A van carrying twelve Arcana is bobbing up and down a bumpy road. The sky above Sinnoh has darkened to nearly a pitch-black, and has completely covered the whole of the region, now steadily encroaching onto other regions.
Strangely enough, it could still rain.
Misty had glanced at the falling droplets, tracing the jagged lines flowing down the window, feeling oddly melancholic that she would be missing Brock's funeral. The thought had lingered in her mind until she finally fell asleep.
"So, is no one going to talk about the elephant in the room?" Drew asks.
May, sitting beside him, snorts. "What room? We're in a van, if you haven't noticed."
Her parents' abduction and the abrupt farewell have taken a toll on her, and she's snappy.
Extra snappy, Drew thinks.
"Not elephant. Elephants. And I'll start with the most obvious: where the hell are we going?" Gary grouses. He is appeased by the fact that he has managed to grab the much coveted front passenger seat.
Alain is at the wheel, and he replies succinctly, "driving away from the Sinnoh League."
Indeed, they have been on the road for ten minutes and the huge pillars of flames and clouds of dense smoke rising behind them at where the Sinnoh League once stood are still visible.
"That's not exactly a destination," Drew points out.
"Didn't Cynthia advise us to start by looking for the Sinnohians' cards? Namely Paul and Dawn?" Cilan reminds them. Iris is dozing off beside him, and when her head hits Cilan's shoulder, her eyes snap open.
"Oops, sorry," she says, straightening her posture.
"It's fine, you can rest." Cilan smiles.
"I'd rather you guys not." Paul cuts in. "How can we make a decision if half the girls are asleep?"
Cilan glances around.
Serena looks like she has fainted from sheer exhaustion, Mairin's eyes are closed and her head is leaning against the window, and Misty is snoring. He can't blame the girl since she had a really tough day, what with knowing her friend has passed away and suddenly being tossed into the middle of the crisis.
Only Dawn is awake with bright eyes. She's used to sleeping at absurd hours, or even not sleeping at all, due to her tight schedule. Once she stayed up all night filming a commercial for D&P.
In hindsight, that was… totally not worth it.
"We should figure out where we're going, and then they can sleep." Paul says.
That makes sense.
"Actually, we just need us, don't we?" Dawn gestures at herself and Paul. "In fact, I think I can sense something. Like, a tug? A pull?"
"REALLY?" Ash exclaims excitedly.
That prompts Serena to stir.
"Five more minutes, Mom…" She mumbles.
Gary snickers. "That sounds like you, Ashy boy."
"Don't call me that," Ash counters, though lacking his usual bite.
Cilan glances at the two childhood friends, feeling like they have become less childish. A bit. Perhaps this journey will be a wake-up slap for all of them.
"Yeah, kind of? I don't know, but I feel like we're going the right direction, even if I'm not sure where it is. Or what it is." Dawn tries to explain, but even she herself isn't very sure. "What about you, Paul? Can you feel the tug?"
"I don't know." He replies gruffly.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Dawn questions.
"I don't know because I wasn't born in Sinnoh," he snaps.
Dawn blinks. That's news to everyone who's awake. "Oh. So where were you born?"
He doesn't seem inclined to reply, so Dawn turns around where Paul is sitting directly behind her, and says irritatedly, "we need to know because we must find the cards."
"… Hoenn." Paul responds tersely. No one knows why he's walking around with a chip on his shoulder, but then again, no one is keen to point it out either.
Dawn leans back against her seat. "So am I the only Sinnohian?"
"For the record, I was actually born in Johto but my family moved to Hoenn since my dad got an offer to become a Gym Leader there." May supplies. "And I think I'm the only Johtonian."
May and Dawn exchange commiserating gazes. They feel bad for having to drag the others along with them to look for their cards.
"Then I'll continue driving in this direction, and Dawn can guide me." Alain suggests. "Though our pace will be slow."
"I think that's the only thing we can do, although it'll be hard to narrow down the exact location. I foresee we may have to spend at least a few days here." Cilan affirms, digging around his backpack and procuring a map. He begins to study it intensely.
Most of the others are tired so they drift off to sleep as well.
The only sounds are that of Dawn telling Alain the directions occasionally, as well as a conversation between May and Cilan, both of them speaking softly since the two people sitting beside them, Drew and Iris, have both flown off into dreamland.
Eventually, Ash jerks from his unrestful sleep, being unused to sleeping on the road, and his stomach grumbles.
The conversation between May and Cilan pauses.
"Perhaps we should stop to eat soon. None of us has had breakfast yet, right?" Cilan proposes. Ash gives him a sheepish but grateful smile.
They've been traveling for about an hour, and since they set off at 3 am, it's still early, and the sky is dark – granted, the sky is dark pretty much all the time now, crackling with menacing energy.
Perhaps because of the time or the dangers of traveling outside, they haven't seen a single living soul, apart from themselves, for the entirety of their journey.
"We're not even at Sunyshore City yet," Alain shares grimly. It's the nearest city and Alain had really hoped to reach it sometime soon so they could restock and have an actual rest.
Arceus knows they all need it.
"Then where are we?" Serena asks sleepily. Much like Ash, she is unused to sleeping with the road being so uneven.
"Route 223."
"Huh, wasn't that a completely water route?" Dawn asks curiously.
"Apparently a lot of people complained about how difficult it was to get to the Sinnoh League, especially when the ocean conditions worsened, so the league built a new road some years back," Cilan explains.
"You really do know a lot," Dawn remarks, impressed.
"Perhaps it's you who aren't well-informed," Paul mutters.
"What was that?" Dawn whirls behind, indignant.
Paul stares back at her calmly. "How could you not know that when you live in Sinnoh?"
Dawn folds her arms. "I wasn't even in Sinnoh back then. So, your point is invalid." She turns back with a huff.
"Where were you then?" Cilan intercedes, trying to diffuse the rising tension. He kind of wishes there's another mediator in this group. Nine teenagers constantly at one another's throats and two indifferent by-standers spell the recipe for brewing disaster.
"In Hoenn! I know because I tried to get tickets to one of your runways – and failed," May gushes enthusiastically.
Dawn's lips quirk up. "Thanks for the support."
Alain glances into the rearview mirror. "We're reaching Sunkern Forest in ten miles. Let's take a break at the outskirts."
A few of the others begin to rouse.
"Alain, can you turn on the radio?" Serena asks.
He compiles, and a few moments later the broadcaster's voice rambles away.
"We urge all Sinnohians to remain in their homes amidst this unprecedented crisis, now newly termed the Blight by the masses, and to minimize leaving the safety of your homes as much as possible. The Parelle League has yet to give an official statement on this latest development, leading many to leave condemning posts on their forum site criticizing their passiveness. Should you or any of your closed ones find themselves in a dangerous situation, call the Sinnoh hotline at…"
"The Blight. What a fitting name." Gary comments, yawning.
"No wonder we haven't seen anyone around." Dawn says, looking outside the window at the barren scenery.
"So people are already tearing into the league, huh?" Serena muses aloud.
"It's natural." Gary brushes his disheveled hair as he speaks. "There's an ongoing crisis and people want answers. They're afraid of the unknown. But the league can't provide those answers, so their only outlet for venting their terror is to disguise it as anger and slander the league, hoping that this will spur them into action."
Serena blinks. "… You're quite perceptive."
"'Surprisingly' is what you left out." Drew says.
Gary only grins. "I know, but hey, my gramps is a professor. I have some of his wits."
"Only some?" Drew goads.
Gary turns to him and his smile drops. They stare at each other chillingly.
Cilan wants to facepalm. They still haven't gotten over the truth or dare incident?
"That's it. We're never playing truth or dare ever again." Alain tosses over his shoulders.
"What's wrong with the game? And when did we play it?" Dawn asks confusedly.
No one answers.
"Uh, guys? Hello?" Unfortunately for them, Dawn is one of the most persistent members of the group.
"… It was nothing of importance. Consider it spilled milk." Cilan says strainedly.
"Okey dokey…" Dawn replies slowly, but lets it go.
"Any food that is spilled is my business, though." May suddenly cuts in. "No one gets away with wasting food on my watch!"
Drew scoffs. "It's just a metaphor, April."
"Speaking of food… What are we eating?" Ash asks, coming alive. "I'm starving."
"You're always starving. Tell me something new." Gary rolls his eyes.
"I'm hungry as well!" May pipes up.
Ash and May glance at each other, both nodding their heads. Yes, they feel the other's pain and anguish like it's their own… Because it's their own.
Hunger is the worst pain in the world.
Starvation is the most tragic death!
"Hmm, we need to go to town and stock up some supplies. But I think we have enough ingredients shared between all of our backpacks that I can whip up something," Cilan offers.
"Yay! Wake me up when we reach," Ash says happily.
"Wake up, we're reaching," Gary drones.
Indeed a large sign reads THIS WAY TO SUNKERN FOREST.
"Why'd they named it Sunkern Forest anyway?" Gary asks, vaguely curious.
"Because they want us to sink and die," Paul deadpans.
"Hardy har har. Very amusing."
Alain stops the car outside the ominous forest, shrouded in gloom, and Cilan gently wakes up a befuddled Iris. Ash is less chivalrous, as he shakes Misty and yells, "oi, Mist, time to wake up!"
That earns him a sharp kick to the knee.
"Oh, sorry, that was a reflex," Misty smiles sweetly but she looks very much awake to Ash.
Ash is making such a racket that Serena and Mairin, who are sitting beside each other, jerk awake. Their heads knock together so loudly that Drew, sitting in front of them, winces.
Mairin squeaks. "Ow! Serena, is your head made of steel?"
"W-what's going on?" Serena asks, disoriented. "Mom?" She squints and rubs her aching head.
May pinches the bridge of her nose. "You either have very serious eyesight problems or memory loss if you think I look like your mom."
"Oh, hi May." Serena says embarrassedly, as the events of yesterday wash over her addled mind.
They all clamber out of the car, exhausted.
"Er, do we have a stove or something?" Cilan asks hopefully.
Everyone glances around.
"I think we don't." Ash says as his face falls. "Why? Do we not get to eat?" He asks petulantly.
Iris shakes her head. "You're like a little kid."
"Hey! We need food to survive," Ash argues.
"What we need is to start a fire," Cilan cuts in before another argument can start. "Can anyone help me collect some small twigs and dry leaves? And does anyone have a matchbox or lighter?"
"I have a matchbox," Iris says. She's used to traveling alone in forests after all, so she feels right at home. "And I can help you."
Those who feel suffocated being in a cramped car, namely Ash, Gary, Mairin and May, volunteer as well, eager to move around.
Cilan assigns the rest to washing or cutting the ingredients, pots, bowls and cutlery. Paul, Alain and Misty head down to the river to fill up the buckets with water.
Meanwhile, Dawn is experiencing a culture shock, but she follows Serena and Drew's lead and begins unpacking their items. The girls lay down a large picnic mat for everyone to sit down on later, and Dawn flounders, unused to physical work.
"So, Dawn, having fun?" Drew smirks as he sees the bluenette struggling.
She's oblivious to his taunt. "Yeah, it's not bad, actually."
He shakes his head. Her optimism makes her overly dense.
Paul and Alain return, each holding two buckets of water.
"Where's Misty?" Dawn asks.
"She's trying to catch some fish for us to eat." Alain replies.
Drew dusts off his pants. "That sounds pretty fun. Mind if I go?"
Alain shrugs. "Be my guest."
The four of them silently chop vegetables and wash the silverware, and the group who set off to find twigs soon returns.
"Sup guys. Where are Misty and Drew?" Ash asks, dumping an armful of tinder on the ground.
"They're at the river trying to catch fish," Dawn responds, wiping the silverware dry.
Ash's eyes light up. "Awesome!"
He recalls the fishing lure that she gave him as a birthday present years ago – a customized chibi version of herself. It never caught him anything though.
Serena does a double take when Mairin plods in, covered in twigs, leaves and dirt from head to toe.
"What happened?"
"I tripped and rolled down a small hill," Mairin reveals abashedly.
"Hey, that sounds like Alain's story!" Ash chuckles.
Gary's lips twist up as he recalls the ludicrous tale, once again.
"What story?" Mairin asks, her interest piqued.
Serena grabs a towel and helps the younger girl clean off.
"Thanks, Serena," Mairin says gratefully.
Ash recounts the tale of Alain wrecking a car, and by the time he's done, Mairin is laughing her head off.
Serena smiles. Mairin is like an adorable sister, and her laughter is rather contagious. And it's nice. This moment itself is nice. No life and death situation, no portals sucking them in, no dangerous beams of light whatsoever… Serena has never treasured or yearned for normalcy as much as now.
Somehow she knows it won't last.
May helps Cilan kindle a fire to life, and they place a grill over the flames.
And just nice, Misty and Drew return, the former with a smug grin, while the latter looks annoyed.
"He didn't catch a single fish. But look what I got," Misty shows off her catch proudly.
Several trout, carp, catfish and even two salmon are flailing around in the bucket.
"Wow! Did you catch them with your bare hands?" May leans in to take a closer look and gets splashed by a fish. "Gah!"
"That she did. She ain't human," Drew mutters the last bit.
"What was that?" Misty glares at him.
"Nothing."
Cilan smiles at Misty. "Good job! We can grill them and I think there's plenty to go around."
Dawn is shaking her head, with a look of abject horror. "That cannot be edible," she chokes out.
"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock, if you eat that raw you'll get salmonella." Paul's voice is flat.
"No! I mean – they're alive! You can't eat things that are still alive! And wriggling!"
"So you've never eaten fish before?" Paul rebutts.
"It's not the same as hunting some ourselves and killing them!" Dawn hurls, but the others don't see how it's any different. Dawn just has the most arbitrary standards.
Misty grabs one and slams it onto the cutting board. She grabs a stick and jabs it between its eyes, knocking it unconscious. "They won't be alive for much longer," she chuckles darkly. There's a glint in her turquoise eyes as she uses a small blade to cut through the gills and squeezes the fish, squirting blood out.
Dawn shakes her head. "I-I don't think I even want to know."
She hurries over to Cilan, away from the massacre.
Paul makes a sound of disgust. "She's pampered as hell."
Drew eyes him as he grabs a fish and starts preparing it.
"Controlled. Not pampered."
"What do you mean?" May asks, removing the scales from a catfish.
Drew doesn't reply for a long moment.
When he does, his voice is subdued.
"Dawn doesn't tell me much about her family, but from what I've gathered, Johanna keeps her on a tight rein. She hasn't been on any school trips or so much as gone camping in her life before. And this is just a guess but… I don't think she's even allowed to leave the house without Johanna's permission. I'm not implying she's dumb, nor am I justifying her reaction, but this is likely her first time seeing someone prepare fish in front of her."
May raises a brow. "Damn, I kind of feel bad for her."
On the other hand, May is also dying of curiosity to know about how Drew knows Dawn so well, but she doesn't want to come across as too probing.
Paul makes no comment. He doesn't really care for the sob story of the exalted "Sinnoh Sweetheart".
Eventually they manage to scrape together a decent meal, and May is lured by the scent of Cilan's creamy soup until she finds herself standing before the steaming pot.
Dawn is helping Cilan scoop the soup into bowls, and Cilan hands out each serving. Meanwhile, Misty and Ash are grilling the fish, while Iris has managed to pick some ripped berries and is also grilling them lightly, turning them an alluring brown.
All in all, it's a rather tantalizing meal.
Everyone grabs a seat and digs in. They're all so hungry that they don't even bother conversing.
Ash and May take second servings, still not satiated.
"Cilan, you're an awesome cook!" Iris praises.
Ash concurs, swallowing before he says, "I think my stomach is more than overjoyed with you around!"
Cilan tucks into his own bowl. "You flatter me. The meal tastes especially delightful because of the present company – the combination of your unique personalities certainly adds a new flavor to the repast!"
"Aw, how cheesy," Dawn teases.
"Fortunately for me, cheese is quite the beloved food." Cilan remains undaunted.
Everyone groans.
"Lame comeback." Gary grouches.
"That's not even a comeback." Paul mutters.
"And if it is, then comebacks are now a crime." Drew finishes.
"… Ouch. That triple attack combination wounds me." Cilan replies, not looking wounded in the least. "I forsake this round. The victory is yours."
"Is he humoring us right now?" Drew wonders.
"You can't be serious." Gary complains. "You're not our babysitter!"
Cilan only smiles back enigmatically.
"Ah, right, I should check in with Cynthia," He remembers, and picks up the communication device.
He has a short chat with the Sinnoh Champion, who is clearly relieved to hear that everyone is fine and eating right now. She's busy dealing with the insurance claims for the destruction of the Sinnoh League, so their call ends quickly.
"I still can't believe Cynthia is dating Steven," May mentions.
"I mean, I kinda guessed that a long time ago." Drew says, not sounding surprised.
"Yeah, me too." Dawn agrees. "It was kinda obvious."
"It was?" Serena starts gathering the bowls of those who are done eating. "I didn't know that."
"I mean, they weren't making it super obvious in public, but since I see them sometimes outside of official league events…" Drew shrugs.
"Enough of this gossiping, we should get going." Gary butts in.
May groans, flopping onto the mat. "Can't we rest for a while?"
Serena agrees, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she says, "I would really like to get some sleep…"
Mairin nods. "Precisely. Aren't you guys beat? We slept for like, two hours!"
"Less than that," Serena corrects her gloomily. "Please, can't we take a break for maybe two or three hours before we hit the road?"
Gary frowns. "Hmm, what do the rest of you think?"
"I am not sleeping out here on this picnic mat where anything can attack us." Paul states stonily. "We'll wake up and find ourselves dead."
"How can we wake up if we're dead?" Gary whispers loudly.
"I can demonstrate for you right now." Paul glares at him.
Gary backs off. "On second thoughts, I think I don't need to know."
Dawn picks at a loose strand in the mat. "I hate to agree with Paul, but he's right. Besides, if we sleep like this," she glances around nervously, "won't there be bugs?"
"BUGS?" Misty jumps about five feet in the air. "Where? Where?"
Iris chortles. "Oh, bugs are harmless, don't worry!"
"Harmless for you, maybe," Misty says anxiously, her eyes darting around suspiciously.
"Guys, you all brought sleeping bags, right?" Drew sighs.
They blink.
"Oh yeah, we did." Dawn says with a start.
"Great. Maybe you can, I don't know, sleep inside them?"
The others return from washing the dishes. They've decided to take turns so the next time they eat, it'll be the other team who will wash dishes.
They have overheard the bulk of their conversation, so Cilan asks, "who wants to rest here for a while before we resume our journey?"
More than half the group raise their hands.
Cilan caves in.
"There's no point continuing on if you guys look like you may faint while standing. But Paul is also right that we shouldn't be completely defenseless. So how about those who don't wish to rest take turns guarding and looking out for any threats?" He proposes.
Everyone is fine with the plan, and even Paul grunts out an affirmation.
Since Paul, Dawn, Cilan and Drew don't need to rest that much, they're paired off in twos. Despite Gary wanting them to set off earlier just now, he's also pretty tired so he agrees to the resting plan pretty easily.
Paul and Dawn take the first watch. They'll switch with Cilan and Gary in an hour's time.
Most of the others have set up their sleeping bags on the mat, but a few have chosen to recline against tree trunks instead, like what the pair is doing now.
Dawn feels a little awkward being alone with Paul.
The few times they've conversed – if you can call it that – they were almost always arguing.
"Aren't you tired?" Dawn tries to strike up a conversation.
"What do you think?" Paul grumbles back. "Of course I am."
Dawn clenches her fists. "You don't have to be so touchy all the time, you know."
Paul snorts. "Better touchy than peppy."
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it means. You think I buy your rainbow-sunshiney act?"
"What makes you think it's an act?"
"No one is happy all the time."
"Well, maybe I am."
"Congrats, you've achieved nirvana."
Silence.
And then.
"You say it like acting is a crime." Dawn draws aimless circles on the ground. She isn't quite sure why she's having this conversation, with Paul of all people.
Paul doesn't even spare her a glance. "It is." He spits out harshly.
"Why? No, how is it wrong?"
"It destroys people's lives." His eyes dim. "It gives them false hope."
Somehow, Dawn has a feeling they've veered away from her life into Paul's life.
"Just to be clear, whose acting are we talking about?" She raises tentatively.
He stares a hole into the writhing darkness above, and then juts his hands into his pockets.
"I don't know. I don't care." He says bitingly.
Dawn hugs her knees and presses her cheek against them. "Somehow, I get the feeling you're lying."
"Your instincts are shitty, then."
She smiles faintly. "Are they?"
He doesn't reply. But this time, the silence doesn't feel quite as stifling.
Cilan smothers a yawn.
Drew catches that, though.
"You're clearly tired. Why don't you rest?"
Cilan shakes his head, slapping himself lightly on the cheeks.
"I can't. I promised Cynthia that I would take responsibility for you guys."
"Again with your totally misleading words. You know you sound like you got us pregnant, right?"
Cilan's lips twitch. "I think you just have an overly creative mind."
"Compliments from you sound oddly back-handed. But whatever. Rest if you need to."
"Fret not. I'm not about to pass out yet or anything."
"That's good enough, I suppose." Drew leans his head against the tree. He's worn out, much like the rest of their unkempt group, but he didn't want Cilan to be alone.
Everyone else is in deep sleep. They replaced Paul and Dawn ten minutes ago, and the two promptly fell asleep. So much for not needing to rest.
"Do you think we can find the first card by this week?" Drew asks.
"I don't know," Cilan replies honestly. "I want to be optimistic and say yes, but…"
Drew gets what he means, though.
It's hard to progress when their search is wholly reliant on Dawn's gut feeling. Which isn't very promising.
"I guess –"
But what Drew is guessing, Cilan will never find out as sharp streams of green light fly out from above them and pummel into the ground, their impact shaking the very earth.
"Shit!" Drew swears, getting to his feet immediately. He runs for the nearest sleeping bag – convincing himself that it's totally coincidental that the occupant just so happens to be May – and shakes her shoulders.
A snore is his reply.
She's a tough one to wake. He has always joked that she can sleep through an earthquake.
Now he curses his own big mouth.
Cilan dashes the other way, rousing the rest of the group.
Alain wakes up on his own immediately, and helps Cilan out. He reaches over to where a certain redhead has somehow managed to roll her sleeping bag over in her sleep and is tucked against his side, shaking her awake.
"Mairin, come on."
Serena's groan can be heard for miles. "Not again." She wails, forcing herself to get up. "Why are we always getting attacked in our sleep?"
May is finally rousing, so Drew moves onto the guys, most of whom are awake already, and reaches his next big hurdle – Ash.
That guy is even drooling, a dopey smile plastered on his face. Someone is having a good dream.
Drew doesn't care anymore.
He sends him a sharp kick. "Wake up!"
Ash doesn't even stir.
A tired Gary staggers over. "That's not how you wake him up. Watch me."
Gary bends down. "Oh, Ash," he imitates Delia Ketchum's high-pitched, cheerful voice, "I think you've accidentally wet your underwear agai –"
"GAH, WHAT A NIGHTMARE!" Ash sits up, and Gary ducks, narrowly avoiding getting headbutted.
More of those beams are falling down around them, and the others are busy dodging out of the way.
"I hate life!" Iris hollers, nearly losing a shoe as she flings her body to the side to avoid getting hit by a ray.
"Everyone, grab whatever you need and get into the van!" Cilan yells, stuffing his items back into his bag. One of the beams slams into the van, and there's an ominous screeching sound from the van, which skids back a few feet and becomes slightly – okay, severely – dented.
"Not the van," Drew hisses.
"Arceus, please tell me that is not a hand," Mairin whimpers, one trembling finger pointed at a portal that has recently opened.
Several pairs of wispy, shadow-like hands are emerging from the portal. They're irregularly huge, and easily at least twice as large as an adult human's hand.
Serena takes one look at them and stumbles back a step.
"This isn't happening," she says faintly.
"I'm afraid this is really happening," Misty replies, rolling her sleeping bag with a speed that is beyond impressive. No one is even looking at her, though, as they're too busy ducking, packing, or a combination of both.
Ash is running a solo circus show, tugging on his socks with one hand and using his other hand to scoop up his belongings, while hopping around to avoid the blasts.
"Yeah, that's not a hand." Gary growls out in response to Mairin's comment as the outstretched hand tries to grab at him. "Those are many hands. Stop gawking at them and get the hell out of here!"
"ARCEUS, THAT THING HAS EYES!" Serena shrieks.
Beady crimson eyes are glaring at them through the portal.
The twelve of them freeze at the piercing gaze of that monstrous thing.
Then they run.
Scrambling, fleeing, a wild, chaotic mess – they all squeeze into the van without so much as another word.
"Please let it work." Gary prays.
Alain turns the key – and the engine roars to life.
Everyone heaves a silent sigh of relief. Even if the car is making rather strange sputtering noises. They prefer to ignore it until they're out of the immediate targeting range of the creature they have just faced.
"By the way, guys, no need to worry – I have good news!" Dawn pants.
"It better be real good." Gary grits out, and he hasn't even tugged on his seatbelt when Alain is already tearing down the road.
"Yeah! I know where my card is. I dreamed about it." Dawn reveals excitedly.
"How can you be so lively after we just met the hand thing?" Serena moans, covering her face.
"Well, where is it?" Gary asks, his mind still reeling from that – thing.
"Er, this is the bad news." Dawn takes a deep breath.
"It's at Mt. Coronet. And um, many of those hand things are guarding it. That's why I wasn't too shocked to see one – I've already seen several of those in my dream. Or nightmare."
Dawn chuckles nervously after dropping the bombshell.
Everyone explodes.
A/N:
This chapter is more of a filler chapter! When I was editing it I realized the front part didn't have much action and was wondering if I should just scrap the whole chapter, but I decided to leave it in the end. I mean, our poor Arcana will be in for one heck of a ride soon enough so they deserve some peace before that… Don't they? Consider this the calm before the storm.
Also, I did enjoy writing the Arcana's interactions, but I don't know if you guys may find it boring. If you have something you like to see more of or things you don't really like, feel free to share them!
And lastly, thank you for all your reviews/comments/kudos!
Akatsuki Sakura Uchiha: Thank you! She does say it in this chapter HAHA. She always says it whenever they need to worry…