"Shush, it's okay, darling," Ariana soothed. "You're okay now." She held the child tightly and rocked her slightly, hoping to calm her down.

Ariana knew that the child was being honest with her apologies.

The girl started to settle down, but still was plagued by hiccups. She clung to the older girl and didn't let go. Her breathing slowed and her sobs relaxed into sniffles. She was sorry, she really was... it was a bad idea and she was a bad girl for even trying to go through with it... but this nice lady was at least comforting her.

"*hic* I... I'm really sorry... I didn't mean to make anyone mad. I just *hic* I just wanted to catch a Pokemon and leave this place... I hate it here..."

Ariana rubbed her back comfortingly. "I know you didn't mean to make anyone mad, sweetie, but you need to think about actions and how they affect other people," she gently reprimanded.

She pulled away from the girl and gave her a warm smile. "Now come on, let's dry that face of yours." Ariana pulled a handkerchief out of her bag and wiped the girl's tears away. She looked in the girl's eyes and could really see the remorse in them.

"I hope I didn't seriously hurt you when I got Ivysaur to catch you," Ariana said. "Are you all right?"

The little girl wiped her nose on her sleeve and tried to help dry her eyes. "I know... I just... I didn't know what else to do..."

Her eyes shifted over to Ariana's Ivysaur. "No... he didn't hurt me... I just got a little surprised, that's all..." She knelt on the ground and rubbed the critter on its head. "He seems really nice though" she said, cheering up a little bit as she touched the Pokemon.

Ariana chuckled. "She might be a little nicer if you didn't mistake her for a boy," she said, amused. Nonetheless, Ivysaur welcomed the girl's hand. "I think she likes you already," Ariana remarked.

She watched the pair interact for a couple of minutes before asking, "So, what's your name and where do you live?"

"I'm Samantha... you can just call me Sam if you want" she said. "I live by the train station. I tried sneaking on to the bullet train to go to Goldenrod once, but they caught me... I'm glad Mom didn't find out, cause she woulda probably spanked me like you did..." she said.

Her eye widened. "Oh no. I'm gonna get another spanking, aren't I?!" she said with a panicked tone of voice. Her bottom already stung something fierce, but another spanking in such a short time?? Oh that was going to be the worst!

"Please-please-please don't tell Mom..." she said, pleading with Ariana. "I'm usually really brave, but spankings are the worst!"

Ariana was about to introduce herself to the girl, when she suddenly went off in a rambling panic. "Hey, hey, calm down," Ariana said. She sighed and grabbed the girl's shoulders. "Samatha, I'm sorry, but your mother has to know about this. I was brought up not to lie to adults and I'm not about to begin now."

Sam looked at her feet and her lip quivered slightly. "O... okay..." she sniffled, trying not to break into tears again. She was resigned to her fate, even though it wasn't what she wanted to happen...

"Just... stay with me please... I'm scared. She's not mean when she spanks me, but it's still not fun... I don't like making her upset..." she muttered. "She's all I've got since dad left... I feel like she hates me when I get a spanking... even though she says she doesn't."

The girl was rambling to no one in particular at this point, mostly just getting feelings out and trying to keep a brave face despite the fact her already warm bottom was beginning to feel even more unhappy.

Ariana felt guilt in her stomach but she knew it had to be done. She couldn't let her feelings change her mind now.

"I'll stay with you, I promise," Ariana said. "Even if your mother tells me to leave. I won't leave until you tell me to, Samatha, all right?"

She returned Ivysaur to her Poke Ball and then looked back at the upset child. "I can carry you there if you like," she offered.

The little girl nodded feebly and raised her arms to be picked up. It wasn't very often people were this nice to her, even after her little incident or the dread of future punishment. It made her feel a little better just to know that someone was there with her, willing to take care of her and respect her fears and feelings.

"Okay... I'm ready," she said.