Running as fast as I could, I ran through the forest, clutching Miku tightly to my chest as I ran as fast as I could towards my Pokémon. Tears ran from my cheeks as the fear and pain from the past week burst out in relief. He drew closer and closer until I found Samurai.

Tackling my Gallade to the ground, I clung to him as if my life depended on it. :Please don't don't be mad at me anymore. Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease--: I was unable to stop the loop in my mind as I begged for Samurai's forgiveness.

~Heyheyhey, calm down Paige.~ Samurai soothed, stroking my hair gently. ~You're safe now, you're safe.~

I just sobbed harder, clutching Miku with one hand while holding onto Samurai with the other. :Don't hate me anymore! I'm sorry, I'm sosososososososorry.:

Samurai pulled back slightly, cupping my face and meeting my eyes. ~What are you talking about? I don't hate you...~

:You said that-- that--: I couldn't form the words in my head as I sobbed pitifully in Samurai's arms. I opened my mind as I brought up the memory of the last thing Samurai said to me before he stopped talking to me. :Please be my family again.:

My shiny Gallade again hugged me tightly. ~Oh Paige... Did you seriously spend this entire time thinking I hated you?~

Sniffling slightly, I nodded, clinging to him as if when I'd let go, I'd never ever see him again. I was scared he'd reject me and he would hate me forever and ever, I don't think I could live like that.

~Paige, I could never hate you.~ Samurai soothed, holding me tighter. ~That was just a misunderstanding---~ He sighed slightly, shaking his head. ~Let's get you back to the others, we'll set up camp and get you nice and warm where it's safe. Hmm?~

I nodded against Samurai's chest, managing to calm myself a little.

The Kirlia whom helped me then walked into the clearing. Miku waved happily at the Kirlia before doing the I'm-watching-you jab, no doubt showing she was still cross about Kirlia attacking me earlier. Samurai held me closer in defence but I shrugged off the extra protection.

:She brought me here, she brought me back to you.: I explained, still holding Miku close to me. :I trust her.:

Samurai blinked in surprise before turning his attention to the Kirlia. ~I thank you for your service to me, I am in debt to you.~

Kirlia shook her head and bowed. ~No, the debt was mine to pay. My honour is sealed and debt cleared, it is my hope to meet you on another moon.~ Then she vanished, no doubt going home to her daughter.

~So that's what wild Kirlia are like.~ He stated, cocking his head aside. ~Certainly interesting, anyway, let's get you back to other.~ He smiled as Gardenia entered the clearing, Jake, Milly, Gummie, Angel and Champ not far behind.

Gardenia immediately rushed to my side, kneeling close to me. She took me from Samurai and hugged me tightly. ~Oh Paige, you're okay! You're okay, right?~ She quickly pulled me back, her pale red eyes searching me for injury. ~What happened to your head?~ My Gardevoir gently cupped my face as she examined the patch.

Miku, deciding she'd had enough of not being the centre of attention, spoke up. ~Miku here to you know!~ The baby Manaphy pouted.

~Yes you are.~ Gardenia smiled, patting her head softly. ~and I'm very glad you're safe too Miku.~

~Let's worry about it later, you're both safe and sound and that's what's important right now.~ Samurai replied, standing up straight. ~We will set up camp now, get a fire going and dinner cooking so Paige may eat then rest.~

Jake and Milly both my side as Samurai took my Pokémon to scout the area and search for fire wood while my friends greeted me with hugs. "We're glad to see you're okay," Milly smiled, "we've been worried sick."

I just nodded, smiling back tiredly. Food and bed sounded nice. I hadn't eaten since breakfast yesterday and my tummy was rumbling like crazy. Gardenia didn't let me go, hugging me close while everyone else got camp ready. :I can help too.:

~Nope, you're staying here where I can cuddle you. A week is way too long to spend without my favourite little sister.~ Gardenia smiled softly before raising her hand to my head. ~What happened here?~

~The mean scawwy man hurted mama, he throughed her and she hit her head.~ Miku answered for me. ~Miku look after mama when she had her owie, Miku be a gwood wittle Mana' for mama.~

:Yes you were.: I praised, hugging Miku close. :You were very well behaved.:

~So Miku get ice-cweam and bubble dwink?~ She questioned, eyes as wide as dinner plates. ~Pwease?~

I nodded. :Yes Miku, you were a very good girl.:

Miku cheered happily, hugging me tightly.

"Paige?" I looked up at Jake who was hovering above. He pointed over to where he, Milly and my Pokémon had set up camp. "We got a fire going and Milly is cooking dinner. It's warmer over there."

Gardenia helped me to my feet, keeping hold of me at all times with a concerned look in her eyes. ~Are you dizzy at all? Did you forget anything? Do you have a concussion?~

:No, I don't think so and-- what's a concussion?: I replied with a yawn, still cuddling Miku who was drifting off to sleep. :I'm fine Gardenia. Just really tired, sore and hungry... and I think a little scared still but it'll get better I think.:

My Gardevoir helped me move up and walked me by the fire, sitting beside me and once again hugged me close. ~Where are you sore?~ She questioned softly, brushing through my hair with her hand.

I raised my hand to my head. :Here and here.: I dropped my hand to my side where I'd been blasted with the Kirlia's attack :and here.: Lastly the spot I'd hit the tree after being hit.

~May I look at your head Paige? I would like to see the extent of the injury myself. I'll rebandage it afterwards.~ Gardenia questioned, stroking my bright pink hair softly.

:Only if you're gentle.: I replied, snuggling in closer. :It's still really sore and it was bleeding really badly.: I explained, shutting my eyes and letting Gardenia gently remove the patch.

~Angel, can you get me the first aid kit so I can re-clean the wound.~ Gardenia asked my Sylveon as she examined the wound by the fires light. ~How hard did you hit your head Paige?~

:Hard enough to knock me out for several hours.: I replied, hanging my head tiredly with a sigh. :One of the admins, Matt, took Miku from me and threw me into a cell. I lost my balance and fell and hit my head on the metal bed frame and it knocked me out cold.:

Gardenia frowned as she examined the wound. ~It's hard to tell in this light but it doesn't seem to be too deep. I think you'll be okay but we will get it checked out in the next town, okay?~

I nodded my head, feeling Gardenia rub in an ointment on the wound. Miku by now was sleeping peacefully in my arms, I let her be, holding her close to me. It would be a while until I let Miku go willingly, I didn't want anything to happen to my baby. So, cuddling Miku gently, I let my eye lids grow heavy and drifted off to sleep in Gardenia's arms.

~Gardenia's pov~

As I tapped up the last of Paige's head wound before looking down to check on my trainer. She'd fallen asleep in my arms. Sighing softly, I cradled her close, gently running my fingers over her knotted pink hair. That's going to be fun to brush, though I didn't care much. I had my little Paige back and that is what's important to me.

~Did she fall asleep?~ I looked up at my brother who was watching Paige closely.

I nodded. ~Yes, she is quite exhausted. Let her rest now, she can eat when she wakes.~

Samurai nodded, a frown over his features as he sat by my side. ~I can't believe I let her think that I hated her... she must have been so heart broken and I did that. I made her hurt and didn't even know it. Some protector I am.~ My bother muttered, hanging his head shamefully.

~It was a simple misunderstanding, she will forgive you.~ I encouraged . ~Right now, I think she's too happy to be back with us to be cross with you for long.~

~That's not all of it though... It's not in Paige's nature to stay mad at anyone for long, look at Zyra. Paige was determined to stay mad at her yet now she's become friends and they've made up. I'm mad at myself.~ Samurai sighed deeply. ~I should have known how upset it would make her for ignoring her for no long, I've done more damage to her mentality the Ghetsis ever could simply because I was stupid and childish. Paige puts so much trust in me yet I led her to believe that I hated her so much, it was at the point she thought I was ready to disown her completely. I should never have done such a thing.~

~What's done is done Samurai, it is behind us now. Paige seems willing to leave it where it lay, so take that and learn from it. You know now how much such words can affect Paige and giving her the silent treatment again is just going to cause her pain.~ I explained, stroking Paige's hair. She was still sleeping soundly though that was partially due to me seeding good thoughts in her mind, keeping nightmares away so she could sleep on peacefully. ~You are not perfect brother, Paige doesn't expect you to be, nor does anyone.~

~But I am expected to be the leader.~

~So do what all great leaders do and learn from your mistake, accept it and continue on strong.~ I offered my brother a smile as I stood up, carrying Paige steadily in my arms. Miku was still sleeping in Paige's arms and I decided to leave her as she was also, they were both quite tired. ~Now, I am going to put these little ones to bed and keep watch over them until dinner is ready. Okay?~

My brother just nodded numbly, I sighed but said nothing more. I could feel Samurai's guilt and it would take a while for it to work its way out of his system but it would. It was after all, just a misunderstanding that had led to horrible consequences on Paige's part but she didn't seemed hurt to badly, and the most mental damage she showed was the damage done while she worried herself over Samurai's rejection. She would be fine after a few days of being fussed and fretted over like I would.

I tucked my trainer into her sleeping bag, watching as she stirred slightly but after a few gentle hushes from me and assurance that Miku was still in her arms, she drifted back off. It was only then that I noticed that both Paige and Miku had metal cuffs attached to their wrists although the chain between was broken for them both.

That won't do at all, I frowned to myself, gently taking Paige's hand into own. Using my Psychic abilities, I focused on feeling out the locking mechanism. It took a few minutes but I figured out how to unlock the cuff. The piece of metal fell to the ground with a soft clunk. Taking a moment to massage Paige's wrist, hoping to ease the tension in her joint before taking her other wrist and repeating the process. This time the process was much quicker and after massaging her other hand for a moment, I started on Miku.

The little Manaphy was much easier to free, I must be getting good at this. I smiled to myself as I rubbed Paige's side soothingly. Dinner would be ready soon and it would be a shame to wake her from such a peaceful sleep but Paige was hungry and hadn't eaten in almost an entire day so waking her would be the best course of action but for now at least, she could sleep.

~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~
Word count: 2086

Sorry this chapter is three days late, I've had to rewrite it a few times since I was continuously not happy with it but I like this enough to publish it sooo.... enjoy!
Who's happy that everyone is back together again? I am!