I paced around the generator room, still quite nervous about the possible attack. It had been a few hours since we arrived, and Reledre had recently told me that the sun had just set. I transformed and continued waiting.
"Duck!"
Out of instinct, I hit the deck. When nothing happened, I got back up and looked around. I pulled out a communicator and said into it, "Legacy, report in."
"Dead Fury here. Quiet on my end."
"Piercing Fury here." Reledre. "I'm hearing noises outside."
"Elemental Fury here." Hilner. "We got company!"
The communication cut out, and I put the com away, pulling out dual Leaf Blades as I did so. I continued waiting, then I heard fighting faintly. I took a breath and got close to the generator room door, staying out of its way if it were to swing open suddenly. I heard Reledre call out "We got a problem!"
I stayed in the room, then I heard Gracie call out in pain. I quickly opened the door and ran over to Reledre, who was kneeling over Gracie, who was on the floor.
Gracie wasn't in good shape. She was bleeding out from the middle of her costume, out of her stomach. She coughed weakly and attempted to focus on me. "Get…Noir…"
"Heal Pulse." A pink glow travelled over Gracie, and her stomach wound healed. I stood and turned to race after Noir, but I saw Arceus standing there. "Graham."
I sighed. "Arceus, not a good time." I started to run after Noir, but I felt myself freeze up.
Arceus looked at me. "I'm holding both you and Noir. What I'm about to tell you is important."
I sighed again. "Let me guess: if I heal another mortal injury, you'll choose a new champion."
He blinked. "I've become that predictable…well, at least you understand the consequences."
"Arcues, my team isn't composed of average people. I will heal them, if need be. You can't stop me."
He gave me a look. "I can and will. The laws of nature must be followed."
"I can manipulate nature in all its forms. Technically, I'm bending the rules."
He blinked. "I never thought of that…very well. But only your team."
I nodded, and I felt myself loosen up. "Thanks, Arceus."
He nodded, and I ran after Noir.
I burst into the generator room. "Halt, evildoers!"
They all spun around, including their leader, who was albino and wearing a black trench coat. He smiled and said to the goons "Lower your weapons. He's mine."
I gulped. "You seem pretty confident."
He shrugged. "I got the drop on you once, White. This time I'll actually kill you."
He did seem familiar. "What's your name?"
He frowned. "You don't remember? I'm offended…it's hard to forget someone demonic…"
Click. "Byarsh?!"
He nodded, smiling. "You remember! Thanks, that really means a lot."
"I'm not Redoni."
He frowned again. "Oh well." He fired a dark blast at me, and I diverted it with a Shadow Claw. We stood still, taking each other in for a few moments, when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Evidently Byarsh didn't see it, and I planned to keep it that way. "So what made you join Noir?"
He grinned. "When Nevermore was disbanded, I kept looking around for some new evil to join."
"You looked a while."
"Yeah, thanks to your no-good predecessor."
"He was good. That's kinda the point."
Byarsh shrugged. "No good to me, at least. Well, I did try to kill him…"
The thing I had seen grabbed Byarsh's leg (it had been slithering along the floor) and pulled, making him off-balance long enough for me to charge at him and hit him with a Wood Hammer. He flew backwards into a wall, and I turned to the Noir goons. They raised their weapons, but the thing wrapped around them and pulled them out, closing the door behind it. I turned to Byarsh. "So who's running Noir?"
He stood and took a breath. "Like I'll tell you." He sent a wave of shadows towards me, and I raised my hand, palm towards him, and it began to glow brightly, making his shadows retreat. Byarsh hissed and charged at me, and I grabbed him, slamming him against the ground. "Let's try this again. Leader?"
He smirked and faded into shadows, making the last thing I saw of him his red glowing eyes. I swore, and Linec walked in, his arms returning to normal length. "That was fun. This permanent?"
"Well, we successfully stopped the plant invasion. Where to next?"
I thought a moment. "I suggest Johto. The Radio Tower there has significant capabilities if used by the wrong people."
Hilner sighed. "Nearest airport's in Pewter. How about we stay here tonight?"
Gracie nodded. "Sounds good. I know we have camping gear, so…anyone up for s'mores?"
As the five of us sat around the campfire, Linec said, "This is definitely interesting."
"You don't know the half of it," I muttered.
Hilner stood and stretched. "I'm headed to bed. Night, all."
We nodded, and we soon followed her lead.
I woke up from a dreamless sleep. I had heard a noise, and from the light level, it was still, well, night. I heard footsteps outside my tent, and I slowly crept towards the flap. I poked my head out, and I saw Gracie go into Hilner's tent, which was still lit. I spewed Spectral Mist and followed her in, making sure to be quiet.
I saw Hilner reading something on her bed, and she looked up when Hilner walked in. Hilner sighed and put the book away. "Gracie, I'm not in the mood to talk."
Gracie sat next to her. "You're never in the mood. I just…would it kill you to be social?"
Hilner shrugged. "Maybe. I dunno…"
"Hilner, why do I get the feeling you're not telling me something?"
I saw Hilner's blue eyes meet Gracie's. "I don't tell people everything. That's how I am, and you know it."
Gracie sighed. "Yeah…it's just-"
"Why do you care?"
Gracie blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You're the first to actually come into my tent in the middle of the night and ask about me."
Gracie shrugged. "I dunno, I just…there's something about you."
Hilner gave Gracie a look. "What do you mean, something?"
Gracie shrugged again. "I can't explain it…I just feel something. I dunno what."
Hilner looked away. "You sure it's concern?"
"Nope. Not sure of much."
Hilner glanced towards Gracie. "How long you been feeling this?"
"Since I saw you chuck that Water Shuriken at that figure. Something just…awoke."
Hilner thought a moment. "Gracie…"
"You're right, I should back off. I'm sorry, I-"
"Gracie."
She stopped talking, and I noticed how red Hilner's face was. It couldn't be…actually, it could. I didn't know for sure…Hilner kissed Gracie's cheek. Gracie blinked and touched it gingerly. "Hilner…"
Hilner looked away. "Sorry…I had to try once before I went back into my comfort zone."
Gracie was silent a moment. "So…does that mean what I think it does?"
Hilner sighed greatly. "Yeah. I'm gay. And I have a crush on you."
Gracie's face got red, and Hilner grimaced and turned her back to Gracie. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't have done or said anything…"
Gracie thought a moment. "So that's what that is…"
Hilner glanced over her shoulder. "Come again?"
Gracie smiled a little. "Hilner…I haven't felt this way about any guy. And trust me, there have been plenty."
Hilner turned back around. "So…"
Gracie nodded and kissed Hilner's cheek. Hilner smiled a little, and Gracie said, "Let's not tell anyone else. Not until we're comfortable with it."
Hilner nodded, and Gracie went to go, but Hilner called out, "Thanks."
Gracie turned to her, and Hilner said, "That's why I talked when you asked. Thanks…"
Gracie smiled and nodded, and with that, we both left for our respective tents.
Hey, everyone! Please review!
