Les walked up to me while I pretended I didn't hear what Elen said that was identical to what Bebe said before "here" he gave me a bottle of juice.

"Thanks!"

"Who was that?"

"Elen called me about Penny sending me a package. Remember the lady I helped in Jubilife city?"

"Oh, right" he sat down beside me to drink a coffee he ordered. I drank my juice quietly, thinking multiple things at once. Penny finding me, Elen not reading the entire letter, her claiming I was in love, Vulpix, my mother. It's a lot to take in... Do I even bother looking for mother at all after all she's done to me?

"Apparently she send me a package. It's crazy how much time flew. She gave me her violin I never bothered playing after that day"

"Just imagine if she was playing the violin instead of her flute. I saw her often when Lucas and I pass by. Most of the time the violin was played" I can only imagine how I'll act in public "Why didn't you freak out when you played it?"

"When I play, I play back old songs I've practice. And memories start flowing in, but I don't know why some are haunting"

"You did play beautifully, by the way" I blushed at his honesty.

"You really think so?" I sighed "To be honest with you, it's not just the violin. I can play other instruments, but I'm sure they will just bring back bad memories while the violin is cursed in my brain. The first time I played it in front of you, I saw a vision of that demon. It was terrifying" he placed his hand on my head.

"Are you hungry?"

"I am. We've been underground for hours already. Perhaps that's why my mind is going crazy" I knocked on my head "I hate how you know me so well" yet I hardly know of him. It's frustrating.

"Miss?" The nurse called at the same time Vulpix came running to us. My Pokémon were the first to greet it and make sure it was doing okay. The Vulpix smiled and rushed to jump on my lap.

"Oh! Hey there! You look tons better now" I smiled, petting its cool fur "You're an ice type Vulpix... It's amazing" I chuckled and looked up at the nurse coming to me "Was there any complications?"

"No ma'am. We were able to treat the more serious burns with some medication. We even gave her a rare candy to gain some strength. Worked like a charm!"

"That's wonderful! Thank you so much! I would really like to keep her. She's so cute and so sweet. I think you mentioned a trainer? I would like to speak with them as soon as possible"

"Um... well" she looked a bit nervous "You see, the trainer is a little boy whose older brother is-"

"I don't want to hear excuses. Please get in contact with them and have them meet me here. For such treatment this Pokémon went through, it could had died in that heat! Especially as a ice type Pokémon! A person could had easily die in a place like that! I understand this is a little boy, but abuse is not an excuse. I will have a talk with this older brother"

"B-but Ma'am! I have to tell you that he's quite intimating! I don't want you to get hurt" I slapped the table beside me loudly, making her squeal a bit.

"That's not what I asked" she nodded.

"Yes ma'am. Please give me a moment" she ran off. I sighed and leaned on my chair.

"That's the most stupidest excuse I've ever heard. The big brother is intimidating. When it comes to you and me, I'm sure he has nothing on us. What kind of big brother would defend a little brother who did something so horrible?"

"Agreed. Lucas wouldn't leave the house if I ever disciplined him"

"How is Lucas, by the way?" He shrugged "What do you mean you don't know? You're his big brother. Are you not keeping in contact with him?"

"He doesn't even know we're traveling together" my jaw dropped "I wouldn't be surprise if we see him out for field work"

"Are you not worried about him?"

"Lucas is a big boy. He's old enough to take care of himself. He has Pokémon and works for the professor. I'm not worried about him. I don't need to be"

"Do you even have a relationship with him? He always told me that you were serious and don't talk much, which is true... but I didn't think you'd be the same towards family"

"Not every family is the same"

"Yeah... I shouldn't talk when it comes to family" I sighed "I'm sure he's worried about you though. He may be worried that you went back to being a thug- I-I mean... criminal" he snorted.

"He worries too much" the nurse came back to us.

"Ma'am? I contacted the family of this Vulpix. They said that they will be meeting you by the daycare center" I nodded and stood up "b-but I have to warn you, ma'am! The family grew up as generational archaeologists. They're big and strong and can pick up boulders!" I stared at how panicked she was. Is that how I look when I panic?

"That's nice. I'll be taking my leave. How much do I owe you?" She stopped panicking.

"Oh... Don't worry about it. If you manage to keep this poor Vulpix with you, there won't be a change"

"Is it just you that are scared of this family, or what?"

"The town makes an effort to not mess with them or their research. I can admit that they are super smart and clever, but their height speaks volumes. I heard one time they almost killed a guy in a bar fight"

"Archaeologist are people who study the prehistoric days. I'd like to see what kind of people have the brains and brouns in the work field" I snorted at remembering a classmate who studied archeology, and left to the exit "Thank you for your service" I waved to the nurse and searched for this daycare I was told to meet this family.

"What are you going to end up saying?" Les asked. I looked at Vulpix by my ankle and picked her up.

"Could you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"I would like to see what they may end up saying once they're confronted. If they're big and aggressive people, they may not take me seriously" He dug in his pocket to take out a cigarette to light.

"If you want" I nodded "There's never an excuse to abuse a Pokémon like this. No matter how old that person is. I'll take care of it"

"You will? What are you going to do?" I tugged on his sleeve "Hold back on killing them, won't you?" He chuckled.

"What? Who do you think I am? Like I'll ever kill somebody in front of you" so he can kill someone regardless.

We asked around the small town to locate the daycare. We were pointed to the right direction and looked over at a field with a ton of Pokémon running around, playing with each other.

"That's the daycare" I gasped, amazed how big the field was and how happy the Pokémon were "We should leave our Pokémon here so they can play"

"Yeah, and that'll give us enough time for us to play" I flinched and stared at my feet, blushing like an idiot. I can't believe I allow myself to act like this when he makes comments like that.

"S-Stop saying things like that. It is not getting old?" He leaned down to my ear.

"Not when it comes to you" he smirked. I cupped my face with my free hand while carrying Vulpix in the other, looking confused.

We heard loud footsteps coming towards us. Les stood in front of me to face three large men and a child coming our way. Vulpix shivered in my arms, like she was scared of them. I narrowed my eyes at one of them while glancing from behind Les casually smoking his cigarette.

"Are you the person the nurse from the Pokémon center called for us to meet?" One of the guys asked. These men were about a foot taller than Les, who stood at a height of six and a half feet (198cm) while I was only below five feet and 4 inches (165.5cm). These men were huge! I can see why some people would be scared of them!

They approached us in what look like their work attire, except for the child who was almost my height. This family looked like they eat rocks for breakfast... I can't really describe it, but they sort of reminded me of a biker gang, but with a career in digging up history.

"Yeah" Les said after a puff "My friend and I happen to be traveling the grand underground and stumbled upon a white Vulpix in the volcano room. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. My little brother said his Pokémon ran away. You found it, I assume? Are you suggesting that we left Vulpix there on purpose?"

"I didn't say anything yet" one of the tallest brothers walked up to Les and looked down at him like a bug Pokémon.

"Then what are you saying then? You don't look like you're trying to return Vulpix to us"

"I'm not" The guy glared and grabbed Les's shirt to pull to his face.

"Are you trying to pick a fight, man?" His brothers cheered on his brother.

"You tell em, bro!" One brother said. I eyed the little brother hiding behind his other brothers, not even saying anything to claim his Pokémon back.

Les was not effected by his shirt getting grabbed and puffed some smoke at the guy's face "If that's what you want to do, then fine. I'm only here to talk about what happened to Vulpix first" his shirt was let go a bit. A slight crowd started watching us "It has come to our attention that Vulpix was left alone in the underground to possibly change forms that are common here in Sinnoh. If that wasn't the case, it wouldn't had been able to be laying in the middle of the large room"

"Our brother would never do something like that!" The guy glared "You have some balls to assume something like that when you know nothing! Vulpix ran away! How do I know you didn't put it there?!"

"It is in our hands now. I have no reason to do something like that" Les puffed out another smoke, making the guy's anger rise "We can't assume this happened completely, but why are you not asking your brother? He's there hiding, isn't he?" The guy grabbed Les's shirt again and lifted his fist.

"Show him who's boss!" His brothers encouraged him.

"That Vulpix was a gift I gave to my little brother while on a field trip to the Alola region! I'll ruin that pretty face of yours for disrespecting us like this!" He was about to move his fist before freezing and got shivers. I stared into his eyes until he noticed me and quickly released his grip off Les "Oh my Arceus..." he turned blue and moved away while I stood beside Les "O-Octavia..?"

"Hello, Rodri" I eyed him down until he dropped to his knees to reach my height "It's nice to see you again. It's been awhile"

"Yes... It has" I looked at him up and down "I-I didn't know you were hiding behind-" he looked down "I'm... confused"

"You should be. You were called to come meet us here to discuss about Vulpix. This one in particular" he looked at Vulpix hiding in my elbow "You see that, Rodri? That's not something a Pokémon does when it's returned back to the original trainer. I was told this belongs to your little brother. Is that right?"

"Yes..."

"Yo, bro! What are you doing?!" One of his brothers asked.

"Shut up! Do you want to die?! Show some respect to Octavia! She's the one I was talking about when I come back from summer vacation!" The brothers flinched like they realized something. I'm sure they heard a lot of stories about me "Octavia, I'm sure this was a misunderstanding..."

"Maybe, but you haven't even asked your brother yet. Bring him here, please" I said. He gulped and looked at his little brother trying to hide more behind his other brother. That brother pushed him over to come and face us. He shook his knees together while I stared down at him, unimpressed "Hello there" I greeted "What's your name?"

"Billy" he said, then puffed his chest to act tough "Y-You have my Vulpix! Give her back!" He was about to grab Vulpix before I placed my finger on his forehead to stop him. He froze and stared sweating fast.

"You don't want to do that. Did you not hear the stories Rodri told you? Back off" he listened and moved away "This poor Pokémon is shaking. Can you explain why it that?"

"B-Because you're holding her! She's mine-"

"No" I darkened my eyes "I asked you a question. Are you going to answer it?"

"Billy" Rodri said "Answer her question" Billy gulped and looked down.

"I... I wanted to make her into a fire type"

"What?!" One of his other brothers said.

"Why would you do that?!" The other asked.

"Billy... I thought you liked Vulpix" Rodri frowned.

"I-I do... but all the kids kept making fun of me because her fur was weird, and kept throwing rocks at me"

"So you resulted in harming your Pokémon to make things better?" I asked.

"The internet said it can become a fire type if I-"

"The internet is full of lies" Les said, looking out in the field.

"You do not deserve this Pokémon. Even if I'm sure you had somewhat good intentions, what you did was selfish. If your skin was purple, would you like to be around lava for who knows how long just to change?" I huffed. Billy started crying, looking away.

"N-No..."

"I will not be returning this Pokémon to you" he snapped his head at me in shock "The only thing that should be changing is you. Vulpix did not deserve this treatment! Rodri"

"Y-Yes!"

"Vulpix is mine now"

"But that's..."

"It wasn't a question. If you're too blind to realize what just happened and almost punched my friend for confronting you, you don't get to argue" I glared, making him cry in fright and slam his forehead on the grass.

"Please forgive me, Octavia!" His brothers quickly followed him, including Billy "We are always too busy with work to realize what's happened! I'll make sure something like this won't ever happen again!" I popped my fingers, making him flinch "Please punish us if you must!" Les leaned to my ear.

"What are you going to do?" I sighed and looked at Vulpix looking shock at what was happening.

"It's up to you, Vulpix. Should I punish them?" She frowned before shaking her head. The brothers stood up.

"Thank you, Vulpix" Billy said. She shook her head and jumped out my arms to hide behind my legs "I was stupid to have done that to you. I should had never tried to change you. I understand if you hate me" he looked at me "I'm sure you'll take care of her" Rodri pet his head.

"It's my fault for not looking after him like I should've. Please allow me to make it up to you"

"To me?" I raised my brow. I looked down at Vulpix still shaking "The excuse you made wasn't enough, Rodri" he looked scared "Always too busy... That's pathetic" my anger was getting the better of me "You are too busy to notice even your little brother getting bullied and not even realize his actions to what he did to a Pokémon you gave him! Are you an idiot?!" I grabbed his collar and twisted it close to his skin "I'm here not being able to see my sister and you made an excuse to not see your own brother!? Tell me... IS THAT REALLY A GOOD ENOUGH EXCUSE!?"

"I'M SORRY!" I let go of him as he slammed his head on the grass again "I'll do better! Please forgive us!" I glared at Billy, who cried a storm.

"Is there more to the story thats not being told?" Billy flinched "Admit the whole thing, kid"

"I... I..." he looked at how scared his brother was and admit his mistakes "I let the kids in my school push Vulpix around and burn her with matches... I... I even let them-" he sniffled "I let them cut off her fur and even dye it one time-"

"Rodri" I interrupted. Rodri was too scared to speak "How old is your brother?"

"H-He's 13" I slapped Billy across the face, making everyone go silent.

"You are old enough to realize your mistakes. What you did to Vulpix was very recent, so you still have a lot to learn. Bullies will only stay in your life if you let them. If you allow them to hurt the ones you care about, you only care about your own sake. It's time for you to grow up" I went to pick up Vulpix "I'm done here" I left the scene before it could get any worse. I left everyone behind and found a quiet spot to put down Vulpix frowning at me while I leaned back on a wall and raged in my head, forcing myself to not destroy everything in my path again.