The lights clicked on, and Tamao awoke. During the night, he had dreamed of the Pokémon again. It was getting scarier each time, as the Pokémon seemed to be getting increasingly more and more nervous, more and more worried, and more and more panicked.

Tamao looked at Sakura, who was sleeping. He wanted to protect his sister! He wanted to escape. He watched as the scientists walked in and grabbed some of the morning testers, including Sakura, who was jolted awake. 

Everything felt wrong. Tamao couldn't describe it. He felt as though he knew the patterns of the scientists well, so he could use that as an advantage point. He could use his knowledge to escape!

Bumping in the vents caused Tamao to turn around and look inside. "Hello?" He asked, wanting to know if there was a Pokémon inside them. Without a response back, Tamao sighed and went back to waiting for his sister to return. He wanted to make sure she was alright!

Tamao waited and waited. He walked around the cage boredly, looking out in hopes for something... Nothing.

This didn't deter Tamao though, and he kept wandering, thinking and remembering. He wanted to know why his sister seemed so strange at times, hearing colors instead of sounds, or associating sounds with colors. 

Creaking of the door caused Tamao to look up, a sylveon was being pulled through the room coming from the door, and another one was being pulled out of the room by the ribbons. It looked like it hurt, and Tamao didn't want the sylveon to hurt.

He watched and listened as the door slammed shut. "S-P004 will be released. She's had only two surviving pups, the others were miscarriages." A scientist explained to another scientist.

It was useful how stupid these scientists were, as it allowed for Tamao to pick up on so much more information. "Couldn't we release her when we're getting the delivery? Like a trade of sorts?" "No. She's either being released or put-down. We can't wait until tomorrow before she leaves, it's too long, we need space now."

The conversation Tamao overheard seemed to confuse him. This was the first time he's heard the term 'put-down', and he wanted to know. Did it mean put them to sleep, or was it something much worse? Something much more morbid?

The scientists walked out of the room, leaving Tamao with many questions that he knew he would never get answers to.

He sat there again, bored, waiting for Sakura to return. The noise in the vent happened again, and Tamao whipped around, looking into the vent to see what it was. He saw nothing.

With a sigh, Tamao turned back to the glass, waiting for his sister once again. Some words started to echo in Tamao's head for some reason.

Delivery. Tomorrow.

Was the main door going to be opened? Did this mean Tamao had a good chance to escape with his sister?

Tamao grew a smile at the thought. Freedom for his sister, freedom for him! Perhaps he could even find his first Cage-Partner one day?

He grew more and more excited at the thoughts. It was a good time to train! He needed to be free, he needed to prepare! 

Tamao started attacking the wall, slowly increasing his strength and level as he kept battling it. With each Quick Attack, the more pain Tamao was in, but the stronger he grew. 

The door creaked open, and Tamao excitedly sat by the glass, waiting as the scientist clicked over to their cage with Sakura, however, the scientist didn't open the door. The scientist kept walking. Confusedly, Tamao watched as Sakura let out a few confused yips. He could hear what was going on. 

Sakura was being placed in another cage! This made things harder for Tamao, of course, but he wouldn't give up. He was going to help his sister out of the cage when the time came, he would break her free, and the two would be reunited!

With time feeling as though it moved slowly, Tamao went back to the wall when the scientist walked by. Tamao went back to training, he would need to be really strong if he wanted to free his sister and himself when it came to escaping!

Or maybe, he would fail. Doubt started to take over Tamao's mind as he slowly realized it would be much harder to break free than what he thought. Surely the universe wouldn't give him this opportunity, it just seemed like it was too good to be true, and too bad to be happening.

Like a dream and a nightmare all at once. It made Tamao confused. Was this really going to happen tomorrow? On such short notice too?

Tamao looked out the cage as the door kept creaking and Pokémon were being put into their cages.

The day wasn't even half over, and Tamao felt exhausted. Perhaps he should take a nap to energize?

Tamao liked the idea and curled up next to the vent. His tail covered his nose, as he tried to fill the empty space where Sakura should be.

-------

Darkness, then light. The young far'fetchd was there, waiting for Tamao. "Anything new? Any information to help my mom? Anything at all?" The Pokémon asked. Tamao took a step back, not expecting for the far'fetchd to be right there, waiting.

He didn't know how to respond, so, he just sat there, silently. "Please, anything? What's going on with you at least? Something to distract me? Am I overreacting? Mom's getting worse, and I need something to distract me, I'm overreacting, right? Right?" The far'fetchd asked.

Tamao looked around. He knew his dream friend wasn't overreacting, but it was just a dream, right? It's not like it was actually problematic, so he could avoid this for now, right?

Tamao felt bad, and he wanted to help his friend, but he didn't know what to do. He thought about how he would answer, thinking it over and over. He needed to help somehow, and he didn't want to mess up his words.

"I- I don't think you're overreacting, Knight, I think your mom is-" "Tell me!"