Mira stared down at Dan, reveling in her sudden realization. She, Mira Clay, was in love with Dan Kuso. She'd been trying to deny it, trying so hard for so long, and yet there it was. Her dream p[roved it. The fear she had felt when Dan stood in front of her, shielding her from Spectra and Helios, had been so real. She felt it even now, the cold, poisonous sensation in her veins at the thought of Dan putting himself in danger, of getting hurt because of her. She wouldn't be able to take it.

Not someone else I love. Especially not Dan. Please, if there's anything out there, please watch over him for me.

She was so deep in thought she almost didn't notice the little red ball of light until it was directly in front of her. She quickly sat back, lifting herself from where she laid her head on Dan's chest. The ball of light followed her and a voice seemed to emanate from it, old and powerful.

"Fear not Mira. All will be well with Dan soon."

The little ball of light solidified into a Bakugan. For a moment, Mira thought it was Drago. It certainly looked like a Pyrus Dragonoid. But then she noticed how his color scheme was slightly different, and so were his wings, and he only had one horn instead of three. A name tugged at the back of Mira's memory.

"Are you...Apollonir?" Mira asked, a slight tone of awe in her voice.

"Indeed I am, child." he said.

"Apollonir, why have you come?"

"I came to help. I can heal Dan of his fever and help him get Drago back."

"But...why now? Why not before? Why did you wait until this moment to help?" Mira felt anger building up inside of her, and yet at the same time she was afraid that she might offend the ancient warrior.

"I have helped much child. My brothers and sisters and I were the ones who gave Drago his new body. We united him once again with Dan, and sent the pain of them to you." Apollinr said, then sighed. "But, although our powers are great, our bodies grow old and weary. I have now come because it is the right time; I hear your prayers, and I have come to answer them."

The old Dragonoid fell silent, as though waiting for her response. Mira swallowed and nodded. "I believe you. Forgive me for doubting you." She gestured to Dan. "Please, if you can heal him, do it, please. I'm afraid that..." she trailed off, fear creeping into her voice.

Apollonir nodded as though he understood how she felt and turned to Dan, settling himself on the headboard of the bed. "You may bring the others here. They should be here when he wakes up." His body began to glow again, softly, and he bowed his hand in concentration.

Mira got up slowly so as not to disturb him and left, quietly closing the door behind her. The she rushed downstairs to where everyone was gathered. Julie and Runo were on the couch watching another movie, talking quietly, but they looked up at her abrupt entrance. From where Mira was standing, she could just see a small piece of the kitchen: Mrs. Kuso with her face in her hands and Baron with one hand on her arm, both at them seated aqt the kitchen table.

"You all need to come upstairs right now!" Mira said.

Julie and Runo jumped up immediately. "What is it?" they chorused. Baron and Mrs. Kuso looked up.

"Just come on, you'll see." Mira said insistently before she turned to go back upstairs. The others followed.

They all went to Dan's room; Baron gasped "Is that...?"

"Yes, but we need to be quiet now. Apollonir's trying to heal him." Mira said.

They all gathered around Dan's bed, watching him carefully for any sign of him coming to. The glowing light around Apollonir began to slowly fade until it went out entirely. He spoke "Look, his fever is fading, he'd waking up."

-x-

Dan was struggling to wake up, the haze of fever still making him groggy. He had just had a weird dream. At first, he was running through town, looking for Drago. The place was like a ghost town; no-one to be seen anywhere. But then someone did appear...

From somewhere above him, a voice said "Look, his fever is fading, he'd waking up."

That voice...it was in his dream...

Suddenly, Dan sat bolt upright and gasped "Apollonir!"

Dan looked wildly around the room, where everyone seemed to be gathered around his bed, looking relieved. His eyes met Mira's, who was closest to him. She was smiling at him, the same look of relief on her face but also something else. Dan spoke, his voice sounding rusty and confused. "I..I thought I heard Apollonir's voice...Or was that all just a dream...?"

"You tell me." Mira said, still smiling. Her eyes focused on a point a little above and behind his head. Dan turned and saw Apollonir, the leader of the six legendary soldiers of Vestroya.

"You really are here!" Dan shouted, hope and excitement in his voice.

"Yes, Dan. As you and Mira already know why I'm here," he turned, speaking to everyone else in the room. "this is said for the rest of you. I came to help Dan get Drago back."

Everyone gasped, save for Dan and Mira. Julie spoke up. "Are you sure you can save him?"

"I'm not saying it will be easy..." the ancient Dragonoid said, thoughtful. "It will take some effort, but I'm confident we can do it."

Dan nodded, when a thought suddenly occurred to him. "How will we find them though? Spectra could be anywhere in the city..." despair momentarily flitted through him.

"Don't worry about that. I can trace Drago's energy and portal us directly to him. That is, whenever you're ready Dan." Apollonir looked at him expectantly.

"I'm ready to go right now!" Dan said, then paused. "Er, after I get dressed." he added.

Apollonir nodded. "Directly after then." her turned back to everyone. "Alright people, let's give him some space. Mira, if you would be so kind..."

Mira nodded and got up, holding her hand out. Apollonir jumped on it. Everyone turned to go, Mira and Apollonir the last to exit, closing the door behind them, leaving Dan by himself. Dan threw back the covers and got up quickly, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He hurriedly got dressed, pulling on his resistance uniform and strapping his gauntlet to his wrist. He scrambled out of his room and rushed downstairs where everyone was waiting.

This was probably the chapter that almost made me give up on this thing. Mainly because the WiFi effed up when I went to save, and I had to type the whole thing over again. deep breath Okay, but here you go. The next chapter I might have to make a few edits to, as it's going to have the fight between Dan and Spectra in it, and I wrote some inaccurate things down. Going to change a few spots, but then it'll be fine. Hope you enjoyed it!

I also might be uploading a Gus x Spectra thing soon.