The Tale of Seven: Kidnapped Hope

[Reno]

Sora glanced at the silverette, smiling faintly when he heard the other. "Yeah if anyone believes me!" He laughed, imagining how many would just scoff and call him a liar. Ah, well.

His smile turned a sweeter though as he heard Riku's next words, his heart thrumming in his chest. "Oh Ri...." Again... how did they ever get into trouble? "Well I guess now we a lot of time to think of wedding plans!" He grinned.

"You got to worry about not drowning first!" Aqua teased.

But the time had to come when they left, Sora sighing as he tugged on the string of a get well balloon shaped somewhat like Drifloom, smiling when the helium made it fly up again. He was worried about Arcy. He knew they wouldn't hurt her and Axel would be able to take care of her but still... he worried. "So... where should we get married?" He asked glancing towards Riku.


"Where the fuck are we going anyways?!" Terra called into his communicator, flying overhead, their group much smaller then before. Only six now... down twelve Pokemon.

[Rikugurl]

Riku leaned back in his chair and thought as Sora asked the question. "Probably somewhere that isn't underwater..." He joked... but he knew it wasn't all that funny. They might have to postpone their wedding for awhile to let places rebuilt what has been damaged. That is... if they find the baby.

He sighed as he leaned forward again, placing his elbows on his knees. "Sora... I feel like... a coward..."
This random admittance made Sora confused and asked. "Because... there were two reasons... why I didn't go."
He paused before closing his eyes. "The obvious and most permanent reason was to be with you... but... there was a second one too." Eyes slowly opened but he looked down at the floor. "I guess... it explains other things too. Like... why we decided to live on Mirage Island instead of vacation... or why I didn't want to cross back when you needed to see your mom..."

Now he knew he got Sora's interests... but he was so drown in his thoughts that he didn't notice the worried eyes on him. "I'm scared of... stormy waters. I'm scared of... hitting a bad storm. When I did sleep this morning... I had the worst nightmare in my life. I dreamed that I left with everyone else... and..." He paused again before his eyes closed, head bowing. "You were alone.... like my mom."


Axel suddenly pulled on the reins before Rapidash came to a quick stop, her hooves sliding as Arcy seemed to stop behind them. "That's actually a good question." Hoenn had a lot of place that were near the water... and were probably flooded already or getting close to it. They needed to find Demyx... but how could they reach him or knew where he fled.

[Reno]

Sora rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Ri!" He chastised lightly at the poor joke, but smiled when the silverette seemed a little embarrassed. He blinked however when the other's tone turned more serious, more melancholy and then he said something that surprised him. "A coward... why?"

He listened quietly as the other answered, then when he came to the end of his story, he said nothing at first. His eyes squinted at Riku and if the other was looking at him the other might of thought he was glaring. But no he was just... trying to see him. He reached over carefully, his hands gently touching something soft. Riku's hair. He ran his fingers through it blindly, before smiling. "I'm surprised you never told me this."

Of course, why wouldn't Riku be afraid of the stormy waters? It took away his father. Whats to say it wouldn't take away anything else? "It's nothing to be ashamed of Riku. I mean look at Terra, he's scared of water period... so much he was ready to quit the minute we even though of crossing." He paused but shook his head. "But having fear doesn't make you a coward Riku. Not wanting to go doesn't make you a coward. That makes you normal. Without fears we can't be brave."

He smiled letting the other think about it, before saying softly, "A coward is someone who lets another down. But you never would have. I know if I hadn't of gotten hurt, you would of crossed the waters with me, even if you are scared. Just like I knew you wouldn't leave my side... even if I'm not the same."


Aqua carefully pulled up on Arcy's collar and the dog came to a trot before stopping beside Rapidash. She sighed, not really liking leaving her master behind and not even her master's lover was here. But she had to listen to orders. Take them to where they needed to go, protect them. She could do that. This was her pack after all and they all needed some motherly looking after!!

Flygon called before fluttering down to the ground easily, stopping beside the other two rider Pokemon.

"Well, we need electricity." Aqua pointed out. Solaceon Town is up ahead and at a higher elevation. We should have access to a phone there and try and see if we can track down Demyx or maybe another rescue center with water Pokemon we can use to cross the ocean." Of course, the only one she could think of that would do well above stormy waters was Gyarados himself... and other then Demyx's there weren't many that would listen to them rather then eatting them trained or not.
"Or... we could have a battle." She suddenly challenged. They all looked at her in surprise, even Fuujin. "Well... we need a Gyarados right? I do have it's pre-evolution. " She pulled off a Pokeball from her belt, spinning it on her fingertip. "Well?"

[Rikugurl]

Riku blinked as he felt fingers in his hair, amazed that Sora could actually find it. It felt nice though... and he leaned into it as he listened to his lover. He nodded slightly as he listened, thinking about it. He wasn't sure he would of crossed... when they got there, when he saw it. Those nightmares... they always scared him so. It was ironic. He was afraid of ocean storms... but he couldn't sleep well without hearing the...
No, it wasn't ironic. He liked listening to calm waters. It was like a security blanket. Everything was right when the waters were calm.

He looked up and Sora and smiled. "I'd like to get married on a beach..."


Fuu nodded as she listened to her lover's suggestions. Hopefully the hippie of a man would of gone to a rescue center of some sort. But who knew. People were fleeing to anyplace they thought was safe. That guy could be anywhere in the world right not if he had all those trained water types. Half the world was under the water! Ven rose his eyebrow when Aqua suddenly changed her tone and looked at her, grinning.

"Oh please, your stupid fish doesn't know anything than to fucking flap around." Ven taunted as he got off Flygon's back and stretched. "But I could use a laugh... so let's do it."
His blue eyes narrowed before he grabbed a pokeball and through it out.

An energy appeared before a cute pink sheep was all that was left. "Reeeeeeep!" She called before looking around.

[Reno]

He really shouldn't feel so surprised. He always noticed how uneasy Riku was when a storm was on the horizon or they were cuddling under the covers as one raged across the island and shuddered the walls. Riku could never sleep even if the storm wasn't even close. He just never would have guessed it was the water.

Sora smiled more as he heard the others next words, "The beach...? That would be romantic." And it sounded perfect. They both lived their lives near one. They had there first kiss on one. Hell, they'd even made love by it... more then once. It really made sense.
"Once we have beaches again that is." He cracked a sad little smile.


Aqua snarled and jumped off the dog at the blonde's taunt. "Oh yeah?!" Her eyes narrowed when she saw the sheep though and scoffed. "You just want to fry him for dinner don't you fucker?!"
"This ought to be good." Terra said as the two yelled at each other back and forth tugging Flygon out of the way as the others slowly did the same.

"---I will!!" Aqua growled before throwing the Pokeball and there was a pop before.
"Karpkarpkarp." A little red-orange fish flopped about on the sand.

[Rikugurl]

Riku smiled and nodded. "Yea..." It was a depressing topic. How long would it take for things to be back to the way they once were... and all he could think about was... Mirage Island. What did their home look like that they had remade and lived in for five years. All those memories... they were---

"Hello, Mr. Holani. How are you feeling?" Came a sweet voice and Riku looked up, seeing Dr. Yuna by the bed. When Sora replied, she nodded and smiled. "Well, I was able to get you an eye appointment downstairs so while your in testing, Mr..."
She glanced at Riku, waiting for a name.
Riku smiled at her and nodded. "Riku.....Riku Holani."

"O-oh, pardon me." She chuckled softly. "So while your in testing, Riku can find you some nice glasses."


Ven grinned as he saw how angry Aqua was getting. "I don't have to even TRY to fry it! You might as well throw it on a plate already or do you really think yo can beat me!?"
From his master's yells, the sheep got into stance, feeling his energy and her wool started to spark.

However, she blinked when she saw the little red fish starting to flap around like a....uh....er.....fish out of water.
A sweatdrop ran down the back of her head before she blinked, ears up as her master called her first order. "Mareep, use thunder wave to put that stupid thing out of it's misery. I don't like eating fish that is still flapping around~"
"REEEEEEEEP!" The sheep called as she opened her mouth, a wave of yellow energy shooting right towards the fish.

[Reno]

The brunette looked over as he heard the sound of the doctor's voice, then smiled some. He thought about the question honestly, knowing he would have to be with the doctor's. "I'm feeling alright, just a little sore." But he supposed that didn't matter, he was already on the strongest stuff and he refused to take morphine since it was so addictive. "Oh and still blind." He joked with a grin.

He was relieved when she told him he had the eye appointment though. Thank god, all this blurriness was really starting to give him a headache, and since he couldn't really see he really couldn't reach for anything on his own. Couldn't even read the cards his friends and family brought him. At least he had Riku to read them to him. Of course he probably didn't need him too since he could predict every curse word, every get well saying, every hope for the future and whatnot that they would have said.

Speaking of Riku... a little blush was on his cheeks as Riku said his last name. Wow... that sounded so... wow. It was strange... how happy that made him. He grinned again, "Good." He glanced towards Riku, "He has a better fashion sense anyways. I'd probably just pick out the biggest yellowest ones in the bunch."


"Karp?!" Called the little fish flopping about, hearing what Ven had to say about eating him?! His fins kicked up the dust in the road and his little yellow barbs that made him look like he had a mustache swinging about.
Aqua's eyes narrowed and she scoffed at the attack. A paralyzing move. Sounded like Ven. He taunt Haunter paralyzing moves too. "Magickarp use splash." The blonde started to laugh at the sound of her attack choice - one that didn't do ANYTHING - but his laughter cut off in shock... when Magikarp jumped from the ground twice until he jumped high into the air, OVER the thunder wave.

Terra rose in eyebrow in surprise, "The hell?!"
Aqua smirked a little triumphantly when Magikarp came back to the ground, bouncing around once more. Ven had an equally shocked look on his face. Heh, it was unfortunate for him that she knew Magikarp were some of the best jumpers in the Pokemon world. They might have sucky movesets but there bodies were tough and strong so strong they could easily get up stream and live in filthy water. And even though she had this damn Magikarp for THREE YEARS and still hadn't managed to make him evolve, she worked around that.

But now they didn't have time to wait. "Is that all? You're messing with the best water trainer around Venny~" She grinned as he grumbled in anger. "Magic, use tackle."

"Magickarpkarp!" He jumped into the air again little fins flapping like he was flying as his body dived down towards the sheep.

[Rikugurl]

Ven grinned as he watched the wave almost hit when... the damn fish JUMPED OVER IT!?
"Reep?" The sheep blinked as she watched the fish come flapping back down onto the ground and flopped about. Was that even possible!? "What the HELL was that!?" Ven called out, seeing the smug look on Aqua's face. He growled as she taunted him back before hearing the next move.

The sheep looked back at her master, her ears twitching cutely. "Well don't just look at me, DODGE!" The sheep quickly nodded before... taking a step to her left as the fish flopped where she just was, making everyone get a sweatdrop on their heads.
"Alright, let's do something that you can't jump away from! Mareep, use ThunderShock!"

"REEEEEP!" The sheep called before closing her eyes, her pink wool lighting up as sparks burst out and headed right for Magikarp... but everyone's eyes widened as the fish dodged that as well.

The battle continued, attacks being called and electricity flying but all they did was get no where fast.
"Huh... I'd have to say I never saw a Magikarp last that long against an electric." Axel stated, making sure he was seeing right as he adjusted his glasses.
"She's worked really hard on him... but he just doesn't seem to want to evolve." Fuu added as she watched, crossing her arms.
"Well, some Pokemon just don't want to. She shouldn't have to force him too." Axel sighed, knowing that so many people made this mistake. They wanted a larger, stronger pokemon... but they never thought about the Pokemon's wants. All they get is a sad or depressed stronger, larger monster...

"Ma...reep!" The sheep panted as she landed somewhere else, her eyes narrowed as she watched the fish fall into another place as well. "Fuck Aqua, no wonder your stupid fish doesn't evolve! You don't let anything fucking hit it so it doesn't feel like it should evolve since it's doing so well as it's self! But you should know that~" He made a stupid face. "Miss, 'best water trainer around'."

[Reno]

"Magic~" Aqua only called, not even needed to say the attacks name as her fish jumped over the electricity with ease. Electric Pokemon were her permanent weakness... which was why she had taught Meowth thunderbolt, rather then what Terra expected which was for a surprise factor. She wanted to train her Pokemon to get stronger then their weaknesses. Being primarily of one type that was important... especially when a whole crew and ship of people were counting on her to protect them.

Blue, green and red eyes watched the battle intensely, watching electric attacks get thrown and the fish dodging only to counter with tackle and miss. Terra rose an eyebrow before grinning a little, understanding her battle strategy (having done so himself over the many years) and wondering how she might fair against Sora's three electrics.

Roxas was silent as he heard the short conversation from Axel and Fuu, frowning as well. He agreed with his lover. He remembered just how fascinated Aqua was to meet Demyx's Gyarados. Having one and training, even he knew, was a great accomplishment for water Pokemon trainers. That was why a lot of water-based gyms had one. It wouldn't surprise him at all if the rough butch girl was trying to force that poor fish to evolve.

"Don't be so accusing," Terra said simply from where he sat, leaning against a tree, watching the battle. Did they think Aqua learned nothing over the years? They should know better...

And just like they could hear the conversation, Ven started to taunt her about something similar. Her cheeks reddened some but she scowled. "Hey fuck you! Not every Pokemon in the world wants to get stronger when they get taken down in battle - some of them just get discouraged!" She scoffed, "But you should know that, Rocket boy." The reference made Ven look away but her eyes stayed on his, unnerving. "I fucked up enough relationships with my Pokemon by doing the wrong things. Fuck... the things I hurt Glaceon with alone... I took away a lot of their strength and happiness it was a wonder they fucking protected me back at the Sky Tower. I'm not making those same mistakes again. So whether he ever fucking evolves or NOT I'm going to show everyone Magic is strong and can hold his own in a fight. That's pride jackass!"

She scoffed then, "Magic, flail!"The call of the attack surprised them all. If he knew that attack... he was well beyond the level he needed to be to evolve into Gyarados. And being tired and having hit the ground so much, he must of lost some health, increasing it;s power. The fish flopped a bit before glowing white and jumped like he did with tackle. Mareep sidestepped like she always did but - "Use your tail!"
The fish flapped his fins before twisting in mid-air and smacked his back tail hard into Mareep's face.

[Rikugurl]

Ven growled as Aqua started to talk, making him look away. That was when she started to get deep. Too deep for him. Why the hell was she bringing up that shit? Especially now?
Mareep didn't even need to be told to doge as she did so easily... but what she wasn't ready for was getting hit in the face by a tail.
"REEEEP!" She bleated as she stepped back a bit, shaking her head before her eyes narrowed. That was personal!

She was about to charge when something even more strange happened.
An energy withdrawal her and she returned to her pokeball.
Dark blue eyes looked out at the blue haired woman before the blonde turned and silently wanted into the forest.

"Huh?" Axel blinked as he snapped back into attention, watching Ventus disappear. "W-what happened?"
Seconds later, Terra was gone as well.

[Reno]

"Ka-rp?" The fish Pokemon blinked, his serious look deteriorating as the sheep was recalled? Did... did he win? Before he could do any sort of victory dance, he was recalled as well. Angry blue eyes met, sparks seeming to flare between them, before one turned and then the other, both walking in opposite direction and into the forest.

"E-Er..." Roxas stuttered, unable to answer his lover - now fiance - but Terra was up and gone in seconds. And then so was Fuu leaving him, Axel and three Pokemon standing blindly in the trail. "Ugh fuck we don't have time for this!" Roxas snapped at nothing. Couldn't they have their emotional crisis over the past LATER?

"Ven? Ven?!" Terra called as he hurried under branches and around thick trunks after the storming blonde, sighing as he could practically detect the anger rolling off him in waves. "Ven, wait!" He sighed as the blonde either pretended not to ehar or really couldn't beyond all his huffing and buffing. And he thought he was the big bad wolf.

"Ven!!!" He snapped as he caught up, grabbing his arm and halting him. "Calm down!"

"That son of a bitch... little... little bastard that... ugh!" She hit her fist into a tree trunk wincing as it scraped her knuckles. "Fucker!" She wasn't even sure it was Ven she was mad at...
She sighed leaning her head against the truck. "Fuck why did I even come? It's not like I've done anything but take up space." Her eyes shut. "Just as worthless as before..."

[Rikugurl]

Blue eyes were narrow, looking at nothing in particular as arms automatically moved branches aside, legs walked over fallen trees and sneakers became wet from flooded streams. He didn't care as he huffed and mumbled under his breath. His name being called was in the back of his head and he was too much into a blind rage to even think about what it really was... until it halted him and turned him around.

Angry blue eyes looked into another set that had a different emotion but that was tossed aside. "What is it with women!? They keep fucking grudges to the end of god damn time! They can't except the fact that that was then and this is now. Bad shit happened, you move on and try to mend it the best you can. Not fucking open your stitches again! I swear to fucking Arceus, Terra, I bet you in 50 years when her and I are in the same room in our deathbeds, she'll fucking bring this subject back up!"

He sighed and shook his head. "And don't bother with the 'if it's still bothering you, you haven't whatever' Yea, fuck that! I can't get over it because people like HER and AXEL keep bring the shit up and pushing me back down. I don't wanna forget about it, I want to HEAL."


"You know that's not true." A voice came from the forest as a silverette appeared behind her lover. "Aqua.. calm down." She stopped next to the blue haired woman, her red eyes fixing on her. "You are a big help. You helped with crossing the ice, didn't you? And who cares? Just having someone there... to help out... is more than enough. You wrapped a blanket around Axel when he was shivering. You could of saved his life by just being there."

An hand came up and placed it on her shoulder. "You don't have to prove to anyone that you can make a difference or what have you... just being there, the support, the concern. That all counts too." She frowned as she glanced away. "You have to stop beating yourself down... or you can't ever get up."


Axel shook his head and sighed. Roxas was right... they didn't have time for this. They had three days and they were already wasting time with battling. Just because they had a gyarados didn't mean that he would know how to conquer these stormy waters. They weren't natural...
"Sol..." Zan sighed as he laid on his stomach.

"Maybe we should of stayed with Riku and Sora. At least they got all the fight out of them..."

[Reno]

Terra looked at Ven as he yelled out his frustrations and angers, listening to how furious he seemed to be. He sighed, running his fingers down the other's arm, curling around tensed fingers and rubbing them lightly until they relaxed and he was able to intertwine their hands. "Ven, come here." He tugged the other lightly deeper not too far into the forest to where a tree had naturally fallen. It was perfect to sit down on, the trunk not even worn through.

They sat there in silence for a few moments, listening to the silence of the forest. not even the sound of a bird calling of the scuffle of Pachirisu running across treetops. Finally Terra decided on what he wanted to say. "Ven, when it's Axel... he's just being an idiot and not thinking. But when it's Aqua... I don't think she was trying to hurt you." He paused before sighing. "I think I understand her. We... we grew up similar, with one parent that loves us and one that hates us. Fuck, they were downright abusive and that sticks with you more than the love does. When Fuu and her came over to visit sometimes, she used to talk about it with me you know, how life was for her back then, and I would tell her in return what mine was like." This surprised Ven. No of course he didn't. He always swore to her he wouldn't tell anyone.

"Sometimes it just helped to talk about it with someone who knew what it was like. Life like that it... it makes you feel... I dunno alone I guess. Like you have expectations to live up to that are impossible to reach." He wanted to add to Ven that he still felt like that sometimes - in fact more so when the blond was traveling and always leaving him behind. But this wasn't about him. And anyways... they were going to fix that soon.

He glanced at Ven, raising an eyebrow. "It's also hard to... ask for help. You remember that night back in Jubilee when we got into that fight? And all I was really doing was... asking for help?" A slow nod, realization sort of dawning. "I think that's all Aqua was doing too. I mean hell Ven it's why she connects so well with you and with me. She knows we understand parts of her life that no one else really can. And I know there's so much I or Fuu can say that really helps, only so much we can really understand. But you and Aqua understand it all." He hesitated before trailing off, thinking of what to say next. He sighed, looking towards one of the low hanging branches, some of the dew still clinging to the leaves. "She wants to heal too Ven... and I think she was just looking for a little reassurance from you that... she is doing better then before. That she isn't as much of a fuck-up as she used to be. That you both are."


Blue eyes slowly opened as she heard the voice of her lover behind her, her body shaking his tension before she slumped a little against the tree. She sighed, listening to her comforting words, nodding some. "I know... I know all that it's just... It's hard Fuu..."

She turned looked at the other woman before sighing. "I can;t... I can't understand how I can still feel this bad sometimes when I'm so proud of myself... and so happy with you." She leaned against the bark looked at the brush on the ground, piled with natural compost. "I just want to let it go."


Roxas glanced at Axel before chuckling some and nodding. "We would hope at least." He sighed, looking at the empty trail. He had a feeling that that fight had a lot more then just trying to make Magikarp evolve into it. "We'll give them about ten minutes and then if they aren't back we'll go out and get them back on track."

[Rikugurl]

Ven frowned as he listened to the brunette, sighing every once in awhile and nodded. Yea... he never knew what it was like having a parent that hated him. Even though his dad wasn't as loving as his mom... he knew that he still loved him in his own little way. He would always be there for him or help him when he asked.

When Terra was finished, Ven closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't know why you people just can't ask for help like normal people." He stated, meaning it as a half joke. Usually when someone yells at you, you're fighting, not asking for help. It didn't make any sense to him whatsoever. AND WHY HIM!? They decided to yell at a hot headed freak looking for help!?

"Well, if she wants help... she needs to TALK to me, and the same goes for you." Ven glanced up at Terra. "You both know how I am too so we all better start working together." With that, he stood and started to walk back through the forest.

Axel nodded but before he could pat down Rapidash, he heard some rustle in the woods, glancing over... only to see Ventus walking out and then... back in the way Aqua and Fuu went off. "Huh?"

Large feet crossed through brush and before Fuu could say much of anything, Ven was in the clearing. She turned, looking at the blonde as he came up to her lover. "Ven?"

It caught Aqua's attention, making her look at Ven. "You're asking if you're doing better, huh? Well you are except for one thing." He paused before his eyes narrowed. "Asking someone for help the wrong way. Get off your high horse, Aqua. Pokemon aren't stupid. They wouldn't stay by your side if they didn't think you were worthy. Glaceon is still on your belt... and you even gave her the opportunity to leave. I gave away all my Pokemon... but Haunter still follows me... and Espeon is a Pokemon known to only follow a trainer known worthy."

He reached down, offering her a hand. "You're doing fine... but you're never going to fucking get 100% if you keep doubting yourself. You can still be a total bitch but a good trainer... and you need to push your pokemon further for them to get experience. You're not hurting them, you're helping them..." His voice became deeper and meaning full. "I already saw the change... I have for years..."

[Reno]

OOC: I got a gift for you! Look in your party paaaage~

The gym leader blinked, before smiling a little about to answer Ven that it had a lot to do with pride too - it wasn't like VEN asked for help like a normal person either! He never got the chance though as the other kept speaking and his next words made him look away uncomfortably. Yeah... he knew that. Ven wasn't a mind reader... he needed to know when he was needed.
He watched Ven leave though and another small smile twitched onto his lips. "We do know how you are... that's why we look for your help in the first place." Maybe he'd tell that to him one day.

The brunette sighed and stood, following the trees back to the trial, amazed he could actually fucking find it considering how thick the forest was. He quickly noticed Ven wasn't there but saw footprints crossing to the other side, deducing exactly what he was up too. Unlike his lover, he didn't bother continued to the other side instead walking over to where Axel and Roxas were still waiting, neither of them looking particularly happy at the wait. "How many more fucking detours is this trip going to have?"


Aqua sighed as her wife didn't answer, slumping against the tree before slipping to the ground, sitting in the dirt and brush. Her eyes shut, shaking her head. No matter what she did in her life, it never seemed to go away. Was her heart going to be painted in guilt forever?
"The boss cut our paycheck again since we haven't caught anything good..."
The words kept ringing in her ears, Aqua snarling as she paced the grimy hotel's floor. Ven was gone now, taking their meager amount to find something to eat. But no matter how he spent it it would hardly be enough for the month. It wasn't their fault! It was fucking... so fucking...
"Glaaa..." Came a soft whine, the blue Pokemon standing in the space between the two beds, voice trying to soothe her master.

Instead, those furious eyes landing on her, wrath seeming to come off her in waves. "Damn it, this is all YOUR fault!" And before the fox could even run or see it coming she gave a horrid yelp as she was kicked hard in the scapula, flying a little and hitting the ground hard.
"E-Eeee...." The ice fox started to shake in fear, trying to get up then whimpered in pain, her front paw hurting terribly and collapsing under her. This only served to fuel her master's rage.
"God damn it GET UP!" A hand yanked on an ear.
"GLAAAACE!" The fox screeched in pain trying to fight or even bite her but Aqua moved quickly, practically dragged her across the floor and into the bathroom, shoving her hard so she went sliding over the tile.
"You're fucking pathetic." The blue-haired woman snarled, unclipping her belt before throwing it violently on the floor as well. "All of you are. None of you deserve to eat!" The door was slammed shut locking the fox and the rest of the pokemon in their for the night.
When Ven came back and asked her where her Pokemon where the blue-haired woman could only snap it was none of his business, greedily taking the food.
Aqua bowed her head, burying it in her hands. She was so terrible...

She heard Fuujin shifting, knowing she was about to saw something - but louder feet cut her off, shadows looming over her. It wasn't until she heard the name though that she looked up, seeing blue eyes staring down at her and she wondered idly if he came to yell at her.

But what he said instead... surprised her. How did he...?
Terra. Of course. There was no way Ven could have understood what she was really saying, he took things too literally or personally. But Terra spoke like her, hid meanings behind tough and cruel words to make it seem like she was being a bitch when really she was just... silently asking for something else.

As Ven spoke, being both harsh but honest in his words, not bothering to sugarcoat his words the blue-haired woman looked away. But that was good... this was the way she liked to hear things because they were always the most truthful, even if some of it hurt.
"I already saw the change... I have for years..."
It was that, and his tone, that finally made her look up at him. Her best friend, the guy who stuck with her no matter how fucked up things got. The guy who saw it all with her and saw the worst of her. "Yeah?" She finally asked. The blonde smiled just a little, nodding and finally she took his hand letting her help it up.

"Then I'm sorry I made you cry during the fight princess." Aqua said with a grin, referring to how he ran off in the middle of the battle. The blond started to splutter and make a ruckus saying how he certainly did NOT cry but Aqua laughed and tugged him close, as if she was going to give him a hug...

...before grabbing in in a headlock and giving him a Noogie instead. The blonde flailed yelling even MORE until Aqua finally let him go, chuckling as she watched him try and fix his hair. She grinned and finally said, "Thanks."