:Samurai, Samurai I won!: I cheered, running into his arms. He and my other Pokémon had watched the finals with Jake and Milly. :I won my first contest!:

My brotherly Pokémon smiled cheerfully. ~That you did my little one.~

~Mama won, Mama won! Did you see Miku cheering!?~ Miku beamed, jumping from Gardenia's arms. ~Miku do this, Go Mama! Go Mama! You win, win, win, WIN!!!~ Miku danced around as she cheered happily.

Giggling happily, I shook my head. :Sorry Miku, I must have been too wrapped up in the battle. I'm glad I got to see it now though?:

~Cause--~ Miku paused, most likely for dramatic effect. ~MIKU KAWAII!!!~

:Of course you are Miku, now, who's ready for ice-cream and bubble drink?: I questioned. The baby Manaphy cheered happily, bouncing around with inaudible cheers of glee.

"Hey Paige!" I recognised Jessica's voice calling me as we exited the contest hall.

I turned, scanning the crowded streets for the familiar trainer, eventually spotting her running to catch up with us. The ravenette seemed especially happy, even though she just lost against me in the finals.

Jake nodded his head in greeting, scanning through his pokedex in order to figure out where we were going next in order to maximise mine and Milly's contest entries as well as where gyms were. Milly smiled. "Hey Jessica." She greeted as I waved eagerly while scanning the area for where my team were.

Angel and Gummie were a little ways off, my Sylveon investigating a nearby trainers Umbreon with a curious look. Gummie stayed close due to my 'if-you-want-to-investigate-something-do-it-in-pairs' rule. Samurai and Gardenia were close to my side as usual, with Miku dancing around at my feet which left Champ as my only unaccounted for team member...

With a frown, I spun in a quick circle whilst looking for my shiny Meditite. :Champ, roll call?:

~Yeah, I'm here.~ He responded nonchalantly.

I spun around again, allowing Milly and Jake to converse with Jessica as I tuned out whatever they were talking about. :Where?:

~Behind you.~ He snapped as if I was stupid.

Again, I spun around seeing nothing. :Where?:

~Here stupid.~ He stuck his head over my shoulder. ~You really must be dense if you didn't even realise I was on you back the whole time.~

:Champ!: Gardenia snapped, frowning at the Meditite. :What did we talk about?:

Champ sighed, irritated. ~Words can hurt more then attacks... I'm sorry Paige for calling you stupid... I don't get it though, you let the Gallade insult your hight, why can I not insult your clearly lacking intellect.~

With a frustrated glare, Gardenia snapped at him. ~Champ!~

~What!?~ He snapped back with an equally frustrated look.

Sighing softly to herself, Gardenia picked Champ up off my backpack and took him off a short distance. Champ wasn't the most sociable Pokémon and since he would often insult all my other Pokémon, Gardenia was the only one who had the ability to teach him right from wrong. I knew he didn't mean any ill intent most of the time, he just didn't realise that what he says can hurt me or my Pokémon, so I try to ignore most of his comments.

I looked back over to my non-Pokémon friends, who didn't even seem to notice I'd had my own separate conversation this whole time, although they rarely did. It was just easier sometimes to talk to my own Pokémon then listen I'm on a conversation I need to be translated to be included into. Such is the joys of being mute.

"Hey Paige, would you mind if Jessica joined us for our ice-cream celebration?" Jake asked, turning to me questioningly.

Jessica sighed a turned away slightly. "I still don't feel like talking to Nicholette... I will tomorrow but for now..." again she sighed. I couldn't imagine it easy having Nichole for a sister...

Smiling brightly, I shook my head to show Jessica could join us. I kind of felt bad for her, while I doubt Nichole had ever treated her little sister as badly as she had me, Nichole seemed to constantly try to intimidate Jessica into complying with what she wanted her to do. I was aware that Nichole was above most in Team Plasma and had been so for a few years so I was without a doubt sure Nichole was used to using intimidation to make others fall in line which seemingly clashed with Jessica's view of the pair as equals. I wished I could explain this to Jessica but I wouldn't know how to without also letting on that I'd known Nichole longer then I had her sister which caused more problems for me then it would fix for Jessica.

"Okay then, I found a nice little ice-cream shop which had very high reviews this morning." Jake explained, sifting through a map on the City on his Pokédex. "The Rockruffy-Road, I do believe it was called... famous for it's trademarked Rockruffy-Road as the name suggests which simply seems to be a play of rocky-road..."

~Miku getting ice-cweam, Miku getting ice-cweam!~ My little Manaphy cheered as Gardenia and Champ re-joined our group. ~Dina! Miku getting ice-cweam!~

~Yes, I know Miku.~ Gardenia smiled politely.

Champ rolled his eyes. ~And so does half the City.~ My Meditite then turned to me, clearly his throat despite not needing it to speak with me. ~Paige, I am sorry if my words hurt you... I still don't quite understand the concept of what is classed as an insult compared to that of a playful nickname and I will try to consider more about what words will hurt others in future conversations.~ The shiny Pokémon then looked up to Gardenia, searching to see if his apology was up to her standard. She gave a simply nod, closing her eyes as she did the gesture of praise.

:It's okay Champ, I know you're trying to improve.: I smiled patting his head before turning to my friends again to see why we weren't already moving to the ice-cream shop. I was again turning out their conversation in order to have my own but it seems that Jessica, Jake and Milly were arguing about ice-cream flavours. I turned to Miku, whom was still prancing around at the thought of ice-cream. :Miku, would you intervene?:

~Miku kawaii?~ Miku inquired, cocking her head to the side.

Nodding my head, I smiled to myself. :That'll do.:

Without a moments hesitation Miku raced into the centre of the triangle, chainsaw blazing in a scarily cute manor as she cried out in a in a fashion so adorably horrific it's hard to comprehend how something so kawaii can be so kowai at the same time. :Miku KAWAII!!!: The little Pokémon cheered, coming scarily close to making some oneloose an eye... or a head for that matter.

I could help but laugh aloud as Jessica, Jake and Milly all backed away from Miku's attempt at gaining everyone's attention. Needless to say it worked, although Samurai's look of disapproval at my approval showed I'd get a stern talking to later at what behaviour I should be encouraging from the baby Pokémon. With a cheeky smile, I shrugged, skipping after my friends, calling my Pokémon to me as I followed Jake to the magic land of frozen moo-moo milk.

I counted off my Pokémon as we walked. Samurai and Gardenia on either side of me, Gummie above my head with Miku while Angel trotted happily by my side. Champ was following a little ways off but I checked up on him every now and then. It only took us a short walk to reach the parlour and as usual, I was first one there, my bubbly self fit to burst with excitement. Miku was the same and Gummie was struggling to keep a hold of her.

~Miku wants ice-cream and bubble dwink! Now now now!~ The baby Pokémon cheered. ~Miku want her bubble dwink!~ She managed to jump off Gummie and burst through the door in excitement, me following in hot pursuit before pressing my face up against the glass at the rainbow of flavoured snow before me.

Jake chuckled as he came up behind me. "You look keen." He smiled fondly as Milly inspected the range of flavours, although Jessica stood more awkwardly as if she didn't know if she should join in on our excitement.

We took our seats in the brightly coloured Ice-Cream Parlour, Jake, Milly and Jessica. Samurai and Gardenia sat with my while the other sat across ways. Angel, Gummie and Champ were on the floor, my Sylveon and Reuniclus conversing enthusiastically about ice-cream flavours while Champ simply meditated quietly. Looking around the ice-cream shop, I smiled at the rainbow of puppy Pokémon, symbolising the ice-cream flavours that the shop sold. I do believe Jake called them Rockruff, they're certainly cute! Miku seemed to think so too.

~Miwwy, get that one next so Miku can ride it like Scowt!~ Miku cheered, her antennae flailing happily. ~Pwease!~

Milly shook her head. "Sorry Miku, Rockruff are only native to Alola."

I looked over to Jessica who was staring absently at her phone, sighing at the messages buzzing away at the screen. Jake seemed to notice too. "Do you have to go?"

Our friend shook her head. "No... Nichole can deal without me for a few more hours." She said dismissively, looking over the menu. "This Rockruffy-Road does sound really good..."

It didn't take long for everyone else to decide their wants. We got a mix of Poké-berry ice-cream for our Pokémon whom we're all released from their Pokéballs to indulge in the sweet treat with us. Jake got Minty-Mimikyu which was a play on a popular Alolan Pokémon and minty flavour. Milly got the Cookies-and-Kuyrum flavour which I'm sure I wouldn't need to explain. Jessica got the Rockruffy-road and I chose the Bountsweet-berry flavour which seemed interesting and of course we all got a range of fizzy-drinks as I'd promised Miku. Miku got her own special ice-cream to eat as she sat upon our table since the entire evening was supposed to be her reward for her behaviour while we'd been kidnapped. While I was actually used to such situations, having spent much my life kidnapped, Miku wasn't.

I dug into my ice-cream as soon as it was served, letting the depressing thoughts that filled my head burry themselves into the deeper recesses of my mind where I preferred them. Life was too short to allow such thing to bother me long, especially with a freezing bowl of ice-cream set before me!

~Don't eat too fast Paige, you'll give yourself a brain freeze.~ Gardenia warned with a smile, taking a small spoonful of her own ice-cream into her mouth. She then paused, staring at the door with a subtle frown, glancing at her brother with uncertainty as the door to the parlour slammed open.

Nichole stormed into the parlour, furious as I've ever seen her. "Jessica!" She hissed, glaring at her little sister. "I didn't give you a phone so that I could be ignored when I'm trying to find you."

"I don't care." Jessica replied with a deepened frown. "Can we talk later, I'm having fun with my friends, because unlike you I actually have 'em. We are trying to have a nice afternoon of ice cream--"

~AND BUBBLE DWINK!!~ Miku cheered, lifting up the plastic cup filled with the bubbly liquid before wrapping her lips around the straw and gulping it down as if nothing was wrong with this situation.

"And bubble drink." Jessica smiled at my baby Pokémon. "So, unless you're planning on not being a total stick-in-the-mud, leave us to celebrate Paige's first ribbon in peace."

"For starters Jessica, stop calling me a stick-in the-mud just because I take things just a little more serious then you and second,me idea of a fun afternoon is anything but hanging out with my spoilt little sister, with a teenage girl who clearly hasn't even hit puberty yet, her over cliche of a hero-type one-day-to-be-boy-friend and a side character who has next to no significance--"

~Watch yourself.~ Samurai hissed as I bowed my head. ~I would like to respectfully request you to leave otherwise I will escort you out myself.~ He sensed my unease along with Nichole's hostility which pushed him into his protective mode. I knew that if Nichole made any sort of threatening move, Samurai may attack her to keep me safe - such was in his nature.

Matching his glare, Nichole snorted. "Is that a challenge?"

My team stiffened slightly, preparing themselves if a battle may start, even Champ seemed in edge while Miku glared at Nichole with her ice-cream covered face, Samurai was the only one to speak however. ~I've beaten you before with quite some ease, shouldn't be hard to do so again.~ My Gallade replied smugly, blocking Jessica from his statement.

Jake jumped into the conversation, attempting to defuse the situation as I felt my mind start to panic. I didn't want to fight. "Listen Nichole... you and Jessica are both obviously very... quick tempered, how about you leave so you can both calm down and when we're done here we'll walk Jessica back to wherever you're staying. Let us just have this afternoon of peace, please?"

For a moment, Nichole just stood there, obviously irritated - she looked between her sister, Samurai (still ready to jump up if needed) and myself, but after a moment, she sighed with an eye roll. "Whatever." She then glared at her sister. "We will be talking about this later Jessica."

"Tch, whatever." Jessica responded, looking away from her sister and out the window dismissively to show she wasn't saying anything more.

Nichole then left without another word, slamming the door to the parlour as she did while workers looked more then intimidated then the exchange but seemed calmer now the situation had been deflated. Jessica sighed deeply, slouching in her seat as she stared absently at her ice-cream. "I'm really really sorry... Nichole has no concern for who's she's embarrassing me in front of or any concern for anyone but herself really. One of the many reasons I have no friends... other then you guys I guess... if you guys still want me as a friend with how much of a pain my sister can be." She cover her face with her hands as if she was going to cry.

Milly looked as if she was about to say something but glanced at me before she did, waiting for me to nod before she spoke up. "Nah, it's fine Jess - everyone has faults after all. I'm sure you have yours just as much as your sister has hers."

:Doubt Jessica has as many as Nichole does.: I muttered to myself, snuggling in with Gardenia who wrapped her arm around me supportively.

"I'm sorry about the way she insulted you guys though... that was totally out of line, even for her." Jessica said, her tone honest and sincere. "She just wants to be able to control me I guess... and she thinks that me being friends with you guys will influence my performance in both my contests and gym battles. I think she just needs to take a chill pill."

Jake lent back in his chair, pushing away his empty ice-cream bowl. "So you two don't get along?"

Jessica shook her head. "Not often... in complete honesty, she scares me a little but I'd never tell her that, she means well... most the time... she just... doesn't have good people skills..." She sighed. "and I owe her a lot. She paid for my entire education through whatever job she had Unova, my parents defiantly couldn't afford it otherwise..."

I glanced up momentarily at my friend's who were all focused on Jessica, Jake did glance at me but that was about it. Nichole clearly did have the capacity to care for her sister if she funded Jessica's entire education... not that I'm aware how much it is having only attended a year of schooling myself when I was 6 but that was just the small classroom the orphanage offered. Everything else I knew came from N or my Pokémon since Gallade and Gardevoir could pass down knowledge through their offspring, part of the reason why their species is one of the smartest known Pokémon.

"I have an idea!" Jessica suddenly burst out. "Why don't I travel with you?"

I winced slightly. Although I liked Jessica, she was sweet and friendly, I knew Nichole would not be happy with the idea at all and by the looks Jake and Milly shared, I knew they thought the same way. Not to mention how easy it would be to let something slip about our history with Nichole, it wasn't safe.

Milly was the first to speak up. "Maybe you should talk with your sister first, no offence, she kinda scares us and she isn't someone I'd want to be mad at us..." She explained hesitantly, choosing her words carefully. "If you get her okay, I'm sure it will be fine with all of us."

Jessica sighed. "I guess that's fair... How about we just finish our dinner and enjoy the evening?" She then smiled. "It is meant to be a celebration after all."

~And bubble dwink!~ Miku cheered, holding up her fizzling cup of lemonade. ~Cause MIKU KAWAII!!!~

The ravenette giggled. "Yes, Miku is kawaii."

I looked down at my ice-cream, sitting in a puddle of it's former frozen self, shrugged and scooped some into my mouth despite its form, it was still ice-cream. I looked around at the Pokémon we were joined by, all happily going back to their meals. They were happy, they were calm, there was no reason for me to be any different.

~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~
Word count: 3027

Tension in the air with this chapter! Sorry again for the long wait, I'd started and writes most of the next chapter which involves a time skip of a few weeks when I realised I'd totally skipped the ice-cream parlour chapater (this one) which I knew everyone wanted so here ya go! I'll probably post pone the chapter I've already written for a bit longer too since I now have this conflict between Jessica and Nichole to resolve... I really want to make someone hit her but don't at the same time.