Blinking in and out of consciousness is the worst, Eon thought groggily as she once again regained consciousness.

The eevee laid there for a couple of seconds until she got a small burst of energy. With that, she proceeded to do her usual regaining-consciousness routine of looking around above her to see ifanybody was there. With that she would hopefully find someone to tell her how long she was out for and give her an update. Otherwise she would lay there, disappointed, until she lost consciousness once again.

This time, Eon was lucky enough to notice Chimecho floating around the room, heading in the direction of Shaymin. "H-hey Chimecho," Eon said weakly, weaker than she usually spoke.

"Oh Eon, you're awake," Chimecho said. She immeditly floated to the eevee's side. "Good to see you, Eon. How do you feel today?"

"Not…the best in the world," Eon admitted.

"Hmm…well I'm sure you'll have some bad days and some good days," Chimecho said.

"I'm better than I was when I first woke up, but not the best," Eon continued. "So…I don't know what to think to be honest."

"I'll have Alakazam check you out later if you want," Chimecho said. "But for now I'm sure you want to make use of the time you're awake."

"Yeah, thanks," Eon said. "So…has Shaymin woken up at all yet? Have you or any of the doctors seen him yet?"

"No, but he has mumbled a couple of times and we've seen him move around a bit. Honestly, we're really not sure why he hasn't woken up yet. His recovery hasn't changed either, at least from what we can tell. We might have to send someone to Shaymin Village and see if they can help us."

"That…doesn't sound good," Eon said, her head lowering.

"To be fair, his condition hasn't grown worse either. Maybe it's just that shaymin recover slower than usual. We really don't know. That's why, as I said, we're debating on going to Shaymin Village to see if they might know something."

"Go ahead and ask," Eon said. "You really shouldn't take risks when it comes to our recovery."

"I said the same thing, but some of the doctors don't want to bother the shaymin needlessly," Chimecho said.

"Well if they're not willing to go, maybe you could send Axle over to Shaymin Village," Eon suggested.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me! Axel's back at the guild now. He seemed to be out all night and just came back this morning, so we're not sure if he's awake or not, but if he is I can bring him in for you if you want."

Eon's head lifted up higher. "Really? Please if you can. I really want to talk to Axle, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind talking to me too."

"I'll certainly try," Chimecho said. "Be back in a second."

Chimecho floated away from the room, leaving Eon there waiting. Eon still kept her head up though, hope to see her friend welling in her heart. In the time Chimecho was gone, Eon even tried getting on her paws instead of lying flat on the ground. And while she failed, Eon at least managed to get her front legs off the ground and got herself in a sitting position, looking up a bit higher.

Hopefully if Axle sees me like this, he won't be as worried about me, Eon thought. I'd really like to set his heart at ease.

Eon waited there for a couple more minutes until she heard footsteps coming in her direction. She smiled when she heard that, knowing both that Chimecho floated around and recognizing the sound of the walking. Eon kept up her strength, looking at the doorway, until a familiar blue coat walked through it, his red eyes looking directly at the eevee.

"H-hey Axle," Eon said with her best smile possible on her face.

What happened next completely startled Eon. Axle quickly ran up to the eevee and, after kneeling down, wrapped his arms around her in a hug, his arms going under her forelegs and his head going over her shoulder. Eon's eyes widened and her mouth dropped when she felt what happened. The force of the hug was also enough that it nearly lifted her forelegs off the ground.

"Uhh…I'll just give you two space then," Chimecho said before quickly leaving the room.

"H-hey Axle?" Eon asked.

Axle unwrapped himself from Eon and placed his head back in view of her. His eyes were wide and he had bags under them, and he just looked incredibly worn out. Even though he had a smile on his face, it was half-hearted and looked like it could falter at any second. The riolu also kept his right paw on the eevee's shoulder.

"…Sorry about that," Axle finally said. "I just…I'm happy to see you awake finally."

Eon also smiled and tried to place a paw on Axle's shoulder as well. Unfortunately, she could barely place her paw an inch of the ground before her joints cried out in pain. Eon winced and nearly fell to the ground, only just barely avoiding it thanks to Axle quickly catching her before she fell.

"Uff, sorry," Eon said. She felt her face heat up from the second hug she got that day, even if it was accidental.

"It's…ok," Axle said, his face falling. "You're not at 100%. You can be forgiven for not being able to move that well."

"I'll be ok though Axle!" Eon quickly yelled. Axle looked back up at her, into her eyes. "Please. Don't worry about me," Eon continued, slower and softer now since she was starting to feel woozy. "I'll be just fine. I promise you. So don't…be too worried over me."

Axle gave Eon a small smile. "Alright. Good to know. Thanks Eon."

"N-no problem Axuuuullllll…"

Eon tried to hold on to consciousness for as long as possible but her body eventually gave out and darkness once again surrounded her.

Axle noticed Eon's eyes closed and her body fell limp within his arms. Axle sighed and slowly laid her down on her bed on her side. Just in case, Axle felt around her bandaged chest until he felt a weak, but steady pulse, letting out a breath of relief when he did.

"Hey Chimecho," Axle called out after he was done. "You can come in now. Eon's…asleep."

"There's not much I can do anyways, but sure," Chimecho said. She then floated back into the room until she was next to Axle looking down at Eon. "It's too bad really. She fell asleep a lot faster than I thought she would. I didn't even get the chance to tell her the time."

"Does she ask that a lot?" Axle asked.

"Well she does every time I'm there when she wakes up," Chimecho said. "After asking about Shaymin and you she'll usually ask how long she was out. She says it's just to keep an idea on the time while she's stuck in that room. If it makes her feel better, I'm happy to help out."

Chimecho suddenly sighed and looked forlorn. "It's the least I can do anyways. Otherwise there's not much I can do to help her. Honestly Axle, I kinda understand what you're going through."

"Wait…what?" Axle asked.

Chimecho looked at the riolu. "I've heard you've been feeling restless from not being able to do anything. I'm feeling the same way. I'm usually the one who helps heal all you guys from whatever scrapes you get in while on explorations, even major ones. I'm the one who healed you guys when you got massively roughed up by Grovyle. But…" Chimecho looked at both Shaymin and Eon, "this is beyond what I can do. I know, it's hard feeling helpless like this."

"Even now. I'm really worried about both of them. Shaymin hasn't even woken up yet and it's been such a long time. Eon on the other hand…she's been unconscious longer and hasn't been awake as long as usual. I want to believe that it's just because they're recovering but…I don't know."

"Has Alakazam said anything new?" Axle asked. "Anything at all about her condition?"

"Nothing we don't already know," Chimecho said. "That's where I'm placing my hope in now. But it's been so long since either of them have showed any sign of recovery. And especially with Eon, I'm kinda worried…"

"That she'll be stuck like this?" Axle asked, horror seeping into his mind.

"I think Alakazam thinks that," Chimecho said. "Granted, he hasn't specifically stated anything, but you can kinda tell just by talking with him."

"…" Axle looked back at Eon silently. Eon…could you really be like this for the rest of your life? Constantly stuck in between being asleep and waking up, never able to even walk again. What kind of life is that? Not only will you lose your dream, but you won't even be able to live a normal life.

"This can't stay like this," Axle said. "I refuse to let your life become this Eon. …No matter the cost."

Axle turned around and started walking off. He heard Chimecho calling after him, but Axle for the most part ignored her. He just kept walking through the guild until he reached the guild's crew rooms. Once he got there, he walked to the straw bed he was using and scattered it until he found the scroll he stole.

Xatu asked me to think about which path I wanted to take. I don't need to do much thinking though. All I need to do was look at my friends. Think about what? Shaymin's on a path to death and Eon can't move anywhere. Our team is finished if I don't do something. So I know what I have to do.

Axle opened up the scroll a little. The Clear Wing. Apparently, it's an object that, when combined with the elements, turns it into something called the Rainbow Feather. If I can get that, I can apparently summon Ho-Oh from its resting place. There's just one problem. …There was a slip of paper in the scroll telling me exactly where the Clear Wing is.

It's the treasure of a village not far from here. It was mentioned in the note that they'd only give it to someone they trust unconditionally. …I obviously don't have that trust, nor do I have the time to gain that trust. So I'm going to have to steal from another village.

Axle looked back behind him in the relative direction of where his two teammates were. In his mind's eye he saw Eon behind him, her bright smile, her wide eyes, and he saw Shaymin, his cheerful attitude and smirk. A tear finally started forming in Axle's right eye, slightly blurring his vision. More began forming, as Axle cried for the first time in years.

I'll try my hardest not to get caught, but something tells me I'm going to fail. There's a good chance that I'll be found out and when that happens…I'll be branded an outlaw. And when that happens…

Axle stood up and shook his head. I'll need to get my own bag. I can't keep this hidden in my room for much longer. Our bag might be repaired by now, but I'd rather leave Eon with it. I know a guy who owes me a favor, so I'll use that.

Axle grabbed his scroll and tucked it in between his arm. I guess I should head out now. I can't…stay here any longer. He then turned around and walked his way out of the place.

Along his way, right before he reached the staircase leading up, he was stopped by Chimecho. Axle shifted slightly when he saw her going towards her to place the scroll outside her line of sight. He tried his best to do it naturally without drawing any suspicion to himself.

"Hey Chimecho," Axle said. "Sorry for just walking out like that."

"I understand. That wasn't exactly the easiest thing to say either," Chimecho said. "Hey listen, since you're heading out, would you mind going to Shaymin Village? I'm hoping one of them can help explain why Shaymin's been out for so long."

I…suppose that's on my way, Axle thought. "Sure, I will," the riolu assured Chimecho.

"Thanks Axle," Chimecho said.

Axle turned away. "No problem," he said without looking at her. "…Chimecho…listen."

"Yeah, what's up?" Chimecho asked.

"…I'm going to be gone, possibly for a long time," Axle said. "So…take care of Eon for me, would you? And should Shaymin wake up, have him do the same."

Without waiting for an answer from Chimecho, Axle walked up the steps and out of her sight. While the riolu tried his best to avoid it, tried his best to hold it back as he walked up the steps, he could feel one last tear fall from his right eye.