[quote=@Smarty Jones]
"Damn. I am sorry to hear that. No one deserves that kind of thing. I've experienced hardships, though, after hearing your story, I can't really say that it compares with yours. I was considered a stereotypical nerd in school. Other kids would pick on me, for years, the bullying got to me. I wasn't a cutter or did anything like that, but there were times I could barely focus on my school assignments. During my second year of high school, which was the hardest year for me, my uncle, my father's brother, gave me my first Pokèmon. I wasn't sure what he was trying to tell me by doing that, and for the first couple of months, I was a little mean to my Riolu, but Riolu managed to convince me that life wasn't exactly what I thought it was, a joke, and turned me around. I wasn't the most social kid in school either, and I felt awkward talking to other students." James replied, feeling bad that he really couldn't compare with Jessica.

Riolu was awfully quiet as his trainer and the woman talked. Riolu could feel that they were bonding, but didn't say a word.
[/quote]

Arcanine lowered her head and wanted to cry. She felt so bad for her trainer.

Arcanine: *Saddened* I'm so sorry that you had to embrace that, Jessie. That wasn't fair.

Jessie: No... It wasn't fair. How exactly would you consider it to be fair? My parents are dead... I don't have any biological family anymore. l'm all there is. But i know that you feel bad, girl. I know. There's just nothing that anyone can really do about it. it's just the way that it is. That's all.

Pidgeotto: So... that's why this journey's something rather personal for you. isn't it?

Jessie: Yeah. It's what this all is. Personal. Because it was bad enough to lose my family. But to lose my benefactor... or Landlord as well? Yeah. That's where i threw down the gloves and said enough was enough. James, the stuff you went through don't compare to mine... but i will say that i feel very sorry for you and the fact that you were facing hazing in school. Dealing with the crap of others bullying you like they thought it to be rather funny and enjoyable. I guess that in a way... we're alike. We both had moments where we were spatted on and just given that Bum's rush.

It was coming to be clear as their bonding was opening up to one another and just letting the other know... that they weren't the only ones dealing with hard times. That they weren't alone. It made things seem as though they were at a mutual standing. Getting to talk about things. to help pass the time a little. It helped get their minds off of what Team Magma was planning to do... what tricks they'd had to pull.