Three weeks passed without much difference from the first. The tests got harder and more physically exhausting. I did manage not to hurt myself and keep my temper under control, but despite this Katherine still refused to let me see either Silver or Red since my experience in the Dark Room. Sleep was still something I struggled with as nightmares tormented my mind every time I closed my eyes, often leaving me exhausted the next day. Katherine and I had come to an agreement on this as she easily got irritated with my shitty moods and agreed to let me have coffee, a glorious thing, with my breakfast to keep me awake and alert through the day... Well, most of it anyway.

I stared at the ceiling blankly out of boredom, waiting for the alarm to 'wake me up'. I'd been isolated from anyone who really cared about for the past three weeks, basically Silver and Red, and as of yesterday I'd completed most of Physical side to my 'testing'. Meaning the from today the Mental side of things or my powers as Voice of Purity would be tested from today. If my powers were what was being tested, it means the band around my wrist would come off and I could try to escape. Unfortunately, Katherine was smart and no doubt would think the test through and I had my suspicions that it would be the last thing she made me do as to avoid my wrath.

Sighing heavily, I sat up straight, stretching my arms above my head as I did. I had enough waiting and since my X-transceiver had died a few days ago, I couldn't tell what the time was. Pushing my covers aside, I decided to go for a shower since I'd basically collapsed into bed the night before without one.

~*🌸*~

By the time I finished, my breakfast was waiting on the bedside table, including my steaming cup of coffee. I wasn't that fussed over the smaller details of the coffee, as long as I got my daily caffeine hit. Adding the milk and sugar to my liking, I observed the rest of the meal, finding nothing special about it compared to my normal breakfasts.

As usual, I was collected by a grunt at seven whom escorted me silently though a series of bland halls and rooms until we came to a room Katherine stood in front of, going over something scrawled over her clipboard until she noticed us approach. There was something sickening about the air surrounding this hall, the feeling was eerily familiar to me, the feeling of dread, suffering and loss in a Pokémon. I hadn't felt these kinda of feelings since I used to do raids of Pokémon Poachers bases back during my early travels, where most my own Pokémon had actually come from.

I fought back a wince as I paused before Katherine, folding my arms over my chest as I waited to be told what to do. For several minutes, I was ignored which was fine by me. Less work I have to do. Instead I leant casually against the wall as if I owned the place since it had become increasingly obvious that Katherine became quite irritated when I did.

Katherine sighed, looking up at me harshly before straightening and looking back at the clipboard. "Before we get to today's tests, I need to introduce you to tomorrow's, follow me." She muttered in a monotones voice, turning around and strutting further down the hall.

I sighed as I followed flinching slightly as the feeling of unease grew.

Team Rift's leader opened a door not far from our original position. "Get in." She told me sternly.

Glancing into the musky, dim room beyond, I hesitated. "What's in there?"

"Go in and see for yourself." She sighed, narrowing her eyes. "Hurry up, we don't have all day."

Biting down on my lower lip, I entered the room, flinching as the darkness surrounded me. It took a few second for the lights to flicker on and just that long for a wave of pain to be sent rippling through my body. I bit down sharply on my tongue and fought to stay on my feet, looking around for the source. I felt the colour drain from my face as I took in the environment of the room I was in.

Cages lined the walls and divided the room into many halls, each cage held a Pokémon of many different types and species but each one radiated with it's out cry of pain. Many seemed to be young Pokémon, calling out for their parents in pitiful bleats of fear. I felt the fading aura of each, absorbed it into my being as The Voice of Purity and there was nothing I could do against it.

Another wave sent me to my knees, screaming in agony as the pain of those around me took hold of my heart and squeezed. "Let me out, let me out, let me out!" I pleaded, feeling icy tendrils wrap around my lungs. "Please, I can't take it!" My heart seemingly threatened to burst through my chest as I struggled to find my breath.

The injured Pokémon around me mewled for my help, crying out their torments and pain. I couldn't make out their voices, the drumming in my ears shutting out any other sound I should have heard. I shook my head furiously, searching for any sources of stability in my surrounding.

I have ya Em. The familiar voice filled my head as I found the support I was looking for. I felt the pain leaving, becoming more manageable as I rose my head, searching for the being I knew the voice belonged to.

"Night, where are you?" I looked around the room, searching for Night's aura but not finding it.

No where close if that's what you mean. She chuckled lightly in my head. I really can't leave you alone for a moment can I?

I mentally rolled my eyes as I struggled to return my breath to normal.

I can't hold this for long, I'm still regaining my strength and since the Legendary Council is crumbling, it's taking longer then it should. Listen Emma, you cannot let Team Rift succeed in entering the Legendary Council, Kathrine doesn't understand the entities she is messing with.

"She doesn't listen to me, I can't do anything." I replied, a slight amount of bitterness in my voice.

Refuse what she asks of you. She cannot collect the data she needs without your cooperation.

"But she'll kill Silver and Red, I can't Night."

My Ninetales sighed softly in my head, remaining quiet for just a few brief moments. Sometimes being the hero requires sacrifice Emma...

With that, my connection with Night snapped, though the pain did not return meaning she was still absorbing what she could of pain the Pokémon around me exerted.

I wandered to the nearest cage, sighing slightly as I did, looking down at the baby Lavitar inside. It whimpered as it waddled to the bars of it's cage, making grabby hands in my direction. ~Want mama.~ It whimpered, bright red eyes begging me to pick it up.

Kneeling down to its hight, I reached through the bars and gently stroked the injured Pokémon. Open wounds ran the length of the poor Pokémon body as it leaned into my touch. "I-I can't help you." I admitted softly, wincing as I felt Night's connection slipping. She wouldn't last much longer.

The Lavitar fell back, whining loudly as it did. ~Want mama!~

A creaking noise caught my attention as the door swung open. Sighing deeply, I left the room as Night's hold on me snapped completely with no warning the pain of the Pokémon around me crashed down on me. I stumbled slightly, hurrying to leave the room before the pain became overwhelming once more. I collapsed to my knees as soon as I was out the door, panting for my breath as tremors raked through my body. "What did you do to those Pokémon?" My voice slightly horse but furious as I hugged myself tightly, trying to recover as the Pokémon behind the door still teased my mind with their pain and fear.

Kathrine smirked deviously. "Now wouldn't you like to know? But don't fret, that's tomorrow's test. You're going to heal them all."

"A-all of them?" I question, taken aback by what would be asked of me. "Surely you can't expect me to--"

"No, you will heal of of them or at the very least as many as you can until my staff deem you unfit to continue." Katherine hissed, glaring at me sharply.

"Are you kidding? I've been doing this crap for weeks now with hardly more then a few days off and now you expect me to deal with that? I'm only a kid for crying out loud. I can't do it!" I spat through the grit of my teeth, rising to my feet with clenched fists.

"You will and that is final."

Taking a deep breath in, I spat out my response. "Fine." I sighed, as I met Kathrine's eye. I knew I couldn't win this fight but I might still be able to get something out of it. "But, if you expect me to heal every Pokémon in that room, I need a day off." I requested my tone softer but just as serious. "I will do what I can, but doing it right after everything you're putting me through is just impossible."

Kathrine narrowed her eyes, contemplating my request. I'd been asking for a day off for weeks now but this time I had strong reasoning behind wanting to rest. "Fine, you can have your day off but I expect you full effort afterwards."

"I just have one small other request." I looked to the ground, shifting uncomfortably. The longer I spent here, the more I'd become intimidated by Kathrine. I hated anyone with power over me and Kathrine wasn't afraid to remind me of it repeatedly.

"Which is?"

I looked back up, a blank expression over my features. "I want Silver or Red with me. I need to speak to someone who will actually listen to what I'm saying..." I hadn't spoken to anyone since I'd last seen Silver after he'd helped me calm down from being left in the dark for 24 hours.

"I'm listening to you now." Kathrine replied, glancing over her notes as she did.

I rolled my eyes. "No, I need someone who actually cares about me enough to make me feel better just by listening to what I'm saying. You don't care about me as a person. You just want me for the power I posses." I bit down on my lower lip. "I just need to be able to talk to someone..." Again, I hung my head. I'd been feeling more and more powerless with every day I spent here and Kathrine seemed to enjoy demeaning me at any opportunity.

I met Kathrine's eyes despite how weak and vulnerable I felt. I'd spent weeks isolated from anyone who really cared about me and I was just about at my wits end. I'd been struggling since the beginning of the stupid experimentation to keep myself in control but I'd been finding it harder and harder over these past few days to do anything without bordering on a mental break down. I felt safe with Silver and Red, I could talk openly with both of them and hopefully being with them, even for a day would help me gather my thoughts and release the stress that had been building for weeks.

"We'll see." Kathrine eventually replied. "Now come, you have today's tests to complete and a lot of work a head of you, especially since you're not going to be doing anything tomorrow."

For your convenience, I'm going to skip through most the day as it was excruciatingly boring. Despite Kathrine's complaints about getting work done, it was mostly just me going through papers and answering multiple choice questions about how I'd react to certain situations or about me personally. I was basically told I had to take it seriously or I have to do it again and ended up finishing today's work as well as the work I was meant to do the day after my healing abilities were tested with two hours to spare. To which, I was returned to my cell for the night.

I collapsed on my bed, trying to figure out how I'd heal every Pokémon in that room. Their had to be at least 500 or more sick or injured Pokémon in there, counting on me to make them feel better. It was almost impossible for me to even stand up in that room, let alone heal everything inside.

The door squeaked open making me groan at the high pitched noise. Just because the day was easy, doesn't mean it hadn't given me a headache. I frowned slightly, straightening up as Red was pushed into my cell. It took a mere second before I was on my feet and practically leaping into his arms, throwing my arms around his neck in a tight embrace.

He returned my hug, until Silver interrupted by clearing his throat. "Okay you two, not around me."

I hadn't even realised Silver was there but regardless, I kept my grip on Red and stuck my tongue out at my big brother.

"Take your little reunion in the cell. I have work to do." The grunt who'd escorted them grumbled.

Rolling my eyes, I stuck my tongue out at the guard but took a step back inside the cell regardless. The last thing I wanted was to piss him off and have Silver and Red taken away from me.

Red and I sat on my bed, me curled up in his arms while Silver stood beside the bed, arms crossed over his chest with a tight frown over his features. My brother knelt down to my hight. "You look like hell." He muttered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His frowned deepened slightly as he looked me in the eye. "Are you okay?

I broke his eye contact, looking down at my hands as I lightly shook my head. "No..." I didn't know what to say, I hadn't even thought about since I didn't expect Kathrine to actually let me see Silver or Red (let alone both of them at the same time). "I just-- I don't want to do this anymore." I whispered, my voice croaked at I verged on bursting into tears in the embrace of my boyfriend. "I'm-- I'm scared..." Damaging my pride, I admitted my fear to my two closest friends. It wasn't something I did often, I just didn't know if I'd get to see Silver or Red again any time soon, let alone together. Cuddling in close to Red, I hid my shameful expression in his vest. "I- I want to go home..."

Red gently ran his fingers through my hair, tears prickling in my eyes. I could tell he didn't know what to say. To be honest, I don't think anyone did but I didn't really want to talk, I just wanted to stay in Red's arms forever and forget any of this was even happening but unfortunately, I knew I couldn't and after tomorrow, I'd have to go right back into my usual schedule. It was exhausting! Physically, mentally and emotionally.

Silver sat down on my other side gently rubbing my back in a sootheful manor. "I know you do Emma, I promise, you will get to go home, okay? Just keep your chin up." His tone was one I didn't hear from him often, calm and reassuring as he rounded his head to my field of vision, gently raising my head with his forefinger as his did. A small yet genuine smile over his features as his silver eyes met my dulling blue sapphires.

Sighing, I nodded, returning my brother's smile with a slightly more fake one.

The rest of the evening was pretty quiet, Red and Silver both borrowed my shower since I was the only one of the three of us who had one in my prison. I planned on waiting until the morning since I didn't really do anything today. The boys both tried to keep the mood light but it was clear from the looks they kept giving each other that they were both really worried about me but I simply didn't know what to say that would reassure them. I knew I really wasn't doing well but their wasn't anything I could do about it. Kathrine hardly ever listened to anything I had to say.

I sighed slightly as I settled down in Red's arms. Silver was sleeping on a portable cot beside my bed while Red was sleeping up with me. My brother was not happy about the fact I wanted to sleep with Red more then him, as we'd only been given one cot plus my bed between the three of us and I'd argued that either I shared with Red or the boys would share the cot since it simply made a lot more sense to me that I shared with my boyfriend over my brother. Eventually Silver agreed with the first of the two options but not before making us promise that their wouldn't be any funny business between us over night. Despite the fact I despised how over protective Silver was with me, I had to admit it was nice to have someone worrying over me again.

Red lightly kissed my forehead, murmuring goodnight into my ear as he ran his fingers gently through my ponytail. I looked up at him, meeting his gaze. For a few moments he held my sapphire eyes with ruby orbs before I kissed him on cheek and whispering my own goodnight in return. It wasn't long after that I drifted off to sleep and for the first time in weeks, I didn't have a single nightmare that night.

~*~*~*🌸*~*~*~
Word count: 2951

Has anyone else noticed that Emma has Sapphire eyes and Red has Ruby eyes? I officially told the future with Ruby and Sapphire making Garnet before Steven Universe even existed. Random fact but I still find it pretty cool. Anyway, hope you guys liked the chapter, different kind of pace from the previous couple of chapter.

Thank you to everyone who's stuck around between my forever updates, especially thought who've been around since the beginning. I know I don't update as anywhere near much as I used to and it really means a lot to me whenever someone leaves a vote or takes the time to write a comment. I love writing and you have no idea how amazing it feels to me when I see people who take the time to show their appreciation of my works. I didn't have anything ready for the Wattys this year due to school taking up a lot of my time but I don't entirely mind. Next year I recon I'll smash it. Again, thank you to anyone who is reading this and special thanks to those who vote and extra special thanks to those who take the time to leave comments. I love you all.

As always remember to vote, comment and of course, keep on reading on! SMG out!!!