-Five-

Flare

Ever since I met him some three months ago when Junjie joined the team, I knew Joo-Joo was the one for me. At first I was all alone. Glimmer and Shiner, the two Phosphoro Slugs were just so…perfect. I wanted to be just like them, with a slug of my element. Burpy was a little rough and tumble, and Sparky and Bomber the Grenukers were just out of control. I wanted to be with a sophisticated fire slug. I've been like that ever since I left my previous slinger. But when I met Joo-Joo, I knew he was perfect.

But now, things were different. His slinger's life was at stake. I knew sooner or later I would have to speak up about how I felt, and it looks like now's the time.

"Joo-Joo, listen to me. Junjie is going to be just fine. Lily won't let anything else happen to him. She loves him like I love-"

WHAT WAS THAT?! Smooth move, Flare, you idiot. I thought. I mentally face palmed.

"I know, Flare, it's just… hard." I put my arm around him sympathetically. "I know what it's like going through tough times. Let me tell you something."

Flashback

I awoke to the smooth blue glass of my slug tube. The cavern was bright, and I heard Slyren Slugs singing a beautiful song. I poked my head out. My slinger was riding her mecha beast, BL4Z-R, into town for the annual Slug-Slinging Tournament of Quartermaine Cavern. I was very excited because this was my first full-on tournament.

"Finally," my slinger said. "This will be the day I will defeat that pesky Lillian Shane, and the Shane Gang will put me in her place!" The Armashelt on my left started chirping. I just cowered in my slug tube.

"She never told me she was planning to fight the Shane Gang…" I whispered to myself.

"What? I didn't quite hear you, newbie." The Armashelt mocked. I growled.

"Stop calling me that!" My antenna lit up in anger.

"Quiet down, you two." I stuck my tongue out. The Armashelt looked away and crossed his arms.

"Don't listen to him." The female Arachnet said. "He's always been a little rough around the edges. I've lived with him for two years. You'll get used to it. C'mon, we're almost there!"

My slinger stood in the arena. She was facing none other than Lillian Shane the first round. "So, we meet again, Shane. This time I WILL beat you!" Lily smirked and said,

"We'll see about that, Alliana."

"BEGIN!"

My slinger grabbed the Arachnet. "Just watch. You'll learn soon." She said. Then she was inserted into a blaster. "Well, here I go!"

"And Alliana Wilde starts the tournament off right with an Arachnet Slug! But Lillian Shane's first shot will soon follow!"

Lily loaded a Negashade Slug. "Alright, Darkie. Bring down the house!"

"Lillian fires a defensive Negashade, which takes out Alliana's first shot! This is too good!"

In the stands, a young teen with raven hair yelled, "WOO! Go get 'em, sis!" The Infurnus Slug on his shoulder chirped in sympathy with his slinger.

My slinger growled. She kept firing and losing all of her slugs until she was down to a Sand Angler and me. She took my slug tube off her bandoleer. I smiled. "No, not you!" She put me back and grabbed the Sand Angler. It was soon taken out by a Frightgeist Slug.

"Way to go, Shadow!" "Wow," I said.

"She really loves her slugs. Wish my slinger would just love me." Then she grabbed my slug tube again.

"You're all I have left?! You're pathetic! Your BlastBurst Attack can't do anything! You couldn't even take on a Flopper Slug if you tried!" I fell to the ground. She raised her foot. My eyes shrank in fear.

"NO!"

A Frostcrawler made my angered slinger fall. "Why you little…!" She pointed her blaster at Lily.

"Sorry, Alliana. Cruelty to slugs is an automatic disqualification." The official said. While she was distracted, I slinked over to Lily and hid behind her boot. Then she noticed me.

"Hi there. I've got room in my arsenal for one more, if you're interested." She held out her hand. I smiled the biggest smile in my life. I jumped into her hand.

End Flashback

"Wow, that must've been hard living with a neglective slinger like her. Junjie would never treat me, or any slug like that!" Joo-Joo said after I finished my story.

"Well, Doc had the same problem, just, not in the same setting." I turned my head to the Energy Elemental, who was inside one of Eli's slug tubes.

"I'm glad you told me that. But, there something I've been meaning to tell you."

"What?"

"I love you."

Joo-Joo pulled me into a long kiss. His blood-red eyes stared gingerly into my dark amber ones. When we pulled apart, I said,

"I love you, too."

Then we kissed again.