(A/N. So POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING

Also this is unedited

I literally JUST finished it and it's 3 am so I'm not gonna read it through for mistakes

So uh

Have fun!)

"You've got to have a battle with me, Hilda!" Cheren said excitedly, "I'm so much stronger now!"

Hilda looked to N nervously, but N just had a smile on his face, "Um...no I don't think so..."

"You don't think I'm stronger?" Cheren asked.

"I'm sure you're strong, Cherry I just...don't feel like battling."

"C'mon!" Cheren urged, "For old times sake!"

Bianca clapped her hands together, "I can be ref!"

"I'd so love to see what you're made of, Hilda!" Rosa exclaimed. Hugh nodded in agreement.

Hilda bit her lip, "Okay..."

Cheren gave an excited, "Yes!" before showing everyone to the field in his gym. Construction was nearly finished, all that really needed to be added was the platform where Cheren would be standing. He was still using that raggedy wooden platform, much to his girlfriend's worry and dismay.

"Be careful up there, Cheren..." Bianca said nervously. Cheren smiled, leaned down, and gave Bianca a kiss before climbing the platform. It creaked underneath his feet but was otherwise fine.

Hilda began to put her hair into a ponytail. As N, Rosa, and Hugh went to take their seats in the stands, Hilda stopped N.

"C-Can I borrow your hat?" She asked.

N frowned and took his hat from his head. As he handed it to Hilda he asked, "Everything okay? You look nervous..."

Hilda pulled her ponytail through the back of the hat and adjusted it on her head. She took a deep breath and exhaled.

"I'm good!" She said with confidence.

N smiled, There she is, he thought, taking a seat next to Rosa.

Bianca took her spot as ref, "The battle between Cheren Maraschino and Hilda White will be one on one! The battle will end when one Pokémon is unable to continue! Since Cheren initiated the challenge, Hilda will have the first move! Begin!"

Hilda pulled a Pokéball from her bag, adjusted her hat, and tossed the Pokéball onto the field, "Serperior- Hero's stance!"

An elegant grass type Pokémon appeared on the field without a sound. He held his head high, and his body language screamed confidence. Hilda caught the Pokéball as it returned to her. She shoved it back into her bag and crossed her arms.

Keep it together.

Cheren pulled out a Pokéball from his belt, "Alright Emboar let's go!"

Emboar appeared in the field in a barrage of flames and gave out a mighty roar. He noticed Serperior on the field and smirked, snorting smoke from his nose. Serperior simply flicked his tail in response, which was hardly a response at all.

"Coil." Hilda said bluntly.

Blue rings appeared around Serperior's slender body, raising his attack, defense, and accuracy.

"Emboar use Brick Break!" Cheren commanded.

Emboar powered up his move and charged at Serperior. Without a word from Hilda, Serperior dodger the attack and used Coil again.

"She didn't even say anything..." Rosa whispered.

"They must trust each other a lot," Hugh said, crossing his arms, "That or Serperior just feels like doing its own thing."

N shook his head, "Everything Hilda and Serperior do is perfectly calculated. They are incredibly in sync."

"Keep going!" Cheren said, "Brick Break!"

Hilda titled her head ever so slightly.

Serperior's tail began glowing a light blue and he quickly slammed it into Emboar's stomach. The surprise and force sent Emboar flying back behind Hilda.

She turned to Emboar and Serperior turned to Cheren.

"You're going to have to do better than that..." She said.

Cheren suddenly felt like he was being mocked. She disappears for two years and has the nerve to act like she's better than him? Nah.

"Flare Blitz!"

Emboar quickly got up and charged himself up with fire type energy. Hilda smirked and turned her back to him, "Now there's a move..."

As Emboar charged at Serperior, Serperior kept his glare fixed on Cheren. As Emboar drew close, Serperior swiftly moved out of the way. It took all of Emboar willpower not to slam into Cheren's podium.

Cheren and Emboar exchanged nervous glances before turning their attention back to Hilda and Serperior.

Hilda shoved her hands in her pockets, "C'mon now, Cherry. Don't be shy."

Cheren and Emboar dished out attack after attack, each one either getting blocked by Serperior, or just dodged completely. Hilda wasn't even going on the offensive- it was like she just wanted to watch Cheren dance, and show off her and Serperior's bond.

Finally, something hit.

"Flare Blitz!"

Hilda blinked, as if that hadn't been the move she was expecting. Serperior hesitated for a split second, and that was all Emboar needed to charge into and hit Serperior with the super effective move. As Emboar backed away, he took what looked to be massive recoil damage.

"Hey! We got a hit!" Cheren said.

N rolled his eyes, "Oh wow...you managed to do something you do every day for a living..."

"I heard that!"

"You were meant to!"

When the smoke cleared, Cheren's jaw dropped. Serperior looked perfectly fine! He was even using his tail to wipe dust from his chest!

Cheren shook his head. No! Emboar took crazy recoil damage! Serperior is more hurt than he looks! Keep pushing!"

"Brick Break! Back to Back!"

"Leaf Blade."

Serperior and Emboar both blocked each other's continuous attacks. Neither of them could seemingly find an opening.

"Use your other arm, too!" Cheren commanded, keeping up the pressure.

Emboar started using both of his arms for Brick Break, giving Serperior zero options. After a few terrible blocks by Serperior, Emboar hit Serperior with his double Brick Break attack.

The room began getting dark.

No! Keep it together!

Serperior managed to slip away from Emboar and back to Hilda. There was no hiding how hurt he was, now. Green light began sneaking around his body. Overgrow was now in effect.

Keep...it...together...

Emboar smirked and blew smoke from his nose.

"Flare Blitz! Let's end this!"

Keep-

/Snap/

Hilda's vision tunneled. The only thought on her mind was attack. Attack with no mercy.

"Giga Drain." Hilda muttered.

Serperior noticed a change in his trainer's voice. He quickly dodged the attack coming at him and let out his vines. The vines that erupted from his chest coiled around Emboar's arms and legs. They started glowing a sickening green and began sucking the life out of Emboar. Emboar roared in pain.

"Don't let go."

Serperior sighed and kept up his trainer's command. Emboar continued to roar in pain, and struggled to release himself from the vines.

"Squeeze him. Don't let him get away."

Serperior quickly wrapped his body around Emboar. As the vines sapped more energy, Serperior began to squeeze Emboar's ribs.

Cheren winced, "O-Okay Hilda you win! Let Emboar go!"

Hilda said nothing.

Bianca looked at the stands where Rosa, Hugh, and N were looking on in horror.

"Hilda!" Cheren yelled.

"Hilda stop!" Bianca screamed.

Hilda couldn't hear them. Her only thought was kill. If you don't win he'll kill you. If you don't win he'll kill everyone. He'll kill N if you don't win.

A green vine suddenly wrapped itself around Hilda's ankle. Before she could realize, it began sapping her energy. She began screaming in pain as Serperior drained her energy. The Pokémon released Emboar and focused just on his trainer.

Cheren rushed to Emboar, "Are you alright?"

Emboar fainted in Cheren's arms.

Hilda's friends watched in horror as she screamed for Serperior to stop. Serperior winced, which is the first time anyone had ever seen him show any sign of emotion. Hurting Hilda hurt him greatly, but why was he doing it?

The green vine suddenly retracted back into Serperior's collar, and he rushed to catch his trainer as she fell to the floor. Her screams quickly turned to sobs. She was violently shaking and crying. She muttered a few things, but no one could understand them.

Bianca, N, Rosa, and Hugh all rushed to Hilda and Serperior. Cheren returner Emboar and took his spot next to Bianca.

"What the hell was that?" He hissed.

"Hilda? What happened?" Bianca asked.

Serperior looked to N, "She can't hear them..."

N translated, "She...She can't hear you he says."

"What?" Cheren asked, "What's going on?"

"She's having an anxiety attack," Hugh said, "That's why she can't hear you."

"This has been happening since Ghetsis..." Serperior said, "Since you left..."

N winced.

"Every once in awhile this happens. Suddenly she thinks the battle is life or death..."

Serperior grabbed N's wrist with a vine and pulled him towards them, "Take her. Tell her you're here. There's no Ghetsis. You're back. She's safe."

N sat down and took Hilda in his arms. He put her head in his chest and nuzzled his face in her shoulder.

"Hilda?" He whispered, "Can you hear me? It's me...I'm okay. Ghetsis is gone. I'm here. You're safe now...I'm safe now. We're together..."

Hilda slowly stopped shaking. Tears still left her eyes, but she slowly looked up at N's face. Her eyes became less dull and lost as she found N in his green eyes.

"That's the fastest she's ever come out of it..." Serperior whispered.

"Ask her what she sees," Hugh said gently, "What she smells, where she is...stuff like that will help ground her."

"Hilda," N whispered, "Do you know where you are?"

Hilda opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again.

N frowned.

Hugh rolled his eyes and knelt down next to Hilda and N, "Hilda...what do you see?" He asked.

Hilda blinked, "N..." she whispered.

Hugh nodded, "Good. Anything else?"

Hilda turned her head a bit, "Serperior."

Serperior pushes his head under Hilda's hand.

"How does he feel?" Hugh asked.

"Scaley..." Hilda answered groggily.

"Where are you?"

"Cheren's gym..."

Hilda suddenly gasped and sat up straight in a rush, "Cheren!" She exclaimed, the haze in her eyes melting away.

Hilda looked down to see Serperior, "Oh...It happened again, didn't it?"

Serperior blinked slowly.

Hilda looked up at Cheren, "I'm sorry, Cheren. Is Emboar okay?"

"Nothing a trip to Nurse Joy won't fix," Cheren said, "But what happened to you?"

Hilda striker Serperior's muzzle, "This is why I didn't want to battle...I new I would lose it..."

"Did everything that happened really hurt you this badly?" N asked quietly.

Hilda bit her lip, "I'm sorry...I tried to be strong but I just-"

She covered her mouth so her sob was muffled.

Hugh stood up, "Take her for a walk. She'll need some air."

N helped Hilda stand up. She was a little shaky, but she had N and Serperior to catch her if anything happened.

N gave Hugh a nod, "Thank you."

As N, Hilda, and Serperior left, Bianca turned to Hugh, "How did you know all that?"

Hugh shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, "My little sister used to have anxiety attacks after Purrloin got snatched from her. We picked up a couple things from her therapist."

"You think Hilda should see one?" Bianca asked.

"If Hilda tells a therapist what happened- what really happened- N could go away for a long time," Rosa said, "She's not gonna risk that."

"How can she get better, then?"

The group stood around in pessimistic silence, with the fear that their friend may never be herself again