Chapter 10
'Delaying the storm'

Hours after her rescue, Karli finally left Camellias General Hospital. She was escorted out on a small wheelchair, by Glim, who had to walk on his hind legs to push the chair. The kirlia in front of the glaceon had changed colours drastically. Her usual blue hair had darkened and lost a bit of its colour, while her orange horns had also darkened. Due to what happened, she was practically locked in a very thick coat, shivering for warmth. Karli however, seemed calm, keeping her large hood up enough to see where Glim was taking her.

The little glaceon, much like the kirlia he was escorting was in a broken state. Stung with shock over what happened in a matter of hours, from witnessing Yuki's attack, to ending up getting Karli frozen and Glim getting beaten badly. He was lucky that Angel and Sergeant joined the fray, and having no injuries on top of his success, it seemed like Glim had more than jirachi watching over him. Despite that, his mood was frosty.

'Glim?' asked Karli, barely able to move her head. 'You're awful quiet. You mind telling me what happened?'

The glaceon did not answer, continuing to prod the wheelchair to the actor's lodge, where Yuki and her crew were staying. Karli had already heard of Glim and Angel saving both herself and the froslass actress. She was also made aware of being the first person to be unthawed, of the family's victims. Other than that, the kirlia was still in the dark about where Angel was, why Glim appeared to be in such a gloomy mood again and whether or not Yuki was okay. Karli did recognise that the glaceon did not want to speak, but tried to encourage him by repeating his name. The glaceon still gave no reply, as if he was ignoring her. It did annoy Karli, she really wanted to know, but after hearing of the beatings Glim, Yuki and Angel went through, she understood his silence. Glim was most likely exhausted and frightened, remembering that they had fought Martyr earlier that day.

It was not long before the quiet glaceon had taken his kirlia friend to the desolate chalet, where she was to fill a lot of her blanks. From the outside, same as when he and Angel left it, the place was jumping with activity. It was a large place thankfully, big enough to house Yuki's colleagues and surviving refugees from the vessel attack that morning. To Glim, his escape from that ship and Martyr's attack felt like days ago and only thinking about it made him dizzy. He was ready to fall onto the soft snow and 'let the musharna carry him to sleep', which was part of a nursery rhyme.

Karli was wheeled just next to the door, giving Glim some space to knock. However, his presence was already detected as the door opened just before he could knock, revealing the gentleman to be Mercury.

'Glim, welcome back.' he said, having to raise his voice slightly, due to the room to his right having a party.

'Hi, uh… um.' stuttered Glim, who then shook his head. 'Sorry, I can't remember your name.'

'Not at all brother, you're here to see Yuki, yes?'

Glim nodded weakly while Karli became upbeat with surprise and pulled back her hood. Mercury glanced at the kirlia and also became more cheerful.

'Yuki, she's here?' asked Karli.

'Ah! You're the shiny kirlia she mentioned earlier. So you're all friends then?' asked Mercury, looking over to little Glim. 'You, Angel and her?'

'Yeah, yeah.' blurted Karli happily, answering for Glim. 'We weren't alone either, and we'd like to speak to Yuki… if that's okay?'

'Of course it is!' replied Mercury. 'Yuki still has you to thank, but also offered to return the favour. Do you live in Camellias, have anywhere to stay?'

Glim sat down, letting Karli explain their situation. For some reason, he could not keep his ears up and watching the two pokémon speak was making the glaceon feel like he was moving backward.

'No, we're some of the survivors of today's ferry attack.'

'Oh god, really?'

'Yeah.'

'How many are there of you?'

'Well there's us two, Angel, a weavile. Beryl, a braixen-'

Without warning, Glim began leaning too far to his right as his vision began to darken.

'Whoa Glim!' called Karli, while the little glaceon thumped his head on the snow below.

'Is he alright?' asked Mercury, audibly crouching to the sleeping glaceon.

'He's just tired… long day.'

'Not a problem, come on in.'

Not far behind the tired glaceon and thawed kirlia, leaving the same hospital were Beryl and Angel. Rather like Glim, they were short of words as they had to leave a little broken about the little budew they had to lay to sleep. They walked close by, side by side, the braixen kept his head down slightly, just letting the weavile lead him wherever he was going. Compared to Beryl, the sharp claw pokémon was seemingly more hardened in his walk, not letting anyone see the depression in his eyes. Sure, Angel was a little emotionally sensitive, but he had a much greater threshold of it.

'Beryl, you alright mate?' whispered Angel.

The pretty braixen did not answer, pausing awkwardly, thinking for an answer, but it hurt him to think that he was okay, not that saying 'no' would have made him any better. So the boy just kept silent, but gave Angel a look of his distraught eyes and was sore from leaking tears, the weavile understood that look.

'Listen, I'm sorry about Belle, but I'm- and probably Glim too, are a little frosty, to say the least. I mean yo, we're crazy, but… I've got something I need to do and I think you should head up to Yuki's place, where we're staying if Glim can get us in.'

'What did you mean by "crazy"?' replied Beryl.

'Well, you know. Survived Iris' dragon bombing, I'm still cool. Rescued you two from Hydrangea prison, I'm still cool. Got bombed again, I'm still cool. Almost got my ass eaten by a bunch of pissed off glalie, I'm still cool. Had to let Belle…'

'Don't.' interjected Beryl.

'I know, sorry, but… hey, still cool.' said Angel, with a more miserable tone. 'But yeah, I think I've already lost it, you know?'

That last statement made Beryl look over to Angel with more comforting eyes, detecting the denial and pain just in the way the weavile was walking, yet not looking at the braixen. Beryl felt the opportunity to relate, or even to open out with him. It was not something he liked doing, but given their ordeal hours ago, it felt right.

'You want to know something truly crazy?' asked Beryl, raising to his usual sweet tone.

'Go ahead.'

'I'm not gay.'

A little confused, Angel glanced at Beryl, suddenly trying to hide a smirk.

'Then why are you holding my claw?'

Looking down, the weavile and braixen boys were claw in paw, but Beryl was holding Angel's claw at a firm grip.

'I just… I don't want to be alone right now.'

'Oh yeah, of course.' mocked Angel.

'I'm serious Angel!'

'I know, I know. But if someone calls us a couple or something, you're on your own. Besides, I have somewhere to go, if you're really keen to stick by?'

Only then did Beryl finally look up to see where the weavile was escorting him.

'Yeah, where're we going?'

In some black void, the little glaceon was curled into a ball on a desolate frozen wasteland. Despite the need for the cold, the ice pokémon shivered for warmth, as the wind began to breeze heavier. It felt unbearable to be cold, yet he felt the snow to be so comfortable, it was all so confusing. As if the wind, stroking his back was something else, riling his emotions, for which he could not resist. Glim knew the feeling, making his eyes water, for he missed his friends.

'Glim.' called Oswald, standing ahead of the cowering glaceon.

Glim glanced up at the familiar voice, not only seeing the easy-going fatherly infernape, but his wife Jane, Ben and Shadow. They were just there, staring at the little glaceon, with smiles. It gave the glaceon a speck of relief, hope and joy as he tried to raise a smile too. But he had no power to stand up and could only watch as his friends seemed to disintegrate to dust and get blown away in the wind. All except Shadow, had disappeared. The houndoom instead, drew closer to the little boy with tears in his eyes.

'Glim…' said Shadow, pausing with a more saddened expression. 'I know, it sucks, we didn't get much time together. But… maybe next time, okay?'

Frozen, yet fidgeting in cold, the glaceon remained staring up at the friendly houndoom who knelt down and kissed his crown of ice. Glim could felt the intense heat of his lips, warming even down to his tail, which the warmth then quickly faded, as Shadow turned and ran. The glaceon tried to cry out, unable to use any words as the houndoom ran, turning into dust and blew with the wind. Glim helplessly tried to reach out, only making him thump his head into the wet snow, making him give up holding back his resistance to cry.

Suddenly, Glim was not feeling so cold in a bad way and noticed that the snow he laid on was more comfortable than it appeared, especially where his head was. With his eyes open, the lonesome void revealed the glaceon to be in a dark bedroom, finding himself to be in a small sized hay bed, with a thin, heat-resistant pillow. The pillow had wet marks on it, telling Glim that he had cried in his sleep. Being awake and feeling his strength, he quickly wiped off his tears.

The room was almost silent and lonesome, like Glim had woken up in an abandoned house, with three empty beds surrounding his. The only noise he could hear was coming from behind the door, a sort of carefree chatter between three pokémon.

Outside of the small bedroom, was the main living room. Most of Yuki's acting division had gone to bed, especially the children, but at the long table, Mercury and Yuki were busy talking with Karli, who was out of her wheelchair. She was still wearing the cloth to keep herself a little warmer and had her tiny feet in a tub of boiling water. It was difficult to see, since kirlia are naturally pale white, but Karli's eyes and cheeks had an odd blue tint to them for being frozen.

'So when you came back, no one recognised you?' asked Karli, in mid-conversation.

'Nobody.' answered Yuki, shaking her head with a positive face.

'Nobod- I, didn't recognise her.' interrupted Mercury, seeming surprised. 'And I was her best friend back then.'

'Was?' quoted Yuki, looking at the lucario next to her.

Mercury rolled his eyes. 'You know what I meant.'

'It must have been horrible…' said Karli. 'Not just having parents like that, but… I mean…' the kirlia lifted the tiny dawn stone she had as part of her necklace. 'I know what it's like to want to be… but everyone tells you, you can't.'

Mercury interjected 'Actually-'

'I know,' said Yuki. 'As you can see, it is possible. So you know you were supposed to be a gallade, right?' Karli nods, sadly. 'Well you can, but, you would need to go through sexual reassignment.'

'I can't do that.' replied Karli, shaking her head.

The froslass seemed surprised. 'No?'

'I've always wanted to be a gallade… that doesn't make me a boy inside.'

'Oh true.' said Yuki, cupping her mouth, seeming deep in thought.

'It's why I've been a kirlia for over like, eleven years.'

Mercury gave a surprised mumble. 'How old are you now? If you don't-'

'Twenty.' answered Karli.

'Yeah,' nodded Mercury. 'Most pokémon would have evolved by that age.'

'I am very sorry, Karli,' said Yuki. 'But even I have never heard of a female gallade.'

Karli sighed in annoyance, having heard that before. 'I know, I know… but that doesn't stop me from giving up.'

'Of course not,' replied Yuki, both her and the lucario were shaking their heads. 'In fact, we respect that.'

'Thanks.'

To Karli's right, metres away, a bedroom door opened and from it, a tired little glaceon stumbled out. His eyes were dark and miserable. The marks of tears on his face became more visible as he walked into the light. He paused, only just leaving the bedroom, while Karli and Yuki only stared at him, detecting the misery from the little glaceon and becoming worried for him.

'Glim?' said Karli. 'Are you alright?'

Mercury leaned over, unable to see the glaceon with Yuki between them. 'If you're wonder where you are, you're in our chalet accommodation. You passed out my friend.'

'What is the matter, Glim?' asked Yuki.

Glim paused, before croaking 'I had a bad dream.'

Judging by his state and the tone of the little glaceon's voice, Glim was resisting to cry. Karli would have remained positive and try to persuade Glim to fight the nightmare, but after what they had been through that day, she could imagine what he saw.

'Aw, come sweetheart.' said Karli, patting the cushion next to her. 'Tell us about the dream, if you want.'

The frail glaceon was awake enough to walk in his usual elegance, but only two hours sleep was not enough to recover fully. He sat by the kirlia, also a little tired for not going to bed and still recovering from her defrosting. Glim was quiet, whilst the others gave him a minute to stabilise.

Feeling that the glaceon was perhaps uncomfortable to say anything, Karli asked 'So… how are you, Glim? You told me you and Angel got into quite the brawl.'

The depressed glaceon looked at the froslass across the table.

'Are you okay with me talking about your parents?' asked Glim.

'Oh of course,' replied Yuki. 'Do not mistake that I was close to them, you already saw how rough they were to me.'

'Twice actually.' nodded Glim. 'I was there when Karli tried to save you, and your big friend was killed.'

'Yeah… Reggie.'

'Your family seemed so hostile, even before they attacked you and I know what that is like. My parents… were rather like yours.' the glaceon and froslass paused, trading expressions of sorrow. 'Believing themselves to be always right, even when they didn't understand me, yet still thinking they knew what was best for me.'

Yuki nodded coldly, knowing that feeling.

'Did they...' interjected Mercury. 'Did you evolve into a glaceon because of them?' Glim stared at the lucario blankly. 'You hear eevee stories like this all the time, where the parents want their child to evolve into what "suits" them best, while the eevee wants to be something different. But because it's irreversible, it gets taken so seriously.'

Glim nodded. 'My mother wanted me to evolve into an umbreon, or a vaporeon because I couldn't swim for a long time.'

'Was she either of those?' asked Karli.

Glim shook his head. 'No, my mother was a sylveon.'

'Ah yep, the usual.' said Mercury, shrugging.

'What about your father?' asked Karli.

'He's not an eeveelution.' answered Glim. 'My father's a slaking.'

Suddenly, the sorrowful expressions turned into surprised faces with hints of disgust.

'Oh my god,' muttered Mercury. 'A slaking? Then it's no wonder you faced such grief.'

'Yeah,' said Karli. 'You know that slaking are like… one of the top ten worst pokémon to be parents.'

The glaceon nodded, not looking at anyone in the eye.

'So why glaceon, may I ask?' asked Yuki.

Glim shook his head, only annoyed by the recurring question. 'It's complicated, I don't even know how it happened.'

'Well traditionally,' said Mercury. 'Rather like the special stones, when an eevee touches ice at its coldest-'

'Yeah, I know how an eevee evolves into a glaceon.' interrupted Glim. 'But… I was nowhere near any caves of ice at the time. At least… as cold as Dwy.'

The three pokémon paused, before Karli said 'where were you at the time?'

'When I evolved, I was at Jasmine, nearby Mount Scad. They said I evolved in my sleep.'

'Did something happen?' asked Yuki.

The glaceon just paused sadly, unwilling to talk about Oswald's death. The kirlia had a similar expression as Yuki's, except her curiosity was nagging her to pursue Glim's mysterious ordeal. However, it was obvious the boy did not want to talk about it and decided to change the subject.

'So, what was the dream about?'

The glaceon's mood perked up slightly, though he was still depressed. 'I just felt… so cold. I was in a blizzard, curled up and powerless. Like when you don't want to move, otherwise you'll get colder. I heard an old friend call my name, but when I looked up, I could see my friends. The same ones who saved me, but… I couldn't save them. They looked happy at first… and then just left. I couldn't move, but Shadow stayed. He was… sort of my boyfriend, a houndoom. He came up to me and said something about us meeting together in the next life.'

'I am so sorry Glim.' said Yuki, while Mercury nodded. 'You know, dreams can often resemble all kinds of psychic phenomenon. Perhaps your friends were trying to communicate to you, or maybe your mind was trying to find them. I am guessing you miss them dearly?'

'I do.' nodded Glim, his voice breaking, his torso feeling a compressing sensation.

The kirlia sensing that the little glaceon was on the threshold of crying moved closer to Glim to comfort him, placing her arm around him and let him lean against her. Glim easily resisted breaking down, but tears began to slowly slide against his control.

'Glim.' whispered Yuki, in a caring tone.

'It would be best if you guys had a day off.' suggested Mercury. 'Your weavile friend was saying about setting off for Haine?'

'Angel.' replied Glim.

'Yes him, but even by flight, the capital is still a good…' paused Mercury, looking to Yuki. 'What, eighty miles southeast?'

'It could not be any less than eighty by flying, I would imagine.' replied Yuki.

'Yeah, and you guys are travelling as a pack and still need to cross that freezing V channel somehow.'

'Fuck.' blurted Karli, miserably. 'No more ferries too.'

'Actually…' interjected Yuki, pausing to think. 'I know some friends who could help you with that.'

'Really, who?'

'It will be my way of thanking you most dearly, for saving me. Though you will have to leave that with me. For today, I think it best if you and your friends were to calm.'

'Yeah,' Mercury agreed. 'You, him and Angel were badly hurt from yesterday, which we still haven't thanked you for!' said the lucario, leaning forward, a little angry with himself.

The froslass giggled while Karli smiled.

'W-well, you have let us stay here.' stuttered Karli.

'That was just kindness, because of your ferry tragedy yesterday.'

'Do not worry, Merc.' interrupted Yuki. 'Why not take a visit to the Camellias spa? Our colleagues go there regularly, including myself. We will cover the charges.'

'Oh okay.' replied Karli, looking and stroking Glim's head. 'Call me a hypocrite for running a dress store, but I'm not… really super princess girlie girl.'

'What the hell does that mean?' asked Mercury.

'I am guessing you have never been to one before,' said Yuki to Karli. 'No need to get uncomfortable, sweetheart. You two will feel so much better afterward, trust me. Go with Miley and Whitney when they wake up later.'

'Uh- w-will do, thank you.' replied Karli.

'Are you two not going to go to bed?'

'I would but…' answered Karli, looking back at the door nearby. 'I want to know when Angel, Belle and Beryl get here, so I know they're alright.'

'Was this… where you were once?' asked Beryl.

Just ahead of the braixen, Angel paused, only slightly nudging the gates open.

'More like where I was abandoned.' he answered, before pushing the right-side gate open.

The weavile entered the snow covered garden, leaving the gate to slowly swing against Beryl who leaped passed before it hit him. Angel only carried on, already knocking on the gigantic doors. The braixen looked up to see the enormous grey building, being unusually artistic for an orphanage. The architecture resembled a mansion for someone wealthy, yet haunted with evidence of decay and destruction. Words were clearly carved on the arch, curving over the gates, but the words had lost their paint and were difficult to read with a naked eye.

Beryl quickly caught up with Angel and stood by him as the weavile waited. Unfamiliar to the location, the braixen observed the surroundings of the old building. He had guessed that the facility was an orphanage, but Beryl felt so uncomfortable in the silence, while Angel stood so still next to him.

'Um… is this, an orphanage?' asked Beryl, giving the most awkward hint of questioning, yet feeling so embarrassed for asking it.

Angel gave the braixen one emotionless look. 'It is.' he said, resuming to his silent stare at the door.

Finally, the door rocked violently, before opening, appearing to be very heavy as the senior miltank nurse was showing struggle to pulling it open.

'Sorry Angel, my dear.' she said.

The weavile stepped in, shaking his head. 'No, it's alright. You guys work yourselves-'

Entering the main landing, Angel paused, noticing most of the key workers and carers in quiet conversation with each other, all in the same room. Some of the staff were crying, who were then being escorted to the kitchen ahead, by the gardevoir carer. Angel was confused, the staff never huddle like that, unless something terrible has happened.

'Wait, the hell's going on?' asked Angel to himself.

He could have asked any staff member, since he trusted them like family, but the weavile spotted the manager, Kerry the gothitelle talking to two of her key workers, a machoke and a floatzel. They were discussing about Camellias' emergency services and what to do.

'Yo Kerry.' called Angel, quickly getting Kerry's attention, as the two men proceeded with their task.

'Angel, is that you?' she asked in a happy tone, which was heavily suppressed by her situation. 'My, how you've grown.'

The weavile could see the compression in her emotions and just cut straight to the chase.

'What's happened?'

Suddenly snapping back to reality, the gothitelle had a sadder expression, as she looked over at the door behind her, that had been left ajar. Angel recognised the door was for Gerald's office, the hypno he had spoken to earlier.

'It's Gerald, Angel.' Kerry whispered, shaking her head.

During the gothitelle's statement, Beryl had approached the conversation, just behind Angel.

'Can I… take a look?' asked Angel, seeming both serious and angry, rather than sad.

Kerry stared at the weavile with a complicated expression, hiding sorrow, her joy of reunion, but also her desire to deny, knowing that Angel and Gerald hated each other. The tall gothic pokémon then took a disgruntled sigh and looked away.

'Just don't touch him.'

'Kay.'

Angel approached the door, while Beryl stayed in place, watching him and giving one look at the sorrowful gothitelle. The weavile slowly opened the door cautiously, expecting a feral attack. But the more the door opened, the quicker he noticed the slow swaying body, hung high up in the office. He could not see the face, but Angel stared up at Gerald's body seemingly disheartened and miserable. 'It was better that way', he thought.

The weavile and his friend did not stay there for long. He only wanted to inform the staff that there will be no budew to take care anymore. Just hearing Angel updating the orphanage had hurt Beryl, who just could not understand how the brave weavile could possibly stomach everything he has been through that day. From surviving a ferry attack, saving Karli from a violent family, letting little Belle die under his own decision, and witnessing yet another death of a relative of his. It made Beryl worry for Angel, but also somewhat angry at him. At that time though, they were both too tired for anymore hell.

When Angel escorted the broken braixen to Yuki's chalet, they were not greeted or answered when he knocked on the door. The door was unlocked, so the weavile entered calmly, expecting trouble, due to the odd silence. Though it seemed obvious why it was so quiet when he entered. The little glaceon and kirlia were faced down on the table, almost snuggled up together and fast asleep.

Angel looked back to Beryl and whispered 'hey, d'you have your wand?'

'Yes, why?' replied Beryl, also whispering.

'Looks like we're not the only ones who need to hit the hay.' whispered Angel, pointing at the sleeping Glim and Karli.

As cute as they looked, the braixen was too depressed for any enchantment. The most comfortable way to get the glaceon and kirlia to bed was to levitate them to it, as opposed to physically picking them up. Angel silently crept past the table, while Beryl drew his wand from his tail, but immediately, something was wrong. The braixen just stood, sadly pointing his wand at the sleeping pokémon.

'Angel.' whispered Beryl, getting the weavile to look back to him. 'I-I can't do it… I'm…' he stuttered, lowering the wand and shaking his head.

Angel figured that braixen just had no energy at all, to even lift his little friends. The weavile nodded and gestured for Beryl to pick up Karli, who was closest to him, while Angel approached and carefully picked up Glim like a child. The little glaceon did not wake up during his ride back to bed, allowing the braixen and weavile to also call it a night.

The town of Camellias met its daylight very late in the morning, not that it was beautiful, with the clouds blocking so much of Crio's sky. It was nine in the morning when Angel woke up, realising he had been thrashing in his sleep and practically threw himself out of bed. He had his sleep and energy, and needed to walk. His mood was still frosty from yesterday, and whatever he had dreamt appeared to contribute to his attitude. The weavile left the house, letting his allies rest and not even telling any of Yuki's woken colleagues where he was going.

Half an hour later, Glim's pretty eyes slowly revealed themselves, a little dark eyed from the disordered sleep cycle. He did not remember getting back into bed, but curiosity was taken over by shock, as he realised his hay bed was being shared. When his sight had cleared, he recognised the unmistakable blue hair and pale white body to be Karli, who did not even have her usual white dress on, or her blue leggings. The glaceon stuck his head up, looking out of the bed, seeing two other single hay beds that seemed unused.

'What the hell!' whispered Glim.

In the corner opposite, Beryl was still sleeping and Glim had assumed that Angel had already left. Giving himself the chance to think, he remembered that Belle was supposed to be coming back with them, who perhaps needed a bed to herself due to her physical state. The glaceon was too drowsy to think any deeper. Glim attempted to lean forward, to carefully pull himself up without nudging the sleeping kirlia next to him too much, but as soon as he began, he saw the slender white arm come over and cuddle him. Karli had turned over and held onto the glaceon and held him tight. Glim could only watch in terror, knowing that his own freezing cold body was certain to wake her up. As predicted, the kirlia started twitching her eyes tightly and holding tighter, as if her body thought it would get warmer embracing a glaceon. Suddenly her eyes opened, similar to how Glim had woken up. Karli, half asleep just stared into those big, pretty and concerned eyes of the little glaceon.

'I-I can explain.' said Glim.

'You're freezing.' mumbled Karli, letting go of the glaceon and turned around, wrapping herself in the blanket she had all to herself. For a moment, Glim just laid in place, hoping that the kirlia would fall back asleep. Suddenly, Karli glanced back at the boy, just as surprised as he was. 'Wait, are you using my bed?'

'No-no-no! I just woke up here!' replied Glim, flustered and struggling to climb out of the hay bed.

'Who took off my dress, were we drunk?'

While Glim crawled out of the bed, landing on his tiny paws, the commotion was causing the braixen nearby to shuffle and wake up.

'Beryl?' said Glim, watching the feminine fox boy sit up, rubbing his eyes. 'Did you put us in bed together?'

'Sorry?' answered Beryl, snapping out of his drowsiness and Glim repeated his question. 'Well… Angel and I were so tired when we got here this morning, and you two looked so cute all snuggled up.'

Karli chuckled. 'Were we holding onto each other or something?'

'Wait, is Belle in that one?' asked Glim, softening his voice, pointing at the hay bed nearest to the door.

Due to the shapes of the beds, being rather bowl-shaped, it was difficult to know if little pokémon were using them. The glaceon looked back at Beryl, whose face sunk cold, with his large flamboyant ears dropping.

'Oh… you didn't know?' asked Beryl.

Immediately, Glim and Karli read the bad news, as if it was written on the braixen's face.

'What happened, Beryl?' asked Karli, sorrowful, expecting the worst.

'I…' Beryl stuttered, looking at the empty hay bed near the window. 'I don't want to tell you without Angel.'

The glaceon, heard that statement with a stroke of fear sliding up his back, as he looked back at Karli, who shared his worried expression.

Ten minutes later, the three left their room, unaware how late in the morning they woke. They were met by a whimsicott who was floating between them and the table behind him.

'Oh!' called Whitney, drifting back onto the table. 'Good morning! I was just asked to wake you up!' he cheered.

On the opposite end of the table, Yuki leaned to her right to look past the whimsicott. Whitney looked back at the froslass behind him, assuming she would give a 'good morning' to the friends. Yuki however, saw the dread on Beryl's face. Even though she had never met the braixen before, she could tell the distress was not for being new to the chalet. Glim and Karli had similar troubling looks.

'Good- good morning.' said Yuki, as politely as she could. 'Is something the matter, you seem-'

'Yeah, you seen Angel, Yuki?' asked Karli.

'Oh… sorry, he left a while ago.' she replied, looking at the door. 'He seemed very stressed, in my honest opinion.'

The kirlia shook her head depressingly. 'It's alright. Wait, did he tell you what happened to Belle?'

'Belle? That was… a budew you two were bringing here, was she not?' asked Yuki, looking puzzled at Beryl.

The braixen stepped back and raised his hands, meaning to slow down. 'Okay- well… we'll wait for Angel to come back okay?'

'Why can't you just tell us what happened Beryl?' asked Karli.

'I just can't!' argued Beryl, glancing at the kirlia next to him, with eyes appearing to be fighting sadness and rage. 'Not- not without Angel.' he muttered weakly, shaking his head.

By that time, Glim and Karli had already assumed that Belle was dead.

Angel came back, only five minutes later, when Beryl, Glim, Karli and Whitney were all sat down. He seemed serious again, only calmer. When the weavile came back, he paused, reading the curiosity in Glim and Karli's faces. They were all silent, staring with a question in their eyes. Angel hesitated, waiting for someone to speak. He wanted to be sure that his anticipation was not failing him, but when he looked at Beryl, the question in the air was obvious. The braixen boy may have been facing Angel, but his eyes were looking to the floor.

'Angel?' said Karli, getting his attention. 'Where's Belle?'

'Dead.' replied Angel, coldly. Karli nodded sadly and Glim's ears dropped, looking over at Karli, sat next to him. 'She survived the op, but it was already too late to save what was left of her.'

During his revelation, Beryl's head fell to his paws and his breathing got deeper and more frequent. The kirlia next to him could sense the distress and comforted Beryl, stroking him on the back.

'We are so sorry.' said Yuki, looking at both Beryl and Angel.

Angel moved to the table and slammed down a map and opened it.

'Yeah well, I've had it.'

'Angel?' puzzled Karli.

'I got this map today, a tourist map of Crio.' said Angel, unfolding a large, sized map. The map was big enough to show the whole region and isles of Crio, but due to its size, it was in minor detail. 'It shows here to Haine, which is where I'm going.'

'Wh- now?'

'Yes, I've seen enough-'

'Angel, slow down a minute!' interrupted Glim. 'Are you leaving us? Because we're going to Haine too.'

'Then are you ready?'

'After what happened yesterday, no. We need-'

'And I'm done waiting, Glim, Karli. People are dying, the Republic are not stopping and the longer we waste time, the more that will die! I'm going to join the revolution in Haine and that's that.'

Angel folded up the map. Karli and Glim watched, having nothing to say. The glaceon seemed worried for Angel, who was clearly being driven by anger. Karli meanwhile felt disappointed, though she respected the weavile, she felt that he was abandoning them.

'Angel,' said Yuki. 'Can I just make one plea?'

'What?'

'Haine might need you, but who will be here for these three?' she asked, looking at Beryl, little Karli and Glim.

The kirlia raised her hand toward the froslass opposite her, still staring at Angel. 'No, no. We can handle ourselves, thanks.'

Glim glanced at Karli, a little shocked and stayed quiet. Angel gestured at Karli, saying 'there you go' to Yuki.

'You want my opinion?' asked Angel.

'No.' Karli quickly replied.

'You're better off staying here, all of you. Getting yourselves involved, rescuing or fighting, is just going to get you killed. I've already bailed all three of you out from that!' he said, pointing at Beryl, Karli and Glim. 'For it, I had to foster a child, got my arm and ribs wrecked, my ass almost eaten by glalie and as if that shit wasn't bad enough, I had to rip out that cord to let Belle die!' Angel paused and then shook his head. 'I'm done… it was nice know'n you, but you're best stay'n here.'

On that note, the weavile stood straight, trying to put his map into his backpack.

'What makes you think they will?' asked Mercury, standing arms-crossed, between Angel and the door.

The weavile turned to face the lucario, resorting to slip his map into his coat pocket, the same coat he previously wore to keep Belle warmer. He then proceeded to pass to the door.

'I don't. Just saying they're best staying here.'

Angel left the chalet, without causing a scene or starting any drama, but his abandonment had left Glim and his friends a little disheartened. Karli however had a determined expression, like she was capable of standing for her friends, even though she knew she was easily overpowered by one glalie. Mercury seemingly ignored Angel's leave and approached Yuki, who resumed drinking her iced tea.

'Is he… worth persuading?' whispered Mercury to Yuki.

The froslass gave one look at the lucario, before looking at the three opposite her with a stern look.

'Do you have any idea, on how bad it is at Haine right now? That is if, you even get there.' said Yuki, while the friends just remained quiet. 'Please do not take my words to heart, but you certainly will not last long without him. That weavile was capable of fighting off my family, who were infamous, violent and had you outnumbered.'

Glim nodded, Karli was not going to deny and Beryl was only looking at his friends, as he was not present during that event. Yuki leaned over to Mercury, who also leaned closer.

'You know what to do?' asked Yuki.

Mercury stood straight and nodded. 'Don't worry, I'll talk to him.' he said, turning to leave.

'Wait, where's he going?' asked Glim.

'To talk to Angel.' replied Yuki. 'Neither you three or your friend is in any condition for such a place like Haine just yet. Angel is just impatient, bereaved and frustrated right now. So leave him to Mercury, he knows how to talk to men in that mood. As for you three.' she paused, looking to Whitney who stayed quiet, but then suddenly puffed up and began floating in joy.

'Yeah, yeah!' cheered Whitney. 'Spa party, spa party, let's go!'

Watching the whimsicott float around so joyously caught the three friends off guard. Glim and Beryl jumped in confusion.

'Oh yeah, I forgot about that.' said Karli, smiling awkwardly.

'Miley!' called Yuki. From the bedroom opposite the room in which Glim and his friends stayed in, a scarred female scyther peeked out. She was the same scyther who spoke to the glaceon and weavile the day before, after they rescued Yuki. 'When are you leaving for the spa today?'

'Just about to, luv.' she replied, smirking.

'Great, can you take these three with you? They-'

'Yep, totally!' she said, moving back into her room for something and called out 'Mercury already told me.'

'Okay then. Are you going to be okay with this?' asked Yuki, looking back at the three friends. 'You do deserve to relax.'

The glaceon nodded, he was still badly hurt from the family attack the day before. Karli's body was still suffering from the aftermath of having been frozen solid and Beryl was an emotional wreck. The conditions were also what Karli became concerned by, though she pretended that she herself had no problems and instead thought of her friends.

'I'm fine, but…' paused Karli, looking at the saddened braixen. 'Yeah, we could… do with just a day. Right Beryl?'

Still looking down, the braixen only nodded.

Southeast from Camellias, travelling along the isle coast, the outskirts of the large town, Angel was doing his best to find the path that avoids having to climb Mount Dwy. It seemed a little hopeless, since the incredible mountain of Crio was also oddly shaped. Its south side appeared to form a wall of alps that sloped all the way down the V channel. Hoping there was perhaps some pokémon-made way around the alps, the weavile proceeded all the way to very edge of the icy coast, only to find a sheer cliff and that the mountain keeps going, like a giant tree root. Despite his hope, Angel frustratingly found no bridge or tunnel. There was only a desolate, ice covered monument, dedicated to the tallest mountain in Crio. Angel was neither sight-seeing nor a historian, his plan was to get as southeast of the island as he could.

Angel's plan was to simply swim across the V channel, being a weavile, a cold pokémon so resistant to harsh freezing temperatures. Only ice type pokémon or those with thick fat could possibly swim across the infamously cold channel, not to mention the channel space from the main land was as wide as Hydrangea City.

Angel looked north, to see a way over the alps before him, as they appeared difficult to climb. He could see a less steep hill that would take explorers over the towering cliffs, but to get onto that, he had to walk back a quarter of a mile first. Undeterred from his setback, Angel turned to find the right path, but then he noticed someone. On the higher side of the slope ahead of the weavile, a lucario was waiting.

'What're you doing here?' said Angel, resuming his trail.

'Angel… I wanted to talk to you alone, so friends wouldn't get involved.'

The weavile stops, metres away from Mercury. 'With what?'

The lucario paused before saying 'You can't go to Haine, Angel. Not like this. Just look at yourself-'

'I'm fine. I can get to Haine on my own.'

'I'm sure you can, but that's not what I am trying to talk you out of.'

'What then?'

'Well, how long do you think you'll last in Haine, in your condition?'

'I said I'm fine!'

'No you're not. You're only pissed off and reckless anger will only take you so far.'

'Better that, than to let the fucking Republic take another life, like it don't matter!' shouted Angel, causing the two men to pause. 'Listen, mate, I'm not waiting anymore. After what happened yesterday, I ain't taking anymore shit.'

'I understand Angel. You want to help, you want to fight the corruption, as do many of your friends. But they need you Angel. In the short time I have known you, your aura has shown me tremendous feats of survival, same for Glim, Karli and Beryl. Except none of them can fight as well as you can. What will happen when they inevitably set off and you're not there to save them from a feral tyranitar?'

'It'll suck, yeah. But I've taken my responsibility, telling them to stay. I'm no baby sitter no more. I'm going to Haine and you're not stopping me.'

Angel proceeded to pass the lucario who remained standing tense, yet calm. When the weavile passed without any eye contact, Mercury silently sighed.

'Sorry Angel.' he whispered.

Catching a glimpse of Mercury's whisper, Angel quickly looked back, only to see the lucario suddenly bolting towards him at a blinding speed. His spiky fist glowed silver, as he ploughed it into the weavile's back.

Uncomfortably tense, Glim's ears were twitching violently as his paws and eyes were tightly closed. He then let out a girly squirm, as his ears, head and paws appear to sink down like gel. Laying his head on the thin pillow, Glim's pretty eyes opened a little, overcome by pleasure.

'You enjoying yourself, Glim?' chuckled Karli, on the neighbouring bed.

The little glaceon remained as flat as a stunfisk, as the sneasel nurse continued to massage little Glim's back. The nurse seemed to struggle to hold her urge to giggle, amused by Glim's very wary satisfaction, unable to keep still and continuously flinching. It was clearly his first time at a relaxation spa and after his traumatic experiences, it was going to be extremely awkward for the glaceon.

Glim had no energy or ability to reply to Karli using words and instead gave out a mumbling groan. Relaxing so deeply, the glaceon blushed a pale pink and nuzzled his pillow.

'Aww, he's so sweet, isn't he?' said Karli to the female meowstic nurse massaging her, who rather like her sneasel colleague was smiling. Looking in the opposite direction, Karli could see Beryl on the neighbouring bed, who seemed completely still and calm. 'Beryl, you okay sweetheart?'

'Yes, thank you.' Beryl whispered.

The braixen still had a sad expression, so Karli thought best to let him be and looked over to Glim, who had revealed his beautiful eyes.

'You want to talk about something Glim?' asked Karli. The glaceon stuttered, trying to think of a reply, which seemed very difficult in his position. 'Tell me about that boyfriend you had… "Shadow" was it? You had-'

'Oh… okay.'

'You said you had a nightmare this morning about him.'

'Yeah… well, I say he was my boyfriend, we were only together for like, less than a day.'

'Really? I've heard mad young love stories but… h-how did you two get together?'

'Remember when I had to get into Lopunny Cove?'

'Oh yeah.'

'It was there where he found my "scent", which I was told that houndoom find extremely erotic.'

Both nurses massaging Karli and Glim simultaneously nodded and agreed to what the glaceon said.

'Oh wow… did he know he was homosexual?'

'Um… probably not, since I was dressed as a maid at the time.'

Immediately, the sneasel, meowstic and Miley who was also neighbouring Glim, all burst out laughing.

'Oh my god,' cried Karli. 'That was the dress you bought from us wasn't it?'

'It was, yeah.'

'That poor houndoom,' laughed Miley.

'Oh "poor houndoom", that dress came back to haunt me. Fuck.'

'Really?' asked Karli. 'What happened?'

Remembering the terrifying Symphonia court proceeding, where Glim was forced to wear the dress, in front of so many, made the glaceon cringe and twitch.

'D-don't ask... it was horrible.'

'But what happened between you and Shadow, how'd you two get together?'

'Well, at first he wouldn't leave me alone.' replied Glim, the nurses and Karli then responded with unimpressed remarks, as if it was typical. 'But just outside the club, I got attacked and he saved me. He then walked me back to where I was staying…'

'Aw, that is the cute boy thing to do.'

'And I felt really bad for him, because even then I knew he loved me, and having saved me from a bunch of twats, I would've hated myself if I only thanked him. So… I kissed him.'

The kirlia in sight of the glaceon only smiled, as if watching a romantic film.

'If an affectionate houndoom saved me and walked me home, I'd probably would have done the same thing.' said the sneasel.

'Yeah… but I also felt bad because I went with it, I gave him a different name and pretended to be a girl. I don't know how he found out, but Shadow was then attacked by his "father" I think. That's when we got together… me and my friend saved him, but it didn't last long from there.'

'No?' replied Karli.

'Only hours later, we were kidnapped by Symphonia, who prisoned my friends. And I couldn't save them, because the island got raided, which is when I got taken away by Republic cronies.'

Karli nodded sadly and even Beryl gave the glaceon a saddened look. Even though he was offloading some of his worst experiences so far, Glim was not having to resist tears, which felt unusual for him. He had been crying a lot those past weeks. Instead he just sighed.

Angel crashed against rocks of ice, his momentum caused him to bounce up and over them, leaving him to fall onto the snow behind. Taking the pain like it was nothing, the tough weavile easily rolled back and stood.

From the other side, Mercury sprang into the air, flying passed Angel and attempting to block his path. Before the lucario even got close to landing, the weavile swung his arm out, hurling shards of ice at him. The careful lucario was quick enough to batter the chunks of ice with his paw spikes, but the impacts still knocked Mercury further back. Worse still, Mercury became distracted hitting the Ice Shard attack away, he could only land roughly on his back. The soft snow cushioned some of the crash, while Mercury bounced slightly, but before he could get back to his feet, Angel bolted into the lucario, hitting him upward. A little dazed, Mercury managed to land on his feet, stomping and grinding on the snow, leaving some distance between him and Angel.

The weavile suddenly ran at a blinding speed circling around Mercury, who was ready to use Bullet Punch again. The lucario was surprised to see that attack, which was Aerial Ace, but knew it was almost impossible to evade. Point was proven when Mercury was struck on his back, unable to watch the black and magenta blur close enough. He was thrown forward, causing him to roll out of his impact.

On his knee, the lucario could not immediately see Angel, but then noticed he was in the air diving down to him with his right claw seemingly grown to a massive length and was fiercely glowing black. Thinking fast, Mercury laid on his back until Angel fell close enough and then used his left leg to block Angel's attack, while his right leg was used to strike the falling weavile, creating what sounded like a Boomburst, kicking him back into the air. It was difficult to hear, but Angel was grunting in severe pain, while he spun, holding his torso. Eventually, the weavile crashed near the ice covered monument he left earlier, bouncing from the hard surface, which did not comfort his pain. Angel twitched, growling angrily, stopping very close to the monument. As he struggled to stand back up, Mercury leaped into the same area.

'Are you alright?' called Mercury, genuinely concerned.

Reluctant to answer, Angel stood with an arm around his stomach and had a slight limp to his left leg. He gave the lucario a bloodthirsty glare, as his body glowed a bright light blue, seemingly covering himself in more ice. In a second, he fisted the back of the monument, breaking it from its mount and then used both feet to launch the pillar of icy rock into Mercury. Luckily, the lucario had the instant nerves to react with Bullet Punch, coating his fists with steel and majorly disrupting the force of the enormously heavy rock that could have knocked Mercury out cold. Instead the giant slab broke into multiple pieces, two large halves and several more rocks.

The collision pushed Mercury back slightly, leaving him a little tense, expecting to see the same weavile before him. To his surprise, Mercury spotted Angel, hastily climbing the sheer cliff, using the tips of his sharp claws like spider legs. The lucario, eager to stop him, leaped directly into the cliff below the weavile, sinking his fist into the rock as hard as he could. Upon impact, Mercury's attack, caused the entire cliff to crack dynamically, as if he used Earthquake.

Far above, the weavile had stopped climbing so swiftly, struggling to hold on, from what Mercury could see. But then, a humongous part of the cliff appeared to be tipping out, with Angel on the very top of it.

'Whoops.' said Mercury.

The lucario tried to pull his fist and arm from the rock, which began to make multiple cracking noises, while Angel managed to desperately climb onto the slowly falling rock. As soon as Mercury pulled his arm from the cliff, the millions of cracks, quickly fell into an avalanche, as he quickly fled. The weavile tried to jump, only causing the rock he stood on to fall faster, while he fell on top of the avalanche. The giant stone, smashed into the ground, right next to Mercury, who dive-rolled to his left, getting very close to the very high shoreline.

Using his situation to his advantage, Angel saw a rock falling with him, only slightly above and tried to kick it into Mercury. Fortunately for the unaware lucario, the boulder just missed his head, whiffing past his face. At the same time, the weavile regretted the attempt, by belting the rock, he had severely damaged his foot, making him loudly yell in pain.

'Shit!' shouted Mercury, after witnessing the rock almost decapitating him.

The small avalanche carried the cliff and snow to fill the canyon, while Angel managed to burst out of it and swim away from Mercury. He barely saw the weavile, but Mercury knew what he was trying to do, and ran in the same direction as the landslide, thus avoiding it and also climbing to higher ground. When he ran up the slope enough to evade the stream of snow and rocks, Mercury leaped as high as he could, landing him onto the higher slope, which Angel was reaching for.

Knowing how determined the weavile was, Mercury waited, knowing he would at any moment climb onto the path he stood on. The lucario took a moment to breathe, knowing he had not fought much, but he knew he had a major typing advantage over Angel, who was in the categories of dark and ice, which were easily detectable, broken and resisted to a steel and fighting type like Mercury. Had he not have the advantage, Mercury realises that Angel could have been far more dangerous.

In less than a minute, a black glowing claw reaches over the edge. Mercury was tempted to run over and help him, but was concerned that Angel would take that as an arrest movement. The weavile pulled himself up, seemingly exhausted and furious. His eyes, locked with those of Mercury's, who kept his seriousness, but was secretly nervous. Mercury waited, giving Angel the chance to step onto the path. His coat was ripped all over, his head was covered in dirt and scratches and when he finally stood, it was easy to see that Angel had hurt his leg and foot.

'It's over Angel! You're hurt. Just come home and nobody has to get hurt any further.'

Without answering again, the enraged weavile ran limping to Mercury, attempting to use Night Slash. But due to his injuries, the lucario found it easy to block the attack and instead of retaliating, he held Angel's arms up, using his own, forming a wrestling grapple.

'Angel stop!' he shouted. 'You're not only one to have lost friends! What about Glim, or Karli! Or anybody from that ferry you were on! We've all lost people we care for, but that is no reason to act on blind rage!'

'I want to end it, now! Even if they're not staying behind, the kids will survive!'

'They won't, without you!' the two promptly paused for a moment, glaring into each other's furious eyes. 'Angel, listen! Your friends know how much your budew friend meant-'

'Belle!' screamed Angel.

'Yes Belle! But no one is going to help you if you turn into a monster! You wouldn't last a day, in Haine! The revolutionaries would most likely fight you too, due to lack of control and trust! They aren't maniacs, weavile! The Crimson are fighting for Crio and to avenge their lost ones, like you! But look at yourself! I am trying to spare you and you trying to kill me!' the last statement caused a sudden weakening in Angel's arms, loosening his grip slightly. 'The Crimson would either tell you to piss off or kill you. What good would avenging Belle be then! What would she think if she saw you like this!'

Angel slowed down, looking around, as if Belle was nearby and realised that he was the one trying to force Mercury back. Still in his raged condition, the weavile let go of Mercury's shoulders, prompting him to also let go. Angel slowly stepped back, finally calmed down, despite his expression. The lucario was still angered, but both surprised and relieved. In fact, he felt a little admirable, that Angel had that speck of sanity to keep his anger from taking over, but also for the sheer passion and determination he had to avenging his loved one. The two were quiet for a moment, but Mercury knew he had to say the best thing he could think of.

'You're a great ally to have, Angel. But it's not me you should be fighting with. It's your friends who need you, the same ones who knew Belle, who are probably the best to talk to. Was she friends with them?' asked Mercury, and Angel coyly nodded, evading eye contact. 'Then wouldn't she want you to stay with them? You wouldn't want to see them die too, right?'

The weavile paused, letting his anger drain, leaving him miserable. 'No.' he muttered quietly. 'Alright,' he continued, shamefully raising his head. 'I'll go back. Not sure if they're gonna be happy with me.'

'Of course they will. Karli might have been disappointed, but that's only because you've helped them so much now.'

'Ah… you're right.' Angel sulked, placing his head in his claws. 'Damn it, the fuck am I doing?'

'Angel, don't worry. It's why Yuki sent me to chase you. You were eager for a fight and it was best we got it out of your system. Now come on, look at the mess we made.'

Back at the spa, the friends were bathing in their chosen treatment. Beryl and Karli went for the same heated aromatherapy bathe. Whitney went for a dark bath, shielding his bathtub in a thick blanket to prevent the light from irritating his huge cotton hair. Yuki had arrived by that time and joined the friends in baths, placing her just next to Glim, since they were both having the icy bath.

Glim looked over to his friends further down the room, seeing that Beryl was talking again. He could not hear what they were talking about, but seeing Karli laugh meant they were getting through it. But he remembered Angel storming out and Mercury going after him. The glaceon looked over to the froslass, who appeared rejuvenated and in deep content with closed eyes.

'Yuki?'

The beautiful froslass slowly looked to her left. 'Yes sweetheart?'

'Um… you didn't tell Mercury to hurt Angel did you?'

'I am afraid that might happen, Glim. When desperate, angry men are fuelled by rage, the worst possible things can happen. You may talk them out of their suicide mission, but when words do not work, you sometimes have to let them vent.'

'Okay.' replied Glim, looking up at the aromatic decorated ceiling. 'My father liked venting out on me.' Yuki did not respond, instead she gave the glaceon a sad look, knowing what it was like. 'I wonder where they are, right now.'