Book II: Impending Twilight

Chapter 125: Wake up

"Annie!" I shouted as I rushed into the room.

The braixen I had been searching for all this time beamed a warm smile towards me, "I told you I'd be fine," she said. I stopped in the doorway, taking in the sight.

In truth, that was what I wanted… A beautiful sight, but that wasn't my reality.

I went to her bedside and placed my hand over hers. But nothing. A monotonous beep echoed through the room. So many things were hooked up to her that I could barely recognize her. The one sticking out the most being the respirator over her mouth. A machine pumped air through it, her breath created a thick condensation on the inside of the clear mask.

"Annie…" I said, hands trembling as I looked down at her. No matter how much I stared at her, I couldn't accept what I was seeing. I kept expecting her eyes to open, for her to show some sign that she was going to pull through this.

But nothing…

As I continued to inspect her my eyes trailed down to her wrist where a bloodied bandage was wrapped around it. I stroked my hand along her arm. Aside from a few minor cuts and bruises, I noticed that the wound her wrist was the only one that appeared fatal. It left me wondering how such an oddly placed wound got there.

"She's not going to be waking up," a voice spoke from behind.

I spun around, in the doorway stood the grovyle I saw under the WPA base.

"You…"I growled, unsure of what to expect from him. "What are you doing here, and what do you mean she's not going to wake up?"

"What am I doing here?" the grovyle walked into the room and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "I simply came to check on the braixen, since she knows information she isn't supposed to. Although, I didn't expect her to be like this."

"Like what?! You said she wasn't waking up, start fucking talking!" I shouted, stomping my way towards him and grabbing onto his shoulder with my good hand. "Well!"

"She's comatose."

"Bullshit, you're lying," I snapped as I pushed him against the wall.

The grovyle grabbed my arm and pried himself free, before shoving me back an arms-length.

"I only know some details. We can only guess she was injured in the attack from Yveltal. Her radial artery was cut open. It was miraculous that she survived with no one around to save her. Needless to say, she lost a fatal amount of blood, she shouldn't even be alive, but she is and because of it she fell into a comatose state."

"That can't be…" I uttered, falling to my knees. "She'll wake up, I know it," I continued, feeling tears welling up in my eyes. As hard as I tried, I could barely fight off my emotions. I wasn't going to cry, not when I was the one who was fine.

All I could think of was 'Why Annie?' All she wanted to do was help others, and after such a hard life this was her fate? I didn't want to see my only friend like this, I couldn't! She was someone I knew since I was a zorua and she was a fennekin. It wasn't supposed to end this early for her, not as a braixen but an old delphox with a family or some form of legacy!

"Best course is to let her pass. Even if she does awake who knows the damage her brain will-" Before he finished I shot up and slammed my fist into his cheek. The grovyle hit against the wall as he held at his cheek and held up his leaf blade with his other arm.

"Don't you ever suggest that!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the room, probably loud enough to alert anyone nearby.

The grovyle spat blood from his mouth and lowered his guard. "Get angry if it makes you happy. Won't bring your friend back."

"Just shut up already. Just leave me alone with her."

"I didn't actually come here for your friend's well being. I came here to talk with you."

I scowled as I walked back towards Annie. I stroked at her ear, trying to ease any pain she may have in her unconscious state.

The grovyle continued, "You and the braixen have an extensive history with helping us and because of that I wish to expunge your crimes. All I need is for you to come with me so we can clear things out. Then after I can look into getting the braixen the best help we can get."

I turned back to the grovyle, casting him a suspicious glare. "And why would you want to help me, I apparently know things about the WPA that could ruin you."

"That's very true. Let me rephrase what I said, let me help you in exchange for your silence."

I looked towards Annie's unconscious face, taking in her beauty. I wondered what she would say to this, how happy she would be, or if she'd feel the same as I do now.

I exhaled a breath, still staring at Annie as I stroked her ear. "And let's say I do follow you. What then, are you just going to kill me?" I turned back to the grovyle, giving him a cold stare. "Something has been bothering me since you opened that mouth of yours."

"Really?" the grovyle said with amusement.

"You said no one was around to save her until it was too late. How would you know that? You'd have no way of knowing. Call it nitpicky if you want, but I also don't like how you were just waiting for me to show up here. You were using her as bait and now you're trying to lure me somewhere where you can kill me out of sight!" My voice rose as my form shifted into a mirror image of Annie.

"You're sharper than you look!" Isaac yelled as he lunged at me with his blades.

"You'll pay for this!" I shouted as I stuck out my good arm, shooting a torrent towards the grovyle. He dodged to the left, but as he did I followed up with another attack, forcing him to retreat to the back corner of the room.

Just as I shot another flame at him, he shot a razor leaf at the ceiling, knocking out one of the sprinklers. As my flame neared him water sprayed everywhere. My flames quickly mixed with the water and created a thick steam in the air.

"Dammit!" I shouted as I shifted back into my original form. In the mask of the steam I rushed to Annie. I yanked the technology from her and pulled her into a hug with my good arm as I ran through the door.

Disconnecting her might have killed her, but if she stayed she'd die regardless. For this final moment, I just want to die with my closest friend going all out.

In the hall, I found that a team of pokemon were waiting for me, all fighting and bugs. I stopped in the middle of the hall and stared down the four pokemon.

A scizor stepped out from the group, "It's no use. We have the building surrounded. Come with us and make it easier on yourself."

I placed Annie down as my illusionary energy started to flare up. "How would you all like to die?" My energy flared up further as my form changed. All at once my being felt as if it was being torn apart. I never did successfully manage this form before, but I needed the power now, even if it killed me in the end!

I dropped down to all fours as I grew in size. I gnashed my teeth together as my form took on the shape of a large canine-beast. Everything in my being ached, holding the form felt as if it was ripping every fiber of my being, but I didn't care. In a way, the pain helped take my mind from my greater pain.

When the transformation was successful I looked down towards Annie. I continued to take in her image with a look of sorrow, before picking her up in my maw and swinging her onto my back.

"Holy shit…" a pignite backed away.

"He… h-he looks like suicune!" a lucario whimpered.

"Don't back down!" the scizor barked. "It's an illusion, he's still a dying zoroark!"

I gave a dry chuckle as I stepped forward. "You'll be surprised what a pokemon will do, when backed into a corner like this," I say, my voice echoing throughout the hall. "Anyone who dare stands in my way is going to die." As I finish speaking I concentrate my powers. The ceiling above exploded and water sprayed out of the piping. The water took form into a concentrated blast that sprayed down on my opponents as it circled around them in a torrent, taking on its own lifelike movements.

All of them were ensnared in the torrent that spun around them, trapping them. I narrowed in my eyes and formed blades of ice in the water. I continued to walk as the torrent turned a red I found very pleasing.

As much as I enjoyed watching them get what they had coming, I knew Annie was still in her condition. No matter how much I killed it wouldn't bring her back. Knowing this made my chest feel heavy, and the best I could do to help relieve it was to give out a loud high pitched howl. My vocals echoed through the building, sounding broken, but also giving my enemies one simple message, 'Come get me.'

I navigated through the pokecenter, eventually finding the stairwell. More opponents met me, but they met the same fate as the others. I tore them to shreds, leaving nothing left of the scum. They deserved worse. Anyone who worked for WPA deserved worse, they were responsible for Annie and all the pain she had to endure.

When in the lobby I was met by six opponents. By now they were all shaking, terrified to face a pale imitation of the real Suicune. I walked into the center of the lobby as the WPA pokemon surrounded me, but kept their distance.

"Each of you are blind followers. You follow what your leaders say, yet you're too ignorant to learn the truth. Ignorance is its own sin! Your ignorance is why Annie has to suffer!" I gave a howl and the ceiling ruptured with water. They tried to escape, but I slaughtered every one of them. Drowning the charmeleon, impaling a machamp in the gut, I slaughtered them all like they deserved.

When the room was clear, I sprinted towards the exit. I blasted the door open with a wave of water. When outside I sprinted as fast as I could. About five other WPA members had been waiting outside, but I was too quick for them to catch up with.

Outside everyone panicked at my appearance. Once again the chaos was brought back to Snowbelle.

Point of View Flare

A loud explosion could be heard off in the distance. A wave of humans and pokemon all fled the refugee camp.

"What now?" I scowled as I fought against the crowd.

As I shoved my way through everyone fought against me. In the chaos someone's hand clocked me in the jaw. My arms moved up to shield myself before a human kicked me to the ground in his desperation to run. I gave a cry as someone crushed my tail and left me curling up in a ball.

I found it hard to breath like this. The constant trampling, crushed ribs and limbs aching. I felt my temper flaring as I started to fear for my life. These people truly only cared about themselves, or maybe it was the trauma of Yveltal that made them forget.

"S-Stop!" I shouted as flames shot out from around me, coating me in fire. Suddenly everyone was running from me, like I was the cause of all their problems. As the area cleared, I rolled to my front side and manage to get on one knee. Grabbing at my ribs and exhaling a strong breath I managed to get up onto both feet.

My fur still burned around me, but at this point the crowd of humans and pokemon had already fled. Holding myself, I struggled one step at a time, feeling aches all over.

Another explosion went off, shaking the ground as a tail of smoke rose into the air. I ran as best as I could towards the destruction. For whatever reason, I felt it necessary to figure out what was going on at this camp. Maybe it could get me one step closer to finding someone who would know about Zylen's recent appearance here, or at least maybe I could do something to help.

I turned down onto a street where at the other end I saw three pokemon backing away from something. One in the back trembled while the other two nervously eyed whatever they were facing. In a mere second a hydro pump of water blasted into the three, taking them to the ground and slicing their skin up from the pressure of the attack.

I froze as I watched the three of them try to get up, but a giant tendril of water shot at them. The water moved as if it was a living being. Ensnaring the pokemon as it swirled around them. Soon the torrents were red and their body dropped to the ground. Deep gashes covered them, one's innards were falling out from their stomach, I could barely recognize their bodies.

My jaw dropped as I took a step back. I felt my legs shaking, becoming jello as I collapsed to my knees. Three pokemon were just murdered in front of me! Now all that was left of them were their mangled corpses. They were gone just like that!

While I tried to stand, a giant four-legged monster limped onto the street. It was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. I struggled to breathe as the monster struggled down the street. Blood seeped down from the pokemon, leaving a trail of red. As terrified as I was of the monster, I couldn't help but notice its beauty, like something out of a fable.

Its red eyes gleamed through the stark setting as two tails waved forward along each of its sides. Despite its injured state the monster pressed on, giving pained scowls as it shook its head, trying to fight through its injuries. Its pace slowed as its paws dragged along the ground before collapsing onto the snowy street.

I held my breath, unsure if it was dead. Just as quickly as I wondered a bright flash of magenta flared around the creature and it took on a smaller form. Covered in all the blood and gashes I had to strain my eyes to make out what it was, before it clicked.

"Z-Zylen?!" I scurried to my feet, rushing to him and nearly tripping with each step. I collapsed to my knees when I made it and reached out to him but stopped upon seeing how serious the wounds were. So much blood had gone into the snow and so much blood was everywhere that I wasn't even sure if he was alive.

"Zylen! Zylen!" I kept shouting his name, "Somebody, help, I need a doctor!" I cried. I tried to pull at the zoroark, but he was too heavy. What was I supposed to do? Find help, try to cauterize the wounds, treat him myself!? I couldn't decide, my mind was in ruins from the sight.

"Step away from the zoroark, braixen," a voice sternly stated from behind.

My head shot back to see a team of five pokemon standing behind me. In the middle stood a grovyle who had his arms crossed. It only took a split second for me to recognize Isaac.

"Isaac!" I shouted. "I need your help, Zylen, he's hurt really bad and needs a-"

"That's enough," the grovyle snapped. "Step away from the zoroark or I'll kill you with him." The grass type walked over. I stood defensively over Zylen before a force blasted into me, throwing me to the ground.

I felt a chilling sting in my shoulder as I yanked out a shard of ice from it. I looked past Isaac to see a glaceon keeping her eyes on me. When Isaac reached Zylen he pressed his foot against his throat.

"Now, Where might you have left the braixen?" he said thoughtfully, twisting his foot as he crushed his throat. "No matter, she'll die either way." The grovyle removed his foot and walked away with his back turned to me.

"Kill them both, that kid is ex Flare, no one will miss him."

"Sure thing," the glaceon smirked as she circled around me.

"Isaac!" I shouted. "I thought you believed in justice! That one time you spared Stark! I thought you had some form of honor!"

"Honor?" Isaac snorted. "You've got me all wrong." He glared at me out of the corner of his eye. "I only spared him temporarily because I had to, or fret that the little umbreon would cry to his father. Here though, no one will care if I kill you, no one will tell Zack that I murdered an unwanted brat." The grovyle turned fully towards me. "Erin, let me handle this," Isaac said as he strutted towards me.

I felt my heart racing as his leaf blades hardened.

"Let me show you how pointless this is." Isaac held up his leaf blades, but then withdrew them. "No, killing you fast won't teach you anything."

In a blur Isaac threw a hook at me, striking me in the cheek. I hit the ground hard, but was able to scurry back up onto my feet just in time for a counter. I extended out my palm, but as I did Isaac launched forward and pushed my aim up, sending a torrent of fire into the air.

"Is that your best?" he taunted before kneeing me in the gut and then twisting my arm and forcing me to the ground. He kicked at my shoulder and forced me to my front side as he held my arm firmly.

"You still fight like a little fennekin. Just spewing flames, not thinking ahead at all. At least keep your distance." Isaac held at my arm, forcing it to stay straight with it twisted behind my back. With his other hand, he pressed at my elbow.

I felt my bone bend a bit as it reached its limit, "Get off me!" I shouted, coating myself in flames. The grovyle leapt off and I shot up to my feet. In a quick flurry I threw my own punches at the grovyle, knowing that if I stayed like this he couldn't hurt me.

"See, you fight like a fennekin. No, worse than that, like a newborn pup!" Isaac avoided my last punch and jumped into the air. Still in mid punch I watched as his foot came at my face. It struck me right in my snout. I felt a crack on the impact and blood gushing from my mouth. I collapsed on the ground holding my mouth as a raw sting erupted inside my mouth.

I gave a muffled cry as the pain intensified. Just a few feet from me covered in blood I could make out two teeth that had been knocked out. Gently probing with my tongue, I could feel the blood coming from where my top left canine was and the tooth beside it.

At that moment, I shut down. All I could do was hold my mouth and cry as I lied on the ground. My mouth hurt in a way I never felt before. My head throbbed as I tried to snap out of it, but I couldn't do a thing. I was overwhelmed and trying not to choke on my own blood.

"Clean this mess up," Isaac ordered as he walked away. His team staying behind to finish the job.

The glaceon was the first to approach me, she pressed her paw onto my cheek. I yelled in pain as I tried to shove her off, but that seemed to only make her press harder at me.

"S-stop!" I begged as I tried torching her, but couldn't. The pain was too much to concentrate on an attack.

"I'll stop the pain for you," the glaceon smirked, "But only after I'm done." She shoved me onto my front side and shoved my face into the snow. "I actually knew that sister of yours, cute little braixen, very odd. Yeah, she was the type of pokemon that just pissed me off. She never knew when to shut up. Tff, thank god she got put on her little espionage mission. Now, with Dawn out of the picture it looks like I've got a more interesting boss."

"Y-you bitch," I managed to mutter.

As she keeps me pinned, I started to feel ice forming around my limbs, binding me to the ground. "Oh, I also know that you were around when poor little Tyson got torched and murdered. Now, I wonder if the ex-Flare has a bit of a sadistic side hidden within. Wouldn't that be funny?"

"Why are you doing this?"

The glaceon sneered, but as she opened her mouth to reply a scream came from behind. The glaceon stood up off of me and turned to see blood spraying everywhere from her Persian teammate. The cat collapsed down and blood gushed out as a knife was yanked from its throat.

"You bi-" A hitmonchan started, but a greninja sliced his throat open quicker than he could blink. A shiftry snuck up behind the greninja, but before he attacked a pink energy threw him against a building, leaving an indent from the impact.

A white espeon walked out from an ally, the gem on his head illuminated red. He joined by the side of the greninja, while the luxio joined by the glaceon.

Erin laughed at the site of the two pokemon, becoming hysteric. "Oh my, albino espeon, a skilled greninja! You're the last remaining fragments of the Crimson Dawn!"

"Don't take us lightly," the espeon scowled. "Now, run along lady, I have a thing against fighting women."

"Do you now? I wonder, did that stop you from butchering your poor mother and sister?"

My eyes widened at that remark, and then it all came back to me. I could feel a shiver running down my spine just from the thought of seeing Black's brother again.

"V-Vincent?" I groaned.

"We'll talk later," he responded, keeping his focus on the glaceon.

The glaceon turned to her luxio teammate. "Hey, go for the greninja, I'll get the espeon."

"Right," he nodded as he focused in on the greninja.

"Go!" She shouted, but as the luxio ran at the greninja she turned the other way and ran from the fight. The luxio slid to a stop as he saw her fleeing, but only caught a glimpse before the greninja stabbed him in the back of the neck right in the spine. His body joined the others in a bloody mess.

"I'll take care of the glaceon," the greninja started.

"No," Vincent quickly ordered. "I need you here to help with these two." Vincent looked at the zoroark and then back to me. "Can you stand? If so, we'll need your help moving him, we need to get him somewhere safe where we can treat him."

I bit at my lip as I tried to break free of my icy confines, but found I was unable to. The greninja flashed in front of me, cutting my confines faster than I could see. When free I managed to struggle up to my feet, despite being in immense pain all over.

"You…" I started. "You're responsible for a lot of the shit I'm going through right now. You're also the last person I want to trust."

"I really don't care," Vincent shook his head. "More importantly, I want to focus on the zoroark."

I gritted my teeth as I clenched my hands tightly. "If you do anything to harm him, I'll burn you beyond recognition."

"Lovely, let's go," Vincent said without a care. The greninja took one side of the zoroark and motioned for me to help. I grabbed Zylen by the legs and we lifted him. The zoroark was just as heavy as he looked, making it hard on me in my current state.

We only carried Zylen a small distance before settling in an abandoned convenience store. We laid him down in the back behind a counter where no one would be able to see us from outside. Thankfully we settled down here when we did since it began to snow shortly after our arrival. Luckily that'd cover our tracks.

"Is he even alive?" I asked as I pressed my ear against his chest. I listened for a while, but couldn't get anything.

"Best to press your hand against an artery to feel a pulse, and yes he is."

"How would you know, you haven't even touc-"

"I can sense his brain activity. Now, go gather any medical supplies that's relevant to the wounds. Move!"

Nearly an hour had passed since we managed to secure Zylen's life. His blood was all over the back of the store. During the process of treating him, I also became a bloody mess. I looked down at my hands, seeing the bright crimson. My nose twitched at the metallic scent, I've smelled blood many times, but never was it this strong.

"Zylen," I whispered as I placed my hand over his shoulder. The larger fox gave a raspy grunt. Despite how pained it sounded, I couldn't help but smile that he was still fighting to live. That was Zylen, he was strong and even with fatal wounds like these he continued to cling onto his life.

As I sat next to the zoroark, a white blur moved out of the corner of my eye. My stare snapped towards the albino espeon. His crimson eyes reminded me a lot of Black's, and in a way I saw a bit of Black in the white eeveelution.

Part of me wanted to sock the espeon in the face for all the trouble he caused me. Maybe even another good hit for Black and everyone else he hurt. I wanted that so much, but that was no way to thank the pokemon who saved your friend's life along with your own.

I gave a sigh before speaking to the espeon, "So, why save us? You tried to kill me back in Lumiose."

The espeon's ears flickered at the question and gave his attention to me. "My intentions were never to hurt you back then, Merrick may have, but I was only wanting to suppress you. As of now, I have no reason to fight you."

I let go of Zylen and got up onto my feet. "Still, I remember what you did to your family… What you made Black go through. I am grateful for your help, but I can't quite look at you as some hero."

"Fair enough," Vincent shrugged. "But, you still don't understand the whole situation and what's going on." The espeon walked over towards Zylen and looked down at him. "As for why I saved you, I merely did it because of a debt I felt I owed him. You just happened to be by him at the right time. Now, I'm more curious as to how you know him." Vincent looked at me for a response.

"He's like an older brother to me," I admit. "He was very close to my sister and he always looked out for me like she would. If it wasn't for him, I may not be alive right now."

"By chance, is your sister named Annie?"

My heart stopped a moment as I looked at the espeon in disbelief. "Wait, you knew my sister?!"

Vincent stepped back in a bit of surprise from my reaction. "I barely knew her, but she's a hard braixen to forget. Interesting character she is-"

I rushed over to the espeon and grabbed onto his shoulders, "Where is she?! I need to know!"

Vincent's eyes went wide in surprise before he yanked his shoulders free, "I don't know," he blurted. "Ask the zoroark when he awakes, he was the last one I saw with her."

I gave a sigh, "Alright fine, I'll ask him when he's awake, just one more thing though."

"Hmm?"

"You said you owed Zylen, just what was he doing with you where you felt you owed him?"

Vincent looked me in the eyes, looking for something I didn't understand. After a moment he turned his back towards me. "I'd tell you, but really that's up to him if he wants you to know. Besides, I doubt you would believe the truth if it came from-"

"Try me," I snapped, "I've seen a lot of stuff in the past few months.

"Calm yourself," a monotonous voice interrupted. The greninja from earlier appeared back in the store from the shadows.

"Ah Scarlet, you're back."

"It's as I predicted," the greninja started as she leaned against a wall with her arms crossed. "Mandus is currently in the hands of the WPA."

"Dammit!" Vincent shouted as he kicked a small box. "If they have him he is as good as dead!"

"Mandus?" I said in confusion.

"Our leader," Scarlet answered before turning to the furious espeon. "Even if we can't save him, we were taught better than to shut down if he's killed."

"Doesn't matter, we can't afford to lose anyone else! First Flynn, then Merrick and now our leader! Let's not also forget that traitor Kain! It's just us if Mandus dies!"

Scarlet nodded, "We'll have to come up with a plan to get him out."

"Right, I'll try and have something by the end of the night. We'll have to act fast."

Listening to the way Vincent panicked over his boss was sad. Not in the way where I felt bad for him, but sad on how far he had fallen. All this care over this Mandus figure, but not once had he asked about Black. Did he truly not care about him? I was more surprised he didn't ask if he was at least well for whatever purpose they wanted him for.

"So tell me, would you care this much if your brother was in trouble?"

"Ryder?" Vincent said almost as if the name was unfamiliar.

"Yes! You know, your only remaining brother!"

"Of course I would care," Vincent defended. "He's family after al-"

"Liar!" I shouted. "You're a sick twisted killer, I know exactly what you did to your family! And now I'm hearing to freak out over this Mandus guy, yet not once have you even asked about your brother!"

Vincent's eyes narrowed in on me. "Perhaps you should be quiet. You know nothing about us, why I did what I had to. You and him are so quick to jump the gun and assume that I committed such a taboo for no reason."

"Then why?!"

"Maybe one day," Vincent snorted. "You wouldn't be able to wrap your head around it."

I gnashed my teeth together from hearing that lazy retort. Not only did he not care, he was insulting me. I could feel my insides heating up, it was taking everything not to blow up and incinerate the bastard.

"Or maybe you're too afraid to admit you slaughtered your family for a pointless reason!"

"You're quick to talk, but you don't even know the first thing about my brother."

"I know him more than you!"

"Really?" Vincent chuckled. "Then tell me, what's my brother's two biggest secrets? There are actually two right answers to this, but I doubt you know either."

I smirked at the question, feeling it was a no brainer, "He's terrified of getting hurt by others and has a fear of blood," I quickly answered.

Vincent just laughed at my response, "Good guesses, but those are both incorrect."

"Bullshit, I doubt you even knew either of those!"

"That might be true, but I have no doubt both of those were caused by his past traumas. Of course, he'd be afraid of getting hurt again, and after the incident I doubt he would find blood to be a pleasant sight."

"You're full of it, if he really is hiding something from me that only you would know then tell me," I demanded.

"Unfortunately you'll be more in the way if I answer. How about I give you some food for thought about him to satisfy you for now?"

"Food for thought?" I snorted.

"Yeah," Vincent nodded. "Remember the first time we fought? Well, you might also remember Black's ability to use dark matter, something that's usually uncommon for your average house pet umbreon."

"Your point?"

"Interesting fact about umbreons, you seem oblivious to it, but umbreons actually can't use dark matter unless they take the life of another living being."

I crossed my arms and looked Vincent dead in the eyes. He wore that same nonchalant look, like nothing in the world was bothering him. The look made my fingers curl into a fist. How badly I wanted to beat him half to death.

"You really think I'm that dumb, don't you? Black's not a killer and if he was I have a feeling he would have been straightforward with me, him and I were honest with each other after I broke through to him. He wouldn't lie."

"Oh, is that so?" Vincent said with amusement. "Well, I know my brother much more than you ever will. If you meet him again, just ask him about it, I'm sure he'll give you his usual reaction. He'll probably freeze up for a moment, then insist on not knowing what you're talking about and if you really press hard enough he'll even try to elude the question by running."

"Just shut up already!" I snapped as I blew smoke from my nostrils. Without realizing it at first I was creating a small flame in my palm, one that could easily be ready to kill if I wanted.

"Vincent," the greninja interrupted. The espeon turned towards her. "We need to talk about Mandus in private. We did what we could for Zylen, his life is in the braixen's hands now."

Vincent glared at me out of the corner of his eye, "Hear that? We're done here, that also means your friend is your responsibility now." The espeon and the greninja both headed towards the door without another word.

"Whatever," I growled as I looked back towards Zylen. "I can keep him safe from here." When I looked back they were gone, leaving me in silence.

I wrapped both my arms around myself as I looked back down at Zylen. Despite hating the espeon and probably having enough reason to hate the greninja too, I didn't want to be left alone. In truth, I was scared. I wasn't really sure if I could keep Zylen safe until he awoke, and somewhere out there my sister was in need of my help.

"Annie…"

Chapter End

Author Note: Sorry for the lengthy wait, I've been very lazy, then very busy, then more laziness again. You get the picture. Thanks for all of those who have been patient! Also a minor announcement! This month I am participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which is a month dedicated to writing 50k words in a month. I'm dedicating a lot of my time this month to get back into the habit of writing daily that was I can keep content coming out for this story! I also invite anyone who is writing to join me this month in NaNoWriMo to complete the challenge together ^_^

Thanks to my man genericgamer207 for editing this chapter!