. She's still much to frightened and weak. She still needs time to recover." Thomas replied calmly, although I could still tell he was mad

Nick almost growled. "But we need to know what Dream knows and she won't say anything without Shimmer present."

"You haven't even been in the same room as her since she was rescued. You don't even understand how frightened she is right now, whatever Tyson did-" Thomas argued back but was cut off by Nick.

"Stop talking about him like he's some evil master mind!" Nick shouted causing me to flinch again. Shiver stirred by my side, raising her head and snorting at the door in irritation as her obsidian eyes seemed to bore holes straight through the door.

"Last time I check, he kidnapped Shimmer and did only Arceus knows what to her for the past month that left her in the situation she's in now. He kidnapped Alice and she's been missing for almost an entire year now. For all we know, they may even be the same people which means that he hurt her twice as bad, if not he still kidnapped two innocent girls who could hardly even defend themselves. Most people at this point would be screaming psychopath and I'm not even sure I know Tyson any more so for all we know he could be an evil master mind. We don't even know what he did to her, so I'll repeat myself. Leave. Shimmer. Alone."

"Both of you shut up, she's trying to rest and you two going at each other's throats isn't really the best thing to be doing outside her bedroom." Amy hissed. "She's trying to rest and recover, and you two arguing will most likely scare her half to death, you both know how frightened she gets around yelling."

"Why don't you just use the nectar stuff on her already?" Nick hissed back out of irritation.

Someone sighed, most likely Amy. "I told you already, it can't restore her strength. She has very little physical injury, nothing so bad as to require the nectar, she's just sick and weak... but besides, she's starting to get better now, and we should save the Fire Lily's nectar for extreme emergencies like life or death situations. Shimmer is healing steadily and right now she just needs to get her strength back and the best way for her to do that is for her too sleep, so if you two are going to fight then go to your own room before I rip your tongue's out." After she said that with a firmed tone, she slowly walked in, first peeking in behind the cracked door before entering with Alyssa walking in behind her.

They saw me awake with the blanket clutched tightly against my chest and their faces dropped slightly. "You heard that, didn't you?" Alyssa asked with more of a statement tone.

I just nodded, turning away as my tears began to fall. My body was trembling, I could feel it doing so and I simply couldn't get it to stop.

Shiver stood up from being curled up at the end of my bed and shook her fur. She sat back down and started to casually groom herself, although she glanced at me constantly in order to make sure I was alright.

"I ran you bath upstairs. It should help with the tension in your muscles, I added some of my homemade flower oils to it as well. Hopefully it'll relax your joints and make movement easier for you." Amy smiled hopefully. "But... you'll need to get up to do so, if you feel strong enough... Alyssa and I can help you get up there if you need it."

I took a deep breath in and nodded slowly. The bed was beginning to get kind of boring and I already knew from Amy's many rambles that warm water soothes stiff muscles, so I was willing to try it even though I was still feeling very weak and didn't particularly like getting out of the safety of my bed.

Amy and Alyssa took either side of me, assisting me as I slowly sat up. I cautiously brought my legs over the edge of the bed, the coldness of the floor sent a small wave of shock through my body as my bare feet hit the floor, but I didn't pull back, determination filling my body as I pushed myself to get upstairs. The cold air sent small shivers through my body and small goose bumps rose on my bear arms, but I pushed the feelings and memories of the cold cell Tyson kept me in aside.

I rested my hand on the bed head to hold myself up while Alyssa held her hands on either side to catch me if I fell. Amy gently held onto my the arm that wasn't being used to keep myself steady. I was very shaky on my feet, as if my legs had been filled with jelly instead of the muscle they should, but I forced myself to stay standing but knew I wouldn't be able to move anywhere without my friends held. Hesitantly, I let go of the bed board, praying that my legs wouldn't give out from under me. I took in a shaky breath and squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, holding on tightly to Amy.

"Good job." Alyssa praised. "Your practically half way there already." She said the last part jokingly, with a playful smile as she watched me carefully in case I fell.

Amy glared at her from a moment before helping me take a few small steps, this was more than I'd moved around in a very long time and I was feeling slightly proud of myself that I'd made it this far without falling.

It took a couple of minutes for me to actually get up the stairs, but I did managed not to fall the whole way, even while feeling weaker with each step I took, I felt proud to have not fallen. Alyssa walked behind us the whole time while Amy remained by my side, allowing me to hold onto her as she lead me to the bathroom. Shiver trotted next to me the entire way, glancing up every few seconds as if to make sure I was still by her side.

We made it outside the bathroom doors in a total of about ten minutes and I didn't fall once.

"Are you going to be alright?" Amy asked as I held the door frame for extra support. "Do you need help?"

I shook my head slowly as I was beginning to feel a little dizzy. "No, I think I will be okay..."

"There's a clean towel and change of clothes for you in there. Shiver will be right out here the entire time so if you need anything just call out to her to get us. Alright?" Amy explained softly, concern clear over her features.

Taking a soft but deep breath in, I nodded again, wincing a little as Amy let my arm go and I was left to carry my own weight.

Looking down at Shiver, who was already sitting patiently next to the door as she watched me expectantly, I gave a small smile and entered the bathroom before closing the door behind me. The steamy bath had a slight pink tinge to it, from the flower oils I'd guess as the air was heavily scented with the aroma of an assortment of wild flowers.

I caught a glance of myself in the mirror and frowned when I saw myself in the reflection. Even with my dress on I could see my skinny rib cage sticking out, I could just make out each individual bone of the bones that protected my heart. My cheek was still a deep purple-ish colour of the bruising Tyson caused each time he'd hit me and looked worse than I thought it had been. Tears unwillingly sprung to my eyes when memories of how it happened slipped uninvited into my mind. It almost felt as if he was hitting now, I could feel the memories... If that makes any sense.

Suddenly all I wanted was to sit down. So, I sat with my back against the wall and buried my head in my hands. Tears rolled down my cheeks and were caught by my hands before they could hit the ground. Deep down I knew everyone else wouldn't be able to hide forever. Alyssa had explained the Tyson was looking around and had already interrogated Alyssa's parents, he was still pretending to be our friend but thankfully Alyssa's parents denied that we were here.

I squeezed my eyes close before opening and looking down at my hands. I felt so weak and worthless. I want to be stronger but I'm afraid I'll get hurt. I hated the weakness I was feeling, I hated to cry but I couldn't stop myself the tears just came and the weakness stayed like snow on the tippy-top of the mountains. My hands balled themselves into fists, digging my nails into my palms, my long fringe hung a shadow over my eyes as tears continued to fall. I bit back the sobs that caught to escape my throat, Shiver was right outside and if she heard my crying she would most likely get Amy or Alyssa and I didn't feel like speaking to anyone right now, I just wanted to be alone, so I could just bottle up my emotions without anyone telling me it was all alright and that it would all be okay. It wasn't alright and who knew if it ever even would be?

With a sigh, I closed eyes once more and leaned my head back against the wall, playing with the ends of my dirty hair. My nose wrinkled in disgust at the sight but, Amy was right, I was getting better and I was noticing the small things I couldn't when I was ill. My hair was a mess and filthy from not being able to wash in so long. There was dirt and grime under my nails from my habit of playing with my hair. I felt hollow inside and the dress I was wearing that once fit me perfectly, looked a size to big.

I shook my head and stood up on shaky feet, looking at the bath. Amy's words snuck into my mind. Rest, relax and recover. I looked in the mirror and nodded to myself I've already been resting so right now I need to let myself relax and then I will recover. I looked at the bath Amy had run and smiled at its invitingness. Even the heat of the room seemed to be making me feel better.

Relax I will, for now - everything else can wait.

~*💫*~

Hours later, I exited the bathroom feeling much more refreshed and I found myself feeling much better than I had when I first entered the bathroom. The clothes left by Amy consisted of a simple pair of purple tracksuit pants and silver-grey t-shirt, both of which were comfortable and soft against my skin. Shiver flicked her tail slightly as I came out and looked up at me questioningly, her head cocked slightly to the side as she looked me up and down, as if trying to tell if I was feeling any better.

"I'm fine." I said with a slightly forced smile. Like Amy had said my sore, stiff muscles were feeling much more relaxed but all the moving around had made me very much tired and I was ready to go back to bed and sleep until dinner was ready.

I walked back down the hall, remembering my way back through the small house with ease however a familiar Pokémon blocked my path. Jemima was standing at the end of the hall with Thomas by her side but once her bright blue eyes landed on me, she let out a nicker and bounded over to me knocking me down in her excitement. She began licking my face with her soft yet rough tongue as she let out another squeak.

Letting out a yelp as I hit the floor, I scooted back a bit as the happy Pokémon attempted to come closer and rub her nose against my shoulder.

Shiver let out a hiss, pushing the larger Pokémon back and standing between us in a defensive manner. ~Glaceon!~

Jemima took a small step back, flicking her ears back and forth before she lowered her head in shame as she whimpered apologetically.

Rushing to my side, Thomas looked me over for injury, concern clear in his gaze as he checked for bumps or bruises. "You okay?" He questioned, the worry clear in his voice as he helped support me sitting up.

I winced slightly but nodded. "I think I'm fine." Truthfully my bottom was quite sore, but it was only a little fall and I don't think Jemima meant to hurt me.

The raven-haired trainer slipped his arm around my back and under my legs, standing up with me in his arms. "Well just in case." He said, smiling cheekily as I wrapped my arms around his neck for support before I buried my head into his shoulder and I aloud myself to relax while Thomas carried me back down stairs and into my room.

With a tender touch that out of the boys only he could use, he laid me back down as pulled the covers up to my chin, sitting on the edge of my bed and running his fingers through my hair. "Are you feeling any better?" Thomas asked, a frown over his features.

"A little... but I'm feeling really tired right now." I said while stifling a yawn. Shiver jumped up onto my pillow while the Girafarig simple stood silently by my bed.

Thomas nodded his head with understanding. "Jemima seemed to have been looking for you, I brought her in and as soon as she saw you she got excited."

"Excuse me?" I frowned looking at the Girafarig.

"She turned up yesterday and had been wandering around the outside of the house. I figured out she might have been looking for you since she does seem to like you better than anyone else." Thomas explained as his gaze also rested on the Girafarig.

"Why would she be looking for me?" I asked in a state of confusion before I remembered my memory when I'd met her. "Maybe she knows me?"

Thomas shrugged before turning back to me. "As I said, she just turned up one day and has been following at least one of us around most of the time. You're the first person she's taken a real interest in."

I gave a small nod, feeling a little drowsier. Thomas seemed to notice and smiled. "You get some rest now, I'll stay here with you until you fall asleep if you like."

Smiling slightly and letting out a yawn, I nodded. "I would like that."

With ruby-eyes shining, Thomas just smiled and continued running his fingers through my damp, white hair which was once again brighter than ever. He started humming a tune which sounded oddly familiar and just before I drifted off I was able to put words to the tune.

Two little princess dancing in a row
Spinning fast and freely on their little toes
Where the light will take then no one ever knows
Two little princesses dancing in a row.

.•*.•*.•*.•*🌟*•.*•.*•.*•.
Word count: 2675

Hillo people, how're you doing? I've had a friend over the past two days since it's been the term 1 holidays. Only two days into the holidays and I've already had more fun than in a week of school. Someone from my school posted something on Facebook and it took like ten minutes for my friend to find it and then everyone else so we spent hours on a group chat with some of my other friends about it. It was hilarious. XD
Well I still have two weeks of holidays left so expect an update soon :P