For enduring my irritatingly long wait time, and being awesome people, here is another chapter, and at a good time!

Chapter Twenty-Five: Comedic and Drama-Filled Moments (End of Week 7)

Allie summoned Gargle, banishing herself to water. Of course, after having put on the watersuit.

She smiled at Gabe. "Hey." she said.

"Hey," he responded.

"How are things?"

"Good! Three more outposts until I go to light."

"G-abriel just wants to hang out with Sasha." a certain water creature moaned. "Thumbs down."

Allie laughed at Gabe's discomforted and blushing face, before realizing, "Hey, where's Ray?"

They made do with the temporary prison, but Ray was fuming as he walked towards the man.

"I understand your hate for me, it isn't misplaced. And I know you're looking for the civilization stones-"

"Shut up." Ray growled menacingly.

"Dear boy, if you're mad about Suguru, I'm sorry but I don't know where he is-"

"Shut up!" Ray yelled. "My dad has nothing to do with you! And if you have any brain, you'll stop talking before I ask one of the many creatures who want to kill you right here to do their duty, Choten."

The man pretended to be unaffected, but he semi-visibly flinched. He was in no position of power, he couldn't do anything about it.

A creature shackled the Choten, around his arms and legs, and one around his neck. The man was getting even more nervous. Ray opened a breach in the veil and pushed him through, following shortly.

The masters gasped. "The Choten!" Master Kimora exclaimed.

"In chains, too!" Master Chavez added.

"We should take his gauntlet and put him in the vault." Master Jaha immediately suggested. Ray agreed, pulling off the gauntlet and smashing it beneath his feet.

"Wait, I know I have done wrong." The Choten quickly said. "And I don't blame you for punishing me. But I ask of you one thing, as a former duel master...where is Tierra? And Nigel?"

Ray knew he had hit a sore spot, considering the two hadn't been found yet. The only remnants of them were the deeply damaged laylines.

"We will not humor you." Master Nadia said menacingly. The masters escorted the man to the vault and locked the door. Completely, with so many precautions, it was almost unbelievable. They had stalker spheres monitoring every inch of the room.

"Well done, Raiden." Master Chavez told him. "We are proud of you."

"He is after the gems." Ray said. "Please, make sure you keep them safe."

"Of course." Master Nadia said. "You should return to your friends."

"Good question." Gabe commented. "He's either late, or he's in trouble."

Allie winced. "Knowing Ray..."

"Reef Prince, Glu-urrgle!" Ray materialized beside the two, looking beyond furious. They visibly flinched.

"Uh...hi, Ray..." Allie mumbled.

"A-are you okay?" Gabe stuttered slightly.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ray said, calming down. "And the Choten is locked in the vault." Gabe's eyes widened.

"Okay, spill." Allie spoke for the two of them.

Ray explained everything that had happened, every single detail. At the end of the explanation, it was tense. It was so silent, one could hear a pin drop.

"Well, at least we don't have to worry anymore." Allie commented, breaking the silence.

"Do we continue the search for the gems?" Gabe asked.

"We don't need to." Ray replied. "We have two-"

"Three." Allie interrupted. "Sorry. I found the a Darkness gem and gave it to Master Jaha. She said, and I quote, 'I will protect this gem with my life, Allison. You continue to work on controlling that cloak.'" She mimicked her voice.

Ray snorted and Gabe smirked. Allie sighed. "I'm not that pathetic at controlling it..."

"You aren't, Allie," Ray said. "You're absolutely fine. And good job finding the gem. At least we don't have to keep searching now." He smiled at her gently. He ignored his feelings for her rising in his chest.

Gabe muttered something, about needing to check something. He jumped out of the door for a second. He grinned to himself. Had Ray figured it out? He peeked in, watching.

Allie furrowed her brow. "That was weird." she commented, turning to look at Ray. Seeing his gentle smile, looking into her eyes, she felt her cheeks heat up. Ray's eyes suddenly widened and he turned away, quickly.

"It was weird." he agreed. Putting a hand to her cheek, Allie groaned at how hot it felt.

I do not like Ray and he does not like me, I do not like Ray and he does not like me. she said quickly, in her mind.

"So how are you?"

IdonotlikeRayandhedoesnotlikeme.

"I'm fine, I guess. You?"

"Well, now that the Choten's locked up, I guess I'm much better." he replied. The two sat in a slightly awkward silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but they weren't sure what to say.

Meanwhile, right outside, Gabe was mentally facepalming. "Please, just say you like each other..." he moaned under his breath.

"So, Allie..." Ray started. He stopped.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Uh...it's nothing."

"No, tell me."

"It's nothing."

"Ray! Now I'm curious!" Allie stood up, hands on her hips. "Tell me!"

Ray grinned sheepishly. "Really, it's nothing. I don't even remember what I was going to say."

Allie puffed out her cheeks, crossed her arms and glared at him. "Thanks a lot. Now you made me curious."

Ray chuckled. Allie kept glaring at him, but now it was definitely jokingly. After a few more seconds, they both collapsed into laughter.

Gabe sighed. "It's progress." he muttered. He re-entered the room, certain their little "moment" was over.

The trio talked for a little while longer, until it got slightly late. Then, Ray got up, announcing he should go back to Nature.

"Bye, Ray," Gabe said, waving.

"See you," Allie said, smiling slightly. Ray waved as he banished himself with Tatsurion.

Allie couldn't go with him to Nature, because she'd become a total enemy. He'd just have to see her in Water, and then she'd just stick around Darkness. Gabe glanced at her as she stared at the spot Ray had stood. He sighed.

"Okay, that's it!" Gabe groaned. "How long are you guys going to do this?!"

Allie tilted her head. "Do what?" she asked, confused.

"That! He just...you just...you guys..." Gabe stammered, irritated.

"Gabe...are you okay?" Allie asked, genuinely scared.

"How can you not tell you like each other?!" Gabe yelled. Allie immediately flushed, tomato red. Maybe redder.

"W-we do not like each other!" Allie yelped.

"Yes you do!"

"No we don't!"

"Yes you do!" Gabe shouted. He was really irritated at this point, and Allie was becoming redder by the second.

"Sh-shut up, Gabe." she muttered.

"You do!"

"So what?!" Allie exclaimed. "So what if I like him?! He's brave, strong, insane, kind, and I just...I just..."

Gabe calmed down. "Allie, it's not wrong. But you finally admitted it!"

"Don't tell him, okay?" Allie said, feeling small. "It'll ruin everything. Please?"

Gabe sighed, exasperated. "Fine." he consented. "But for what it's worth, he definitely likes you too."

"They are not searching for them." The sorceress said, slightly sad. "Good. It's alright. I would have liked to meet them, though.

"It's really too bad. But perhaps it's better. Less of a chance of me to kill them or another creature."

Sorry, Gabe is slightly OOC in this chapter. Shows you how irritated and sick of this he was getting. XD

~Phantom-chan