So, was the short break between chapters fun? I mean, really, I had no intentions of updating this again so soon. I was going to update Free, but I still wanted to right a little bit for this one, seeing as I already do the Don't Break The Chain method. Which, if you don't know what that is, it's pretty much where you make sure to do whatever creative thing you do every day, and only take days off when you absolutely have to. I heard about it from Danny Sexbang of the Game Grumps/Ninja Sex Party/Starbomb (I believe in one of their Pokemon Red episodes, actually), but I believe that comedian Jerry Seinfeld actually came up with it. So, yeah, I just sat down and began writing while listening to blink-182's new album California and ended up writing for a couple hours without realizing it, and I kinda made this entire 2k word chapter on accident. But, really, is that so bad? I mean, probably not. This is the beginning of a major, like, 5-10 chapter arc, so yeah, fun. Anyway, into reviews!

Okay, I'm a fucking liar. There aren't really any reviews to respond to, as I don't really have many from last chapter in the first place. Instead, I think that we can get going to one of the pinnacle chapters.

The Mortician's Daughter

"Do you ever like to look up at the sky and think?" I spoke in the darkness. "Just… Think about life, and shit?"

I glanced to the side of my bed, my eyes falling on the sleeping Flareon curled up there. I chuckled to myself, turning back to face the roof of my room.

"Alright, you're asleep." I said. "Fair enough. It's, like, four in the morning. Probably." I paused for a moment, before letting out a sigh, adding, "Arceus, maybe I am going fucking crazy. Fuck, this bullshit happiness is hard to pull off… A lot harder than it was years ago."

I reached over to my phone to turn the volume down, grabbing it off the bedside table as Teenage Satellites by blink-182 went off. I clicked the sound down a little as Left Alone began, raising myself up on my shoulder to place it back. I went to sit the phone down, but my attention was caught by something outside the window. Floating only a few feet from the window, hovering in midair, sat two large blue orbs in the pounding rain, focused on me. Just watching.

"What… What do you want?" I whispered out, almost involuntarily.

I continued gazing at the orbs as they looked back, before they suddenly disappeared through the falling water. N-No! Come back! Without thinking, I kicked my feet off my bed, making sure to avoid the sleeping Eeveelution. I slid my black sneakers on, not even bothering to tie them, and grabbed my jacket off the desk chair in the corner and threw it on. I turned the music off and shoved my phone into my pocket, before tearing out of my room, leaving the door open. I zipped the jacket up as I dashed down the hall to the stairs, throwing my hood on as I darted down the stairs and outside, shutting the door behind me. I quickly scanned the trees for the blue balls as the rain poured down around me, quickly spotting them at the usual location.

"Come back!" I shouted, just a clap of thunder sounded overhead.

Without hesitation, the orbs - no, the eyes - disappeared into the woods, as the creature turned to flee. I let out a low growl, before taking off after it, slipping in the mud with every step. Arceus damned Spring storms! As I entered the trees, a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, allowing me to spot a creature feline-like floating in the sky, not too far away. It glanced back at me, shooting a view of its brilliant blue eyes back, before flying through the trees.

"No!" I called out, starting after it. "Come back! Please!"

I tore through the woods after the creature, my eyes locked on the sky, taking every small bit of light I got to find the thing. I managed to keep it in my sights for a while, barely dodging trees as I followed, before losing sight of it as we entered a heavily wooded area.

"Shit!" I exclaimed, stomping a foot down in the mud.

I felt my anger rise, warming me under my soaked clothes far better than the humid heat in the air did.

"Fuck!" I shouted, slamming my fist into a nearby tree. I looked around in the darkness, fighting a rising sting in my eyes, as I yelled, "What in the hell do you even want from me, damn it? What do you want?"

As I expected, I got no answer, save for the pounding rain. I gazed around frantically, my mind going into a panic, before finally landing on the eyes once more, floating rather far away, through the trees. Without hesitation out of fear of losing them again, I tore off towards the orbs, almost falling in the mud and water. Don't leave again… Please… As I neared the eyes, I saw then blink out, before the faint shape that had begun forming shot upwards, through the canopy of leaves.

"No!" I yelled. "No! No! No! Come back!"

I urgently began spinning in circles, searching for where the creature would come back down, but I froze as my eyes fell on something very different. What in the hell? My eyes locked on the large shape in the distance, outlined in the darkness by a strike of lightning. I started for the form, moving slowly at first, fighting to keep my curiosity at bay. After a few moments, I got close enough to recognize the form as that of a large building, possibly a factory. What the fuck? My speed quickened slightly, allowing me to reach the wall relatively quickly. Hugging the wall, I moved to the right, heading for the corner not too far away. Upon turning the corner, I realized that I actually stood just on the outside of town, in the more run down district of town. I quickly spotted a large loading bay door in the wall, with a smaller door next to it, one intended for people. I instinctively moved for the doors, almost tripping as my foot caught on something in the mud. Intrigued, I wiped the mud away from the item with my foot, revealing it to be a sign. I waited a few moments, before a flash of lightning erupted, allowing me to read the letters. Caduceus Incorporated? Mom and dad used to work with these guys. Didn't this factory go out of business when I was a kid? I looked up the door nearby, doing my best to ignore the water soaking my fur. Why… Why did that creature want to lead me here? I cautiously stepped forward, moving to the door. Almost as soon as I gripped the doorknob, I felt the urge to put my guard. I complied with the impulse, charging a Dark Pulse in my right hand as I twisted the knob slightly. The hinges creaked as I opened the door, opening up into a dark hallway. I slipped into the factory silently, my wet shoes thankfully not squeaking on the floor. Not wanting to shut myself in total darkness, I slid my hand against the wall, looking for a light switch. Fuck, I'll be lucky if it works, anyway. After a few moments, my hand caught on a switch, and I flicked it on. After a few moments, a buzzing light bulb lit up above me, and a line of them down the hallway quickly followed.

"This is… oddly well maintained." I commented, before sliding the door closed.

I heard the rain beating on the roof as I looked around the hall, the walls lined with doors.

"Interesting setup." I spoke. "Machines and shit in the side rooms, I guess."

I started down the hall, holding my Dark Pulse up, ready to defend myself. As I moved, I peaked into all of the rooms I passed, finding nothing but empty floors and barely working fluorescent lights. As I reached the halfway point of rooms, I heard a slight shuffle and a groan from a few rooms down, drawing my attention. My attack held at the ready, I moved to the doorway, peering in to find nothing immediately visible in the darkness. I hesitated a moment, before reaching in and flipping the lights on, flooding the room with dim light. I scanned the room once more, and almost turned back, before my eyes caught on something directly across from me. There, under a busted window, sat a small form, a chain attached to its right ankle and the wall, coiled next to it. I moved into the room slowly, my eyes studying the shape. As I watched, the form shifted, and I felt myself freeze. I… My mind began racing as I looked at the creature in an entirely new light, taking in every single piece of the sight. She was thin as all hell, with her ribs showing, almost jutting out. Her clothes were torn and barely even present on her torso, and she was covered in stains, primarily red ones. But I knew what I was looking at. As her fur shifted slightly with each breath, the few parts that still kept their light blue color ruffled slightly in the wind, as rain dropped onto her from the windows. Before I even knew what I was doing, I dropped my attack and started sprinting across the concrete, sliding to my knees before the girl.

"H-Holy shit…" I muttered, as I reached out to her.

The girl moved away from my touch, but only slightly, allowing me to rest my hand on her matted and tangled fur, feeling how the rain water had soaked her. I quickly slipped off my jacket and slid it over the girl, pulling her almost still body to me. Holding her close to me with my left hand, I reached into my pocket and pulled up my somehow still dry phone, quickly selecting a number to call. I pressed phone to my ear as it rang, using my other hand to zip the jacket up around the girl. I fought back the tears as the the phone went to voicemail, quickly hitting the call button again. Come on… Pick up. I pulled the girl closer to me, my eyes falling on the somewhat rusted chain attached to her ankle, as the voicemail answered once more. Instead of pressing call again, I sat the phone on the ground, reaching over with my free hand to tug on the chain slightly. Seems weak… Maybe…

"I'm sorry." I whispered quietly. "I'll try to be careful."

I coated my hand in an Iron Claw and slashed the center of the chain, easily severing it in half. Nice! My mind racing, I quickly grabbed the phone again and hit the call button, holding the phone to my ear.

It took a few moments, but I eventually heard a tired voice answer, "Whoever the fuck you are, call back at a reasonable fucking time, for fuck's sake."

Fearing that she's hang up, I quickly said, "No, wait! April, don't go."

There was silence for a moment, before my sister's tired voice replied, "I-Izaak? Why are you calling me so late?"

"That doesn't matter right now." I answered. "Now, April, please listen to me, alright? I need you to do something for me. I need you to get your car and come to the old Caduceus plant near the outskirts of town, got it? Can you do that for me?"

There was nothing for another moment, but she eventually said, "Wh-Why? Izaak, what's wrong?"

Ignoring her questions, I asked, "April, can you do that for me?"

"I… I guess." She told me, her voice now somewhat more awake. "But-"

"Alright, thanks." I cut her off. "I'll explain when you get here. Love you."

Before she had the chance to say anything else, I ended the call, before quickly dialing up another number.

P.O.V Change: Midnight

I let out a quiet sigh over my cup of coffee as I looked out the window, my eyes watching the rain fall in the darkness.

"Arceus, I hate the Spring sometimes." I commented, taking a small sip of the steaming cup. "I love rain, but, fuck, not this much. And I can't sleep for shit when there's thunder."

As I took another small drink, I felt a buzz in the pocket of my sweatpants, and my phone began ringing.

"What in the hell?" I said as I sat my coffee down, reaching for my phone. "Who in the hell would be calling at this hour of the morning?"

I read the caller ID, my confusion only rising as I saw the name. I answered the call, and the sound of rain hitting something immediately greeted me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get anything out, Izaak's voice cut me off on the phone, saying, "Midnight, is anyone else awake right now?"

"Wh-What?" I asked. "Izaak, aren't you upstairs? Just step into the hall."

"Midnight, answer me." He spoke, his voice fast and energetic. "I need to know if anyone else is awake right now."

"N-No." I answered, his voice sparking interest in me. "I'm the only one, and I'm only awake because I can't sleep with thunder."

What's with him? His voice is so… odd. He sounds more alive now than he has in months.

"Alright, good." He told me. "Now, I need you to go and grab some clothes from the left side of my dresser, and start up a bath, okay?"

"What?" I asked, confused. "What are you on about, Izaak? And what's gotten into you?"

I reached for my coffee cup to take a drink, but the next words caused my heart to freeze, and I damn near dropped the mug on the floor.

"Midnight… I… I found her, Midnight… I… I found Azura."

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Stay dangerous, Lunar Knights.