Salutations, hello, and we're back, friends. It's been a little bit since I've updated this, but I'm back to it. I've changed some school scheduling and shit, so I have more time to do some writing, and I'm getting back into it, as well. So, y'know, that's good, I guess. Enjoying it some more, as well. Also been playing more Overwatch. I'm just rambling now, actually. But, y'know, that's pretty much all I use the ANs for. I've just kinda stopped doing as much in ANs, honestly. They're still there, I just don't talk about myself, like, at all, so I don't say much in here. I don't know. Time to hit the reviews, I guess.
TheGallantGallade: Dude, Warped is killer. If you ever have the opportunity to go, it's worth it, even if it's only for a few bands. The atmosphere of the event is phenomenal, even if it's in 90 something degree weather and you feel like dying at the end. And why do I have a feeling that reference is directed at some anime?
Guest: I had actually never heard of Area 11 before you mentioned them, and they're not bad, honestly. I watched the video for Versus, and I love the camera work in it. The sweeping shots look phenomenal. Though, for some reason the vocalist reminds me of Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari. Nice music rec, fam.
The Wolf of Paris: I mean, truthfully, there are many reasons for the eyes, honestly. You (and all the others who said it) are partially correct with the whole DNA thing. And, truth be told, probably peanut butter. Most likely.
Archangel2462: Now the real question: was that line meant to be like that, or was it a typo? Because I legitimately don't know. Like, I've been working on this story for, like, four years, so I have no idea what some shit is. For instance, I can't remember who Sergei is. Was he the guy that freed Izaak? I think? Like, he may come back (not saying anything intentionally), but I legitimately forget names from my stuff just because I don't type them much. Like, I can't remember what Arceus's Champion's name is in TNC. Ally? Allie? Something like that? Anyway, thanks for the kind words.
Zephyr Johnson: Did you ever come back and go through this story? If so, I apologize to you and all others for the abysmal writing in the first chapters. Dear God, what a catastrophe that was.
And we're ready to go. Nice. Short chapter up ahead, but it's not bad.
Three Minutes to Midnight
"You really like sitting up here, don't you?"
A quiet chuckle escaped my lips at the words, but I nodded slightly in return.
"What can I say, it's a good place to think." I replied, as the somewhat weighty footsteps came up behind me. A form dropped next to me, as I motioned toward the forest, adding, "Besides, the view is never bad."
"Can't exactly argue with that, really." The Arcanine said, looking out toward the setting sun over the fresh Spring trees. He hesitated for a moment, before continuing, "You know, the city out there used to give me an almost foreboding feeling. The skyline seemed so dangerous, and the city reminded me of nothing but the pain of dejection and the knowledge that every single person out there wants me dead. But now… I don't know. It feels different. I guess it's April, honestly. She never hated us, obviously, but she only ever seemed to begrudgingly help us, like she was forced to." He sighed quietly, shaking his head lightly, before adding, "I don't know. Maybe I'm just fucking crazy." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, flipping them open as he asked me, "Want one?"
"Not right now." I replied. "Az has been kind of passive aggressively been telling me to quit."
"Really?" He asked, sliding one into his hand and popping it into his mouth. He pulled out his lighter, adding, "Probably for the best. These things'll kill you."
He lit the paper as I quietly laughed out, "I can't believe you just pulled the oldest smoker joke in the fucking universe. What are we, some shitty buddy cop drama?"
"Arceus, I hope not." Rell replied, letting out a chuckle of his own. "We'd suck at detective work so hard. Reviews would start at the bottom."
"The pilot would be the season finale." I added, smiling lightly as we both laughed again. When I was able to talk again, I said, "Why is it that every time you and I hang out we just make shitty jokes."
"Or play my guitar." The elder Morph added. I nodded slightly, as he answered, "Probably because I tend to be smoking when we hang out, and it calms me down."
"Yeah, I guess so." I agreed, before flopping onto my bag, my black jacket billowing out slightly.
We went silent after this, Rell sitting at the edge smoking, while I watched the orange sky grow steadily darker as my feet dangled over the side of the house.
After a few minutes, I cleared my throat nervously, before saying, "Hey, Rell? I'm sorry that we don't hang out much."
He simply shrugged at my words, replying, "Don't worry about it. Life has been hectic for you as of late, with finding Az just last month and all."
"I mean, yeah, recently it's been like that." I told him. "But we didn't really talk much before that. And I never really spoke to Alice much, either."
The canine glanced back to me, saying, "So? You just got along with Markus and Midnight better. I'm not going to hate you for it."
"I guess, yeah." I agreed. "But I should have given more of an effort when I got here. Hell, you saved my life, for fuck's sake."
Rell quietly scoffed at my words, retorting, "Yeah, like I did anything."
I raised an eyebrow slightly, before sitting up to rejoin the Arcanine to ask, "What do you mean? You took me in when I showed up at your doorstep covered in blood and way to nonchalant for being almost dead. If you didn't do that, I'd be a fucking corpse."
"Yeah, but-" He began, but cut himself off. He sighed and took a drag off of his cigarette, before continuing, "Have you ever thought about all that's happened to all of us? How you happened to save Azura and Midnight years ago? Or how I just so happened to find Alice when she needed help? Izaak, in the past year you somehow managed to beat a pissed off territorial Houndoom in combat with pretty much no training in hand to hand and you followed a pair of eyes into the forest that led you to save your fiance." I opened my mouth to speak, but Rell shut it with, "Don't even try to act like nothing is going on here."
I sat in silence for a few moments, running through the events in my mind.
"I-I mean, yeah." I replied hesitantly. "Yeah, I guess someone is looking out for us or something. Maybe a Legend, maybe just some random person with a knack for mystery."
"Yeah. Maybe." Rell agreed, his voice quiet. He took a drag from his cigarette, before adding, "I don't know, man. Things have just always been weird, I guess. I just hope that it'll calm down now."
"I'm with you there." I told him, ignoring the sudden pulling on my mind. "Life has been way too stressful for my likings as of late."
The Arcanine chuckled at my statement, before saying, "Yeah, I can tell." I looked over at the slightly shorter Morph, as he explained, "Your nightmares, and the… repercussions of them."
"Oh, you've heard them?" I asked, my ears burning slightly. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it." He told me. "I've only heard them when I check up on you guys. Besides, I'm honestly more worried about what it's doing to you." My eyes drifted down as he continued on, "You didn't get better after you got Az back, and that's troubling. Extremely troubling. If anything, it's gotten worse. And I know that you fake it all in front of everyone else. I think Midnight noticed, as well. Maybe Sylva. He's good at reading people."
"Yeah, I know he is." I replied, my voice low. "Won't stop me from trying to hide it, though."
I could almost hear the Arcanine roll his eyes, before saying, "Izaak, we care about you. We don't want you to suffer like this, man." He hesitated for a moment, before adding, "We can talk to your sister about getting help for you. Or if you don't want her to know, there's always my father. All of us just want everything to be okay."
I sighed quietly, responding, "Yeah, I… I get that. Thanks. But I can handle it, alright? Everything will be fine."
"You sure?" He asked, the doubt more than obvious in his voice.
I turned to him and nodded slightly, answering, "Yeah. Everything will be alright soon. Trust me."
Rell hesitated, his gaze on me, before nodding back, returning, "Alright. I trust you, then. You're an adult, and I'm sure that you can deal with it."
"Thank you." I told him. "I really don't want to make a big deal out of nothing."
Hey, remember when I kinda made it seem like the story would be happy from now on? Well, let's see how long that lasts. Maybe.
But, yeah, short chapter, but that's going to be how a fair amount of chapters are for a little bit on this story. I just don't want to shove stuff that I don't want/don't need in the story just to artificially lengthen chapters. I've done it before, and I hate it. Anyway, onto a different matter. Have I ever said when this is currently taking place at? Like, month wise? I feel like I said one at one point, other than the part in February. If not, this is in April. Just, like, to let everyone know. Early April. Kinda stupid of me to say now, but I just want to make sure it's out there.
Anyway, it's about time I bail out of here. As always, I'll see you guys soon. Hopefully. Maybe. Who knows. Anyway, see you guys later.
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Stay dangerous, Lunar Knights.
