Be Prepared

Alright, sorry I took so long to make the next chapter, this shouldn't be too long, just long enough to explain some stuff.

Alexis's P.O.V

I flipped through my deck of Cyber female cards. My eyes scanned over each picture of the cards that had served me well over the years. I shut my eyes and put my cards down, it was because of me that Zane's soul was stolen away.

It was strange, Syrus was suffering, but it didn't seem he was as sad as I was. Why was I so shocked by Zane's disapperance, shouldn't it be Syrus who is having a hard time? So why is my heart telling me that I miss him more than Syrus does?

My eyes glittered, and I could no longer look at the cards that were on my desk.

Zane, we'll get you back, somehow. Someway...

I looked out the window and at the pier that Zane and I would meet on many an occasion. Suddenly, I felt a longing to go there, as if something, or someone were calling me to that familiar spot. I stood up, ignoring the fact that as I did my chair toppled over. I turned and walked out the door, and left the girls' Obelisk Blue Dorm. Despite the sun beginning to set, I continued on towards the lighthouse.

I pushed through the twigs and branches in my way as I walked through the forest. I wouldn't take the long way around, something was telling me to go there right away, as if nothing else was more important.

Why do I suddenly feel the need to go there? Is it because that is where Zane and I go so often, and that's the spot that we meet so many times? Is that why? Because I think that I'm going to see him? But that would be impossible, his soul was...stolen. Then why, can't I resist the urge to go to that place?

I was completely unaware of the Zane doll being squeezed tightly in my hand.

It was strange for it felt like I was in a trance, and just a spectator from my own body.

Soon, the lighthouse came into view, and I felt my feet speed up and hit the ground faster and harder. I burst out from the forest and panted as I stood in front of the lighthouse, my heart's hopes shattered as I saw that no one was there. No blue-haired friend, no one to comfort me...

Beginning to feel tears in the corners of my eyes I bit my lip stubbornly and tipped my head to the sky to prevent the hints of salty sadness from dripping out onto the concrete.

Of course he wasn't going to be here. He's in the Shadow Realm, just like Atticus was, and if it hadn't been for him I would havespentan eternity in the Shadow Realm. But Zane chose to save me, over his Spirit Key and his soul.

Walking over to the far-side of the lighthouse, I curled up my legs in front of me, and realized that the doll of Zane was in my hands. His stern face I could see, even though he was a doll. His blue blazer was still the same, and his blue hair with matching eyes. I sighed and picked up the doll gingerly in my hands, feeling the garments he was wearing and looking at his face.

My eyes clouded up, and I looked up startled.

When I realized it was only my tears I placed the doll back into my lap and used a hand to brush away my tears. But when I did, more tears came and took their place and soon, I couldn't keep my eyes from spilling forth their contents of pent up liquids.

I leaned over the doll in my lap and let the tears of sadness spill out, dripping onto the doll.

'Alexis, could you not cry on me?'

My head darted up and looked around to find the source of the familiar voice. With the Zane doll in my hands I stood up, squeezing tightly, "Who is that?" I snapped to the empty air.

'Down here.'

Slowly, I craned my head downwards, and looked at the little doll in my hands. My golden eyes widened, "Z-zane?" I whispered, my voice so quiet even I could barely hear it. I looked at the doll, and it seemed to smile at me.

Unconciously my hand reached up and started to stroke the blue hair with gentle care and tenderness.

"Zane, is that really you?" I murmured, confirming what I had heard. I still continued to stroke his hair, my hand shaking.

'Yes Alexis.'

Then I broke, I brought the doll to my chest and I squeezed tightly, letting tears fall onto my blue skirt. When I heard, 'Choking, can't breathe.' I released the doll and put the head over my shoulder and held him in place, and I closed my eyes and whispered, "Zane..."

The Zane doll in on my shoulder was quiet for a moment, then said gently,

'Alexis, are you alright?'

The concern in his voice made me smile, "Yeah, I am Zane."

I pulled Zane away from my shoulder, looked him in the eye, and whispered, "I guess you remembered that you said you'd keep me safe." A small smile covered my face, and I could swear that I saw the little head nod.

'I did.'

Came his answer.

I smiled at how Zane had not changed despite the fact that he had been turned into a doll. "You haven't changed Zane... Not at all." I heard a light chuckle, something that rarely happened, and when it did, I knew that Zane was happy.

We sat in silence for a moment, and I realized that Zane might be slightly uncomfortable with me holding him in the air, and quite tightly at that. I placed him on my lap, him facing towards me.

Then Zane abruptly broke the calm silence.

'Alexis, where's Jaden and Atticus?'

His question confused me slightly, "They're back at the hospital, why Zane? Is something wrong?"

'Yeah, something is wrong. Camula almost took your soul using her Shadow Charm, and she took mine the same way as well as Crowler's. I'm betting that is where she gets her power from. From being here I've been thinking, there might be a way to duel her without putting any of you in danger.'

My eyebrows furrowed, "Alright? Well what do you think we should do?"

'First find Jaden and Atticus, we need them.'

I stood up and nodded, then I took off through the woods again with Zane in my hands. I could tell the sense of urgency in his voice, and that's what made my feet seem to glide over the roots and twigs.

It wasn't long before I saw the hospital come into view, and my feet pounded even faster.

Upon entering the building, I saw several people stare at me as I ran by in the halls. The room where Jaden and Atticus were was approaching quickly, and I burst through the room panting hard.

Jaden who was awake stared at me as well as Syrus who was sitting next to him.

My brother was still in his hospital bed with the oxygen mask over his face (Those things are scary to have on, I know).

I moved over to Atticus and settled myself down on the chair next to him.

Syrus called over to me, "Alexis where were you this morning?" I looked at him questioningly, and Jaden answered my look. "Proffessor Banner told us that we were going on a trip, at 6 am. You weren't there, what happened?"

As I looked at him, a gold and red glint caught my eye.

There was a necklace on resting beside his Spirit Key on his chest. I pointed to the pendant, "Where did you get that?" I asked. Jaden took a deep breath and I could tell he was about to go into serious detail.

"Well, we were going there and then we got sucked up and then I had to duel this weird Tomb Master guy for everyone's souls, and then I won so then I got this sweet pendant thing." Jaden panted hard, out of breath.

'Alexis, wake Atticus up.'

Came Zane's voice breaking through my thoughts. I looked at the doll and said, "Alright Zane."

Syrus jumped to his feet, "Zane? What're you talking about?"

I didn't look at him, but at my brother hoping by some miracle that he would awaken, "No time Syrus, gotta wake him up." I heard the sliding of the doors and in came Chazz and Bastion.

Chazz anounced to us, "The Chazz is gonna duel Camula."

Bastion protested, "As I said before Chazz, you are simply not the person for the job." Chazz scoffed, "Yeah right Bastion. Let's see what happens when I kick Camula's vampire-" At my 'ahem' he stopped and grumbled, "Butt."

Syrus got up, with a forced brave look on his face, "I'm coming too." He said. Chazz and Bastion looked at each other hesitantly, "Alright, you can come, but remember to be ready to run." Bastion agreed.

Jaden started struggling to get up, "I'm comin' too."

I got up at that point and placed a hand on Jaden's shoulder and gave him a look and shook my head. Jaden began to protest but bit it back when I gave him a death glare. "Fine." He pouted.

"Let's go." Bastion said and the group of three boys walked out of the room leaving only Jaden, Atticus, Zane and I.

I removed my hand from Jaden's shoulder and helped him to his feet. "They can't do it alone Jaden, we need your help. But, according to Zane we need something else." Jaden looked at me and cocked his head, "Um... Zane?" I nodded and extracted Zane from my pocket and showed Jaden.

Being Jaden, he lifted a hand, and poked.

Zane's voice went:

'Jaden for your own safety I suggest you stop doing that.'

Jaden jumped back and shouted, "Sweeet! It really is Zane!" I rolled my eyes and walked past Jaden to the door. "Jaden's let's go. We need to hurry before they get themselves into huge trouble."

A raspy voice stopped me, I whirled around and saw Atticus reaching a hand out to me.

I rushed over to his side and pulled the mask off to help him speak better, "Camula's Shadow Charm, you need something to combat it with. Use this." Atticus reach up and pulled the golden pendant from his neck.

It was then I realized that it looked almost exactly like the one that Jaden was wearing.

Atticus handed the pendant to Jaden who slipped it over his own neck and looked at the older boy solemnly. I looked at Jaden, "Alright Jaden, let's go." Jaden nodded and walked over to the door and exited.

I was about to follow him, but looked back at my brother who seemed to have exhausted himself.

Gently, I pulled the blankets up over my dear brother's shoulders and my eyes glittered. "Stay safe Atty." And with that I left.

"Is that what we needed Zane?" I asked the doll.

'I'm not sure. But it should help, hopefully Jaden is up to the challenge. All we know is that if those two halves of the pendant don't work, then it's over. For both us and the world. So we need to be prepared."

I nodded, determination filling my eyes and heart as I ran through the halls.

Get ready Camula. Cause we're coming, to get both Crowler's soul and Zane's soul back. So be prepared.

Alright! 3rd chapter done and done! So, hope you liked it, review, all that jazz. Cya!

Fine, so maybe it wasn't as short as I said it would be. But for me less that 3000 words is short.

-PurificationArrow