"Ah, yes... Lillie wasn't scared of me when I first arrived," Greninja shook his head when the two little Pokémon asked him about the Alolan girl's fear. "A little apprehensive, but nothing major. Over time she began getting more and more terrified. I only saw her a few times, though, when she and her family tried to escape and free me and the other Pokémon. They never did succeed."

Sophie frowned and glanced over at Lillie, who was speaking with the other Trainers. She seemed rather upset, looking down and biting her lip, her emerald eyes slightly glassy.

Sophie immediately approached, though slowly, not wanting to scare the blonde. Lillie saw Sophie coming and glanced at her, looking slightly nervous. Sophie stopped a good distance away so Lillie wouldn't get too scared. "Eevee?" She asked gently, clearly wanting to make sure she was okay.

"Aw, Sophie wants to make sure you're alright!" Bonnie grinned. "She's such a sweetie pie!" "O-oh, I'm fine..." Lillie mumbled sheepishly, smiling slightly at Sophie, who smiled back and rolled into her back, showing her belly. This visibly surprised Lillie.

"Something wrong?" Ash asked. "When quadrupled Pokémon show their belly like that, it's supposed to be a sign of submission or trust..." Lillie explained. "I thought you said she's scared of humans?"

"She is, but she's trying to get better," Serena smiled. "Bonnie can touch her sometimes. I've touched her once or twice. She's still a little too nervous about Clemont and Ash, though."

"She's so cute!" Lilac cooed, crouching down and holding out her hand to Sophie. The little Eevee took a step back, looking up at the stranger, but Lilac was all smiles, oblivious to how worried Sophie was growing.

"Uh, remember that she's scared of humans, Lilac," Kit reminds the purple-haired girl, crouching beside her. "Hey, Sophie. She doesn't mean any harm, she's just excitable."

Sophie smiled slightly and took a deep breath, then took a few tiny steps closer. Poipole flew over, staying beside Sophie as they gently encouraged her onwards. She briefly nuzzled Lilac's hand, then quickly scurried away, receiving lots of praise from Poipole.

"Aw, you're so sweet!" Lilac smiled. "Aren't you so brave?" "Eevee..." Sophie smiled slightly, her tail wagging a bit.

Lillie watched Sophie curiously, amazed by the interaction. She could see that Sophie really was scared. What reason would she have to pretend? But every flinch, every twitch, every ounce of hesitance and longing in her expression... Lillie saw it all.

And she couldn't help but see herself.

~•~

Serena was helping Bonnie practice for the next Pokémon Showcase while Ash was training with Pikachu and Greninja and Clemont was making lunch. Most of the Pokémon were eagerly watching the performances, a few were watching the training and one or two were calmly helping Clemont to cook.

This left Lillie sat off alone by the edge of the lake, watching the rippling, sparkling blue. She was too scared to be around the Pokémon for long and she'd reached her limit after all the introductions.

She found a flat pebble and skimmed it across the lake, watching it bounce once, twice, thrice, then plop into the bottom of the water. She sighed, looking down.

"Eevee?"

Lillie's head snapped up quickly. Sophie was watching her, a safe distance away, offering her a small, concerned smile. "Vee?"

"Oh, I-I'm fine..." Lillie mumbled. Sophie smiled properly at that. "Vee!"

Lillie couldn't help but smile slightly back at the sweet little Pokémon. It was hard to be upset around Sophie, she found.

The Eevee took a slow step closer, giving Lillie every chance to stop her. The blonde bit her lip, but allowed her to approach. Sophie was only a few feet away when she stopped, seeming to tell that Lillie wasn't comfortable with her coming much closer. She offered Lillie a reassuring smile and sat down, turning to face the lake with her tail wagging slightly.

Lillie watched her for a moment, then her soft smile returned. She turned back to the lake as well, feeling less upset now.

Little did the pair realise that everyone had paused what they were doing to watch their two friends support each other through their fears, grinning from ear to ear.

~•~

Sophie seemed to stay near to Lillie all day. She never got too close, but she was always beside her or hot at her heels. Surprisingly, Lillie quite liked having Sophie tag along at their unspokenly agreed safe distance. It was like having Snowy back with her. She hadn't seen Snowy in way too long.

This thought kept Lillie awake that night. She tossed and turned in her tent - she had her own to avoid the Pokémon - but just couldn't settle, so she stepped outside, moving quietly to avoid waking the others.

The cold night air chilled her exposed skin, sending shivers down her spine, but she brushed it off like the soft blades of grass tickling her bare feet.

She sat down on a log and tilted her head back, admiring the stars in their melancholy teasing of fearlessness. What would a star have to fear? Nothing at all.

"Vee?" A soft voice asked. Lillie squeaked and looked down, startled, only to see Sophie watching her from the edge of the lake. "Oh, Sophie, you scared me... don't worry, I'm fine..."

Sophie finished getting herself a drink from the lake, giving Lillie time to compose herself, then trotted calmly over to her. "Vee?" She prompted gently, sitting at their safe distance. Lillie bit her lip, looking down at Sophie, then sighed slightly, knowing it would probably be best that she got it all off her chest.

"Well, it's just that... Snowy - my Alolan Vulpix - I left her with my friend, Mallow... because I was too scared to take care of her... I left my Pokémon... I feel terrible..."

"Eevee..." Sophie frowned. She hesitated on what to do for a moment, then stood up, taking slow, small steps towards Lillie. The blonde watched, confused.

When Sophie was close enough to touch Lillie, she stopped, looking up at her. She could see how guilty Lillie felt and how upset she was to have given up her first partner just because of an old fear returning.

"Vee..." she murmured quietly but assuringly, then took a deep breath and gently nuzzled Lillie's hand.

Lillie squeaked and froze, but Sophie kept gently murmuring. "Vee... Eevee, Ee..." It slowly helped Lillie to relax, then, after a few minutes, gain the courage to gently pet Sophie's head. Sophie flinched a little, but didn't stop her, smiling slightly as she relaxed a little.

Sophie and Lillie both came a long way that night.