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[ She's been contemplating this, yes, ever since she got her ass handed back to her by Vanitas. She's lost, sure, many times in fact... but this one in particular... ]

How... when do you know you're strong? That you're not weak?

[ She might end that last sentence in a bitter hiss. Sure, she's lost, but when it involves her friends (and Pokemon), it becomes another thing. She couldn't beat Vanitas, came out even more battered, and well aware her appearance would worry friends. So lately she's been hanging around the roof of Goldenrod City's Department Store.

It sounds like she's going to say more, but whatever it is dissolves into a sigh and stops. ]

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Try harder. You won't be able to train and get stronger unless you're healed. Your team won't spar with you and I'm not training someone with a broken arm.

[Bristles are understandable, but Lightning is firm. No backing down from this.]

[ They - the doctors - told her it wasn't essentially broken, so Xion would argue that point... when she hears the emphasis and tone in Lightning's voice.

Her next sigh is just a tad bit more aggravated. ] So I should just lie around like this?

Until you're healed, yeah. I know it's not fair, but like this you're only setting yourself up for more trouble, or pulling someone else in with you. Is that what you want, Xion?

[Lecture Mode Engaged. Careful there, Xion. She ain't happy.]

[ She makes what almost seems to be a rude sound, but Xion smartly keeps her silence. If there was anyone she'd want to pull this in would be Vanitas.

But keeping quiet might not be what Lightning wants to... eh, "hear." ] ... No.

[It's not what she wants to hear, no, but Lightning is alright with it. She's quiet for a moment herself, after all.]

Look. I know that sitting around while the guy who hurt your friends is still out there isn't easy. It's never easy. But sometimes you have to wait and bide your time until you can get him on your terms. Charging in head first is only going to get you hurt again.

[ A lesson Xion's been through, but hasn't quite... sat well in her head.

But she listens. She's always been good at that, at least, and after a moment of her: ]

Will you train me again once I heal?

[At least she listens. That's going to get her somewhere, hopefully. It at least gets Lightning's tone to soften a note, anyway.]

Yeah. As soon as you're fully healed, we'll start again. It's not a guarantee that you'll win the next fight you get into, though.

[ She listens... but then it's another point if Xion actually follows things. But that's a whole other can of worms.

She sighs - again, she's been doing that a lot - but this one is more subdued, less angry and more tired. ]

I'm not giving up.

[Well, yeah, but everyone has to start somewhere. So long as she listens, they can get somewhere later. Even with all that sighing.]

Good to know. Keep that up and we might actually get somewhere with all of this.

"Somewhere"?

[ She sounds, overall, curious, but a bit skeptical. ]

We might make progress so you don't end up like this again. That's what I mean by somewhere.

[ She lets out a breath, not quite a sigh. ]

I still don't like sitting around like this. [ What to do when she's not supposed to use one of her arms? ]

No one does. But if you keep pushing yourself, you're only going to make things worse and it'll take longer for your body to heal. I don't think you want that.

[There's always training her team to do. Or planning where she'll go next. Lots of things, really.]

I don't, it's just... [ Another sigh. So logical, Lightning. ]

I don't know anymore.

[Comes with the big sis territory...that and someone has to be with all the crazy that her family has in it.]

I know, but don't let it get to you, alright? Everyone loses fights at one point or another, and the only way you can win afterwards is to learn from the loss. Even military generals do it that way when they first start out.

You used to be military?

Yeah. It was a long time ago, but there are some things you never forget.

Something from the past... Yeah. I understand.

[A short pause as she nods; Xion gets it. Mostly.]

Then take what you learned from this fight and use it if you get into another one. You can learn from your mistakes here.

[ That "mostly" is important, huh? 8D ]

... I will. [ May or may not be guaranteeing that, yes, she'll totally learn from her mistakes on the next round. Because there will be a next round. Or something. ]

[Very. The rest of it will have to come later]

You know you can call if you need any help, right? It doesn't take long to fly back to Goldenrod from Mahogany. [Oh, Lightning's sure there'll be a next round. Xion doesn't seem the type to take a loss lying down like this.]

I know, but...

[ Lightning might just figure what that "but" would lead to. And yes, they had that discussion about "friends" helping each other, but seriously? Just can't... let go that Lightning should worry about other things ~~because worrying that she might worry Lightning is moot at this point. Yup.~~ ]

... I know.

[A pause, then a sigh. How can she put this...] Xion, we're friends, right?

... Yeah.

Friends look after one another. Don't worry about bothering me, or Leon, or any of your other friends, alright? We don't see it that way.