Note: Here guys... Another chappie here... I think I'm getting slower at updating... Either way, enjoy... I feel so darn sleepy...
Rose's POV:
"We better hurry!" I spat, running as fast as my legs could carry me, "I wanna get back home!"
"Why the rush?" Sandra teased, "Could it be because of... Blade?"
"Say what you will," I rolled my eyes, "I just wanna get home."
The five of us, including Claire's little friend, continued to trudge through the forest. Apparently, her friend seemed to have no recollection of what he had done during the time he was under the dominion of being a shadow.
"So," the Tyranitar scratched his head, "Let me get this straight... We're in another... world right now... And we travelled here via a portal that some unknown entity opened?"
"Yep!" Claire nodded her head as if everything sounded normal.
The Tyranitar seemed to find it hard to believe, but he still nodded his head.
"So... You've got a name?" Sandra flew by his side.
"Um... My name's Virilis... But Claire here... She simply calls me..." Virilis got cut off by Claire, who affectionately hopped over him.
"Riles!" she cheerfully muttered.
I couldn't help but hide a smile as I looked back at them. Riles must be something then, if he's able to get rid of Claire's timidity or seriousness. I merely continued walking as I undeniably thought about finally seeing Blade again. Despite him and I being total opposites, I found that I couldn't stand it without him... Assuming that filthy rat, Ruse, didn't pull any strings that is.
"Oi!" I called out to my companions, "We don't have all day do we? Let's hurry home!"
As we travelled, we continued to share stories with each other. We had never felt ever so lighthearted since then. It was as if we had already saved the world, but I knew better that it was merely my usual subconscious celebrating the fact that the previous trial was simply done. There was still more left to triumph over.
"So... Rose!" Celsus teased, "What are you gonna do once this is all over? Settle down with a certain Gallade?"
"Hey!" I swiped him from atop Sandra's head, nevertheless, everyone else was simply laughing.
I began to think though... What was I really gonna do after all of this was over? I can't go back to being the same, can I? I can see that this world is truly one which has many colors. I guess it ain't so black and white after all! Blade showed me that.
Celsus' suggestion seemed quite inviting. Blade was really such a nice guy and all... I suddenly shrugged my thoughts away, hiding a faint red stain on my face. That was so not gonna happen.
"Still," Sandra whispered, "That choice doesn't seem pretty bad, y'know... He seems to be the kind of guy to understand others and all... I certainly wouldn't pass up on that kind of guy... Once you lose him, you might never get him back..."
"Who's to say I owned him in the first place?" I snapped back.
"Oh," she smirked, "But wasn't it you going around saying that Blade is for me to torment... ME and ONLY ME?"
I simply fell silent. Instead, I shifted my gaze to Claire. After Rile's arrival, she seemed to be much more talkative. She simply floated around him and told him about all our travels. She seemed to be really good friends with him as I could see him randomly crack jokes with her.
"So... Sandra," I continued the conversation, "Do you think Blade made it..? The trial, I mean?"
"I think if he ever got in trouble, it would mostly be because of cupholders," Sandra giggled as she rolled her eyes.
That sent a smile up my face as we both cracked into laughter.
"By the way," I suddenly got an interesting idea, "Regarding those questions you asked me... What are you going to do once this is all over? Start a family with Celsus?"
"H-huh?" she raised an eyebrow, "I... haven't thought that through..."
She carefully stared at the little Masquerain sleeping on top of her head. Gently, she uttered a small sigh.
"I see," I smiled back at her, "Don't worry... I guess he could really suit you, y'know... Underneath his jerky attitude, he does seem to have a heart of gold."
"But," Sandra giggled, "I think his ego is too big for his size!"
We both broke into laughter. Now that was true... Celsus does seem to have some attitude around Sandra. Still, I found him part of the freaks that I'm practically stuck with. However, I seem to have grown quite fond of them.
I slowly looked up to the sky... I wonder how Blade's doing out there... If Ruse did anything to him, I swear, I would never forgive her. I shuddered at the thought of Ruse and Blade up to something. I knew just how masterful and skilled she can be with manipulating others.
Slowly, the sun slowly crept down. It's been some day... A lot has happened... And a lot was still going to happen. My smile dissolved as my thoughts drifted away to XD002... What could that being be? If it was a weapon to be used by Cipher, then what poor soul was used to create such a thing.
I brushed the thought away. It's not like thinking about it would help. I stared back at my friends. They seemed so carefree despite the fact that they all knew that the fate of the world was in our hands. If we weren't strong enough to save the world, then it would all be over...
As we continued to walk, my thoughts still drifted back to XD002. What was so deadly about it? Isn't it from another plane? A plane higher than ours? Could its form be one so divine that it transcends from our world to another? Could that world be better than ours? Would it have the thing I craved for? Equality? Was that even possible? Maybe it was worse than this... Maybe Cresselia wanted me to be contented with this world.
I shrugged them away again. Thinking about it only made my head hurt.
"Hey, Rose?" Sandra nudged my shoulder.
"Huh, what?" I quickly spun around, my thoughts pulled back to reality.
"Rose... The sun has set... And... I think we're all quite bushed... Mind if we set up camp here?" Sandra yawned, stroking an already sleeping Celsus in her arms.
"Oh, right..." I nodded, setting down the sleeping bags.
"Was there something bothering you?" Sandra raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing much... It's just... I dunno... I feel... scared for this XD002," I shyly admitted.
"Ah," Sandra nodded, "Then don't worry... It's only normal... I mean, you've got a lot of pressure on you, gal... But I guess you should think if Blade would back down from this, shouldn't you?"
I smiled, "I see... Thanks... If he won't back down, then I definitely won't!"
"That's the spirit! Besides, if you don't restore this world, won't you lose your one and only chance to settle down with him?" she teased.
"Are you trying to comfort me or disturb me?" I giggled, pretending to hit her.
"Maybe both?" Sandra laughed.
I smiled. This world was all too forgiving. I guess I was being selfish all along. Hpw could I have despised such.
With a yawn, I took to the bed. I closed my eyes in pure relaxation, for the first time. Soon enough, I was in a peaceful slumber. It would soon be disturbed though, by-
"Aww... Is that true? Darkrai?" I heard a feminine voice giggle.
"Err... When you put it that way... Uh... Y-yeah?" Darkrai shyly returned.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself to be hidden behind some bushes. Slowly, I poked my head out to see Darkrai glowing red as Cressie's playfully circled around him. I presumed that Cresselia had finally pulled some strings to get Mr. Serious to spit out the whole truth... Or not.
"C'mon! Just spit it out! How many times to I have to beat those words out of you!" she giggled, putting on a teasingly intimidating glare.
"B-but... I'm serious... You'll see me differently should I tell you..." Darkrai continued, his face now as red as Tamato Berries.
"C'mon! Please please please pretty please! Just for me!" Cresselia childishly pleaded, her huge eyes staring up at Darkrai innocently.
Darkrai seemed to hesitate, but he replied after a short silence, "Err... I don't think Arceus would approve..."
"Aww... C'mon! Arceus seems to be out of the factor for now... Why don't we keep this our little secret?" she continued, almost closing the distance between them.
Darkrai let out a sigh and a smile.
"I see you're as persistent as ever, eh?" he blushed, "That's what I like so much about you..."
"Did you just say like?" Cresselia grinned as wide as possible.
Darkrai stiffly tried to hug her as she merely giggled.
"Wow, took you long enough!" she smiled, "I've always adored you too, Darkrai! I was just annoyed that you didn't have the courage to just spit it out."
Darkrai began to grow redder by the minute.
"Aww... C'mon... Whatever happened to the serious guy I've always found attractive? Don't tell my that you're actually too shy to even acknowledge the fact that I'm in front of you now," she giggled, pouncing up on him.
The dark phantom merely gave a shy smile as he stood up. I had to resist the urge to drop my jaw to the ground, seeing Darkrai this informal and shy.
"Well? Arcy wouldn't know, so I'm all yours now... Darkrai!" she teased, "So just get over it!"
"Oh fine..." he shyly held her wing as he led her off.
"Oh, hold it!" I quickly spat as I approached them from behind the bushes.
The two of them froze at the sight of me.
"What was this about Arceus being out of the factory?" I pressed as I put my arms against my hips.
"Uh... How long we're you here..?" Cresselia blushed heavily.
"Enough to see your whole 'mushy' act," I rolled my eyes.
The two fell silent in an awkward silence. Their face burned brighter than anything I could ever find red.
"Please don't ever tell Arcy!" Cresselia pleaded.
"I won't... How the heck am I ever even gonna meet that mythical freak?" I snorted.
The two stared at each other in silence and back at me.
"Uh... Rose..." Darkrai hung his head low, "I think it's about time you knew about XD002.."
I fell silent. I knew I needed to know who was behind all this.
"XD002," Cresselia solemnly began, "Is none other than-"
The whole dream somewhat broke away in static. I found myself floating in blank space.
"Hey! No fair!" I spat in disbelief.
All of a sudden, a group of green translucent blocks began to form under me as if it served as a floor. Soon enough, I saw a huge string of numbers beginning to unfold in front of me.
"Rose! Ro... Oh... no! Some...ing is inter...ering..." Darkrai's worried voice began to be drowned out.
Soon enough, a glowing red orb descended from the center of the string of numbers.
The numbers froze in place as it faced me. I began to shudder as if ipthat thing could see what I was.
"Good evening," it spoke.
"W-what are you?" I returned, shock at the loudness and coldness in the voice.
"Ah... A pleasure to be introduced, I see..." the sphere continued, "I am the program... XD002, made sentient."
I got into a battle stance.
"Then why are you here?" I snarled, sweating nervously.
"Ah... Do not fear... I am merely a program... In fact, I only get my strength from my current host right now... Someone which you will be meeting very soon, I suppose..." the sphere continued.
"Don't toy with me!" I snarled as I launched a Thunderbolt.
The sphere merely took the hit and caused several numbers to surround me. Soon enough, I felt the blow of my own attack.
"This is an artificial memory bank I have created... Now... Everything in here is of my dominion... I suggest you do not mess with it," it continued coldly.
"What is it then, that you want from me?" I spat, holding my abdominal area in pain.
"Nothing, really..." it continued, "In fact, I have come to bear good news for you, one who is worthy of eradicating me in this world..."
"Huh?" I asked.
"I bring you news of what has happened to your accomplices on the other side... It was quite pleasing to find that out for me..." it cackled maniacally.
"Oh no! Don't tell me you... You destroyed them?" I began to sweat.
"Oh... Allow me to show you then... They weren't destroyed... In fact... A fate even worse happened," the sphere began to glow, dissolving the entire place into an illustration of reality.
"The following memory bank is taken from Gallade (M)... Recording happened during 3:23pm-4:38pm. Starting memory now..." it he voice said as everything began to build up around me in an augmented reality.
I then saw something that I could never believe would happen.
Note: Well... I decided to be generous and add in a Lunareclipseshipping... But I guess that's as far as things will go for them... Oh noes! What was it that Rose saw? Could it be Blade in trouble? Could it be Ruse making a horrible face? Could it be cupholders? Only time can tell. Anyway, drop a review... It helps, y'know... Aight... Seeya gu- Zzzzzz