Late night calls and groveling siblings

Icy pain spread across her side as cold laughter echoed from the blue haired poacher. The knife held to her throat pressed closer and closer as she struggled to pull up her magic. The blue haired man taunted her, "I've got you by the throat, Little Ace. I'll kill you before they can do anything to save their precious trainer."

Vali woke up with a sharp gasp as it felt like the knife tip pierced her throat. Quickly touching her throat, she found it uninjured and closed her eyes again. Working to calm herself down, she opened them again and looked around the room to see all her pokemon allowed out of their pokeballs asleep. Eevee was asleep by her injured side though his head on her hip. Elrond was curled on her uninjured side. Seel was sleeping in a fish-tank-like structure set up against the wall. Litwick was the only one awake though seemed occupied with watching the stars by the window. A pang ran through her at the knowledge everyone else was either in their pokeballs or with Blaine. Taking a deep breath as she pushed down her guilt, she grabbed her pokenav which had been among the things Blaine had retrieved and saw that it was after midnight.

It took her a few moments before she decided to send two texts out and wait for replies. Almost immediately she got a reply from Lance, it made her perk up a bit and she sent another text. Rather than reply via text, he called her. With a soft chuckle, Vali answered it and Lance grinned at her, "Hey, Vali. What are you doing up?"

"I could say the same thing, Dragon," Vali teased in a soft tone, "Training?"

"I'm heading to face Morty and decided to get some training in against Ghost-types in which will be helpful for later against Agatha," Lance replied as he reached out of view, "You look tired and a bit pale. Are you alright?"

Vali hesitated for a moment before shaking her head, "Not really, Lance. I can't say much at all since it dealt with League business. The story I'm allowed to say was that Blaine took me with him to a base named Delco 2 for League Business and we met up with Surge. They decided during a lull to take me out for some extra training off route," She let the bitterness she'd been feeling come out in her tone, "While we separated so they could deal with some stronger than normal opponents without getting distracted by me, my pack and I ran into a larger than normal grouping of Weavile mixed with Sneasel. We managed to fight them off until the gym leaders could reach us, but ended up getting injured in the process."

Lance sucked in a huge breath, "Damn," He gave her a sharp look, "How bad is it?"

"Everyone save for a few will have some scars," Vali revealed with a sad look, "My side was scratched by a Weavile that coated its claws with ice-type energy and my arm," She scowled a bit, "by the story was scratched by a Sneasel. I'll be in therapy after getting released from the hospital and being allowed to recover in Pallet for a bit,"

"Fuck," Lance swore softly, "Are you..."

Vali heard the unspoken word and wanted to laugh, "Considering the fact I just had a nightmare and that's the reason why I ended up texting you so late? Not really, it'a easier during the day when all my pokemon are awake, but not everyone is here."

Lance frowned at that, "Why? Are they in the Pokemon center?"

Vali shook her head, "Blaine and Surge have been taking them away for training when they can. Or having the Gym trainers do it, it's to make up for the time I won't be able to do it myself. They feel bad for not being able to protect me and so angry for things that I can tell you about right now," She scowled a bit, "I'm angry, Lance. Sure this is getting everyone stronger, but I'm my pack's trainer! I should be the one training them for fucks sake not some stranger that I've never met or only met in passing. It isn't okay, but it's also the only way they're able to get any training done now with me in the hospital."

"Shit, Vali," Lance cursed softly, "Don't cry,"

Vali grimaced a bit knowing that she couldn't really check to see if he was telling the truth, but given how her eyes were becoming blurry he must be, "Sorry. I just..." She sniffed softly, "Lance, I hate this so much. I hate my luck and how it led to this."

"Vali, everything is going to be okay," Lance told her in a gentle tone, "You're going to get through this. Your pokemon might be training under other people right now, but that happens occasionally. Right now, you need to focus on healing and helping them heal. If what happened was traumatizing for you, it was probably just as bad for them,"

Vali sniffed again, "You're right. I feel selfish."

"You aren't," Lance shook his head, "You have every right to feel this way, Vali. I'd feel the same way if I was in your shoes," He gained a slight look of concentration on his face, "Are you allowed visitors?"

Vali shook her head, "Only family right now and the Gym Leaders, I probably won't be allowed them until I leave for Pallet town."

"Text me when you're heading for Pallet town, I think my pokemon could definitely use a break for a bit," Lance told her with a slight grin earning a look of surprise, "Vali, I want to make sure you're okay and if it helps your recovery then I'm definitely coming to see you. Besides, I was planning to visit soon anyway,"

Vali swallowed softly as the edges of her vision blurred again, "I'll be glad to see you in person, Lance."

Vali looked at the nervous pair of five year olds standing in the doorway. Delia, Sirius, and Professor Oak were in the hallway behind them though the adults seemed to be content to allow the three children to sort themselves out. She eyed Ash and Gary for a few moments waiting to see if either would speak before deciding it would be best if she'd start off. With a gentle smile, she spoke in a soft tone much like the one she'd used with Idril when the Sandslash felt skittish, "Hey, you two. It's been awhile. I'm sorry that I didn't have a chance to make it home before you had to see me like this. I-"

"Vali," Ash's brown eyes were beginning to tear up as he spoke with Gary's green following right behind, "I-we're sorry! We shouldn't have said those things to you. We didn't mean them. You're our sister no matter what and we can't imagine you ever not coming home,"

"Please forgive us," Gary added sounding choked up as his fingers clenched around the fabric of his shirt, "I need you to come back, Sis," Vali's heart ached sharply at his words knowing just how badly Daisy's absence hurt Gary, "Not when Daisy's not there almost all year, I know you can't be there every single day, but please don't leave us permanently,"

"Oh, boys," Vali's gentle smile deepened as she carefully extended her arm, "Come here, my little brothers," They quickly scrambled over and climbed onto the bed to cuddled up to her while making sure not to harm her injuries, "I'll always return to you guys. Pallet Town is my home and it has been since Siri and I arrived there. Granted, I might one day find some other place to call home, but you two will be welcome forever and always. You're my little brothers after all," She kissed both their foreheads and felt their tears dampen her shirt, "I promise that I'll always come home in the end,"

Ash sniffled as he pressed his nose into her uninjured side while Gary laid on her lap. Gary sniffed softly, "Gramps said you nearly died."

Vali's nose wrinkled a bit, "Might've, but didn't. I survived and know not to cross a Weavile now. By the way, one of you should definitely get one on your team at some point."

"Huh?" Ash jolted in surprise and alarm, "Why?! It hurt you,"

"And? It didn't know any better," Vali half-lied as she rubbed Gary's back soothingly, "If you get a Weavile, you'll be able to teach it better. Trainers are there to help teach their pokemon to be better,"

Ash's nose scrunched up while Gary gained a look of consideration on his face, "They are a good dual-type if a bit squishy for higher battles."

"Squishy? Sweetheart, Weavile are meant for speed and stealth," Vali grinned at him, "They can be the fastest pokemon alive if trained right just like your Bellsprout. Have you been keeping up with Erika's training?"

Gary nodded with a smug look as Ash groaned softly, "I managed to win our last training battle under Gramps' supervision. Ashy-boy and Pidgey tanked."

"Well while I'm in Pallet, I'll check both of your training routines out and see how I can help," Vali told them with a soft smile earning excited looks, "So mind telling me what I missed while you were adamant on not talking to me?"