Tamao groggily opened his eyes, hoping to see Aquarius waiting for him to wake up, yet she wasn't there. Saddened by the sight, Tamao stood up and waited by the cage door in hopes some Pokémon would free him. Unfortunately for the small eevee, no one walked by. Not even a scientist.

Tamao pawed at the glass but gave up on trying to get out. He slowly walked around the cage in hopes to pass time until someone showed up. Each paw pressed against the cold bottom of the cage, a marble-white floor. 

It was almost painfully cold in some spots, then those spots grew to the entire room. The door creaked open, then a set of paws and human paw steps. "Yuki?" Tamao asked, hoping his guess was correct. "Little eevee?" The pokemon returned an answer. "Yuki! You won't believe it, they took Aquarius away! She's gone, and I don't know where!" Tamao cried out.

The strange looking glaceon walked into view. "Why would they do that? What did she do? What did you do?" The older pokemon asked. "I did nothing wrong, but Yuki- she attacked a cage partner, who was about to attack me!" Tamao answered. "They wouldn't do that because you two were supposed to be a pairing. So, are you sure you didn't do anything wrong?" Yuki asked. Tamao nodded.

"Positive! Unless biting a human a while ago counts, but they hurt me!" Tamao defended himself. "Thats why they took her away then. They're trying to punish you. How long has she been gone?" Yuki demanded. Tamao was hesitant to answer. "She was taken yesterday." 

Yuki nodded, understanding something. "Well then, you're going to be alone today, but tomorrow, they should bring someone else in for you." Yuki responded.

Tamao nodded with interest, but he had the feeling of being watched. He looked at the vent behind him, but he didn't see anything.

"Do you know who?" Tamao asked. Yuki shrugged, then answered. "Probably the new eevee born. Aquarius was likely put into a cage with your former cage partner, which means they will be bringing the newborn eevee here to clear proper holding space for Aquarius and the other one." Tamao nodded at Yuki's explanation. "Does the new eevee have a name?" He asked, curiously.

Yuki hummed, pondering the question. "I don't know, I'll have to ask Aisuru or Azurn." She replied.

Tamao thought he heard those names before, as they sounded eerily familiar. "Who are they?" Tamao asked with wonder. "Aisuru and Azurn are the parents of the eevee. Aisuru has had only two living pups so far, both of which were sired from Azurn." Yuki sighed, then trotted off as her name was called.

Tamao watched as the only Pokémon he's seen today left. He wished he could talk to Yuki a little bit more, or at least see Aquarius again. The young eevee sighed and sat down, waiting for something interesting to happen, or food to be brought in, or even for him to be tested on!

He heard something in the vent move behind him, and he quickly whipped around, only to be faced with nothing.

Nothing.

No one was there, no one was there to talk to him, no one was there to keep him entertained, or safe. No one would ever be there for him.

A sharp pain stabbed the back of Tamao's throat as he wanted to cry. No one would be there for him. No one but himself.

He curled up into a ball and stuffed his face into his tail. Maybe, just maybe, there'd be someone out there who would care, someone aside from Aquarius, whom he may never see again.

The eevee let a few tears fall before wiping them away. He just wanted to be with his big sister! Why did this nightmare have to go on and on?

Tamao closed his eyes, he wanted sleep to consume him. He wanted to feel nice, and to never have to remember the real world. He wanted to wake up more than anything!

But would he ever truly wake up in his eyes? 

Tamao heard the door creak open, and scientists walked into the hallway, their paw steps echoing loudly through the long hall.

He opened his eyes and looked out. Scientists were looking at Tamao's cage, one of them had his food in their hand, yet they didn't open the door.

He looked at them expectantly, but the scientists started talking to each other. "S-P429 looks miserable." One commented. "He's fine, just wants his food early." The other snapped. "It's cage looks good, we'll be able to add its sister soon." The third one responded. The others nodded, and the one with the food opened the door and placed his food, quickly closing it and locking it.

As the scientists walked away, Tamao started to recall their words. Was Aquarius being added back!? Tamao smiled happily as he sniffed the food. It smelled sour, and he thought that was the correct scent for the food, so he tentatively ate it.

The food tasted fine, so Tamao was quick to eat the rest of it, hungry from not eating the previous night. As his belly filled with the weirdly disgusting, but normal tasting food, he flopped down by the vent, ready to sleep.

However, sleep never came. He was too excited for Aquarius to return! It would be great having her around, and maybe she would be able to tell a few stories!

Tamao wagged his tail excitedly as he waited for the lights to dim. They didn't. 

He thought that was strange, but it was probably them forgetting to dim the lights. Tamao heard the door creak open again, and the other Pokémon around him getting fed. He then waited expectantly for the scientists to leave and dim the lights, which happened this time.

Tamao smiled, and stood up, bouncing around the cage some before laying back down. He needed to rest, afterall. If Aquarius was coming back, then everything would be okay, and sleep would be needed! 

Especially if Tamao wanted to escape. He needed to be well-rested.