Author's Note: Whew! I finally finished writing the whole fic! I'll still be posting at an every-other-day rate until the story's conclusion.

I'm going back to college tomorrow, so it was really tough to write the last couple chapters with everything I've got on my mind, but writing this was much better than having to deal with things like packing, so it was actually something of a blessing to have something to distract me. XD

I really hope you all enjoy this chapter, because I sure do.

Seven Nights

Night Five: Promise

Jirachi had trouble sleeping that night.

As he watched Celebi's chest rise and fall as she slept, he felt dread beginning to spin in the bottom of his stomach. Already he had spent three—this was the fourth—nights with Celebi, and his time was almost up. He would never see any of his friends again, he had found out, and was coming to the realization that he would never see Celebi again either. His heart juddered painfully at the thought. He had made lots of friends, become close with lots of Pokémon over the many years, but there would just never be another Pokémon like Celebi. She was something else entirely. No one else had ever comforted him so much, or taught him so much about the world, or gone to such lengths just to make him happy. It was strange to think someone cared about him that much, and Jirachi was equal parts confused and happy about it.

Celebi snorted in her sleep, turning over. She whimpered a small cry of pain as she winced and turned over again, seeking a more comfortable position. Jirachi's heart clenched with remorse. He knew Celebi was in worse shape than she had let on. She had only been trying to help him, and she had hurt herself while doing it. Why had she pushed herself so hard? Perhaps if he had spent less time moping earlier...

He shook himself slightly. Lamenting about his past actions would do nothing. All he could do now was try to be as good a friend to Celebi as she was being to him. He watched her sleep, his eyes taking her in fondly. She twitched her nose slightly as she slept, and Jirachi struggled against the urge to giggle. She looked very endearing.

Letting her steady breathing be his lullaby, Jirachi's eyelids drifted closed at last.

(-o-)

Celebi yawned, stretching her sore muscles and wincing slightly at the pain in her wings and shoulders. She rubbed her eyes sleepily, and then looked down to greet—

Where was Jirachi?

Her eyes snapped open as she became fully alert. "Jirachi?" she called, looking from side to side, anxiety beginning to bloom within her. "Jirachi?" she called again, a little louder and a little more nervously.

"Good morning!" a voice said suddenly from her side, and she yelped and nearly fell out of her tree. Grasping onto the branch at the last minute, her eyes found the source of the voice.

"Arceus, Jirachi!" she breathed, climbing back onto her branch. "You've really got to stop that!"

"Sorry," Jirachi said apologetically. "Anyway, I found us breakfast!" He brought out two large berries from behind his back: Iapapas. "They look good, don't they?" he said eagerly.

"Yeah, if you like really sour stuff," Celebi laughed. Jirachi looked down at the berries in a disappointed manner, as if it was the berries' fault for being the inappropriate flavor. "Come on," she told him. "I'll show you where the Mago berries are."

(-o-)

Jirachi was acting strangely, Celebi thought. He was normally cheerful, but today he seemed to be even more so than usual. He smiled constantly, and kept trying to help her. She was flattered, but wondered what had brought on this behavior. She pondered it as they sat on the beach. Jirachi hummed as he made a sand tower.

"Jirachi," she started, "What's gotten into you today?"

He looked at her as if she had said something odd. "Whatever do you mean, Celebi?" he smiled. "I'm just happy to be spending a day at the beach with you."

"Well, that's very nice, but..." she faltered, blinking. How should she phrase this? 'Stop trying so hard'? It would sound unkind...

"But...?" Jirachi prompted her, setting a few seashells in the sand tower to look like doors.

"Well..." Celebi hesitated, digging her feet into the sand a little, "It just seems like you're...I dunno... trying to be extra happy around me." He froze for a moment before resuming his castle-building, and Celebi knew she had hit the nail on the head. "And... you don't need to do that," she continued, heartened by her correct guess. "You don't need to pretend around me. Just be yourself."

He stopped building his castle and sighed. "Celebi, I am happy. Truly. I just..." he trailed off, staring at the main door in his sand tower, a large pinkish scallop shell. "I know I will have to go to Sleep soon, and..." He looked up at her, his eyes showing the sadness they had been hiding.

"...You don't want to waste time being sad," she finished for him understandingly, and he nodded. She smiled at him. "I know," she said. "But..." she looked down at her feet again, burying them further in the sand. "It's okay, you know," she said awkwardly. "To be sad, I mean." She began picking up handfuls of sand, letting it slip through her fingers, like her time left with Jirachi. "I mean...I'm sad," she admitted quietly.

Jirachi smiled gently at her. "That is why I must be happy right now, Celebi," he said. "I do not like to see you sad."

She smiled back, a genuinely grateful smile. "Thank you."

(-o-)

"Celebi," Jirachi said as they ate their evening meal on a tree branch, "What is your favorite kind of berry?" He held a pink berry in his hands that seemed to twist slightly— a Mago. Jirachi had decided after breakfast that this was his favorite type of berry, so they were eating it again for supper.

"My favorite?" Celebi echoed, munching a Mago berry. Jirachi noticed that she liked the sweet flavor as well. "Well... I guess my favorite would be Watmel berries," she answered.

Jirachi blinked. "Watmel berries?" he repeated. "What are they like?"

Celebi's eyes lit up. "They're huge!" she told him. "Some of them are the size of my head, or bigger!" She held her arms up a certain distance apart to emphasize. Jirachi's eyes widened. "They're bright pink and vivid light green," Celebi continued, "and they're the sweetest berries in the whole world!" She pressed her hands to her cheeks, relishing the memory of the berry's sweetness.

Jirachi smiled wide. "Oh, really?" he breathed in awe. "They sound delicious!"

"Oh, they are!" Celebi replied happily, but then her expression softened into one of slight disappointment. "It's been so long since I've had one, though," she sighed.

"Why is that?" Jirachi asked, swinging his little legs back and forth as they sat on the tree branch.

"They're really hard to get to," Celebi explained, looking a little sad. Snapping herself out of it, she turned and smiled wide at Jirachi, her eyes closing. "But Mago berries are really sweet, right? They're good too!"

Jirachi smiled back, but felt bad that she wasn't able to enjoy her favorite food like he was. "Celebi, I am going to find us some more Mago berries," he told her, wanting to help out. "I remember where they are."

Celebi looked a little uncomfortable. "Well...okay," she said hesitantly. "But be careful, Jirachi. Don't go anywhere else, and call out to me if you're in trouble."

"Do not be silly, Celebi," Jirachi told her with a wave of his hand. "I will only be in the nearby grove. That is where the Mago berries are, right?"

"Yes, that's right," Celebi confirmed, looking a little more reassured. She glanced up at the sky. The sun was just beginning to sink out of it. "Don't be gone too long," she warned him. "It'll be dark soon."

"I will return shortly!" Jirachi said confidently, and he flitted off.

(-o-)

Jirachi flew through the trees of assorted colors and reached the grove of Mago berries. He wondered where Watmel berries grew. Maybe they didn't grow in the forest anymore? Still feeling a little sorry that he couldn't bring Celebi her favorite food, he began plucking Mago berries, holding them with his streamers held together in front of him like a pouch. He glanced up at the sky again— the sun was beginning to drop closer to the horizon. He should be quick.

He returned to his task of picking berries, humming the song he had heard Celebi singing the evening they had met. Quite unexpectedly, a strong wind blew through the trees, and Jirachi braced himself against it, his tags fluttering to the side as the wind played with them. All of his gathered berries were suddenly blown from his makeshift pouch, and flew a short distance away.

"Oh no!" Jirachi muttered to himself, flying after them. Inwardly, he scolded the wind for making it more difficult to return on time. He followed the path the berries had taken, and looked down: sure enough, the twisted pink berries lay strewn across the forest floor. There you are, he thought as he floated down to them. He began to pick them up, one by one, and place them back in his makeshift basket. When he had gathered all in sight, he looked around the forest floor to make sure he hadn't missed any. As his eyes flicked across the grass, they came upon a startling sight.

A large, bright pink berry with jagged lime-green stripes lay on the ground invitingly, right at the foot of a nearby tree. Jirachi's eyes widened. He couldn't believe his luck— Celebi's favorite berry, which was so hard to find, was just laying there on the ground, waiting for him to take it! Excited, he dropped the Magos to the ground and left them there as floated toward the large berry. He reached out a hand and touched the berry. It was soft, but not mushy, and he could tell from the vivacity of the color that it was just bursting with flavor. Wouldn't Celebi be pleased, he thought, if he returned with this instead of the Mago berries!

He hefted it carefully. It was quite heavy, but this one appeared to be a smaller specimen, at least, so it wasn't too difficult for him to carry. It would still make flying a little harder, though. He looked around, turning in different angles, pondering the shortest route back to Celebi's Pecha tree.

As he turned in place one more time, he was suddenly greeted with a pine cone-like Pokémon not two inches from his face.

(-o-)

Celebi played with the shoots that sprung from the tree branches, anxiously awaiting Jirachi's return. Perhaps she had been foolish to let him go off on his own— he didn't really know his way around the forest yet, she thought. But then, he had seemed so eager to help her out... how could she refuse?

Still, she reasoned, glancing at the sun, which was beginning to turn red as it drifted closer to the horizon, Jirachi sure was taking a long time. Maybe he was in trouble? Her heart skipped a beat. A strong gust of wind suddenly blew by, and Celebi clutched the tree trunk, bracing herself and worrying for Jirachi. Her mind raced with half-formed images of Jirachi being blown away by the wind, Jirachi being captured by a wandering human, Jirachi meeting the creature that had killed the old Zigzagoon—

She let out a gasp of fear and jolted from her seat on the tree branch, her wings buzzing frantically as she took off in search of her friend.

(-o-)

"Ah!" Jirachi exclaimed, stumbling back and falling to the ground. He held the berry between his hands, making sure it hadn't been ruptured. After examining the berry, he looked up curiously at the Pokémon. He hadn't ever met one like it, but was pretty sure he had heard of them... Pineco, weren't they?

"So, punk," the Pineco said, bouncing closer to Jirachi, his eyes narrowed threateningly. "You think you can just waltz in here, steal a Watmel, and walk out, easy as that?"

"That does sound like my plan," Jirachi agreed, oblivious to the Pokémon's threatening attitude. "However, I think you must have me confused with someone else," he continued. "I am not 'Punk'. It was nice to meet you, though!" Giving the Pineco a smile, he turned to walk away in the opposite direction.

"No, I'm pretty sure Blast is right, punk," said another Pineco, dropping down right in front of Jirachi and blocking his path. He, too, bounced closer to Jirachi.

"Who do you think you are?" the first Pineco, Blast, asked the little Pokémon angrily.

"I think I am Jirachi," Jirachi answered, a little confused by their actions. "I am sorry if you mistook me for 'Punk'."

"He thinks he's funny, Bristle," Blast grunted.

"We don't like jokers," Bristle growled as the two began to close in.

(-o-)

"Jirachi!" Celebi called out frantically, searching the forest high and low for her little friend. "Jirachi, where are you?" She had searched all over the Mago grove, and he was nowhere to be found. Maybe he had been abducted or caught or—

"Jirachi!" she called out, a little more desperately, bursting out of the tops of the trees and looking down at the forest from on high. Suddenly she saw a glint of gold far down below, her eyes instantly locking onto it. Was it—

"Jirachi?" she yelled, flying closer.

Jirachi's head whipped up as he heard the familiar voice. "Celebi?" he called into the sky. His green fairy friend flew into view high above.

"Jirachi!" she yelled in relief, and then her eyes widened as she saw the two Pokémon that accompanied him— Blast, the leader of the Pineco Gang, and his second-in-command, Bristle. She'd never met them, but had heard tales of them throughout the forest, tales which never had a happy ending. They had moved in and claimed the Watmel grove as their territory, and if anybody trespassed—

"Jirachi!" she shouted, her voice high with panic. "Get away from them!"

(-o-)

"Aw, look," Blast said, spotting the little green Pokémon in the sky. "He brought a little friend."

"Too bad it doesn't make much of a difference," Bristle rumbled. They had come in close around Jirachi now, and he was beginning to see that these Pokémon's intentions were not friendly.

"Um..hey," he said timidly, trying to sidestep Blast, who he faced. "There is no reason to crowd one another...W-we have the whole forest, after all..."

"Exactly," Bristle said, moving to block Jirachi's exit. "Which is why we're wondering...Why did you have to come into our territory?"

"Your territory?" Jirachi asked. "What is?"

"This whole grove, you little...what are you anyway?" Blast trailed off in a growl. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. No matter who you are, you're a trespasser to us."

"This whole grove is your territory?" Jirachi asked, beginning to feel his nervousness building. "I-It seems a little large, does it not? For just two Pokémon?" His voice was beginning to rise in pitch.

"Two?" Bristle barked, and they roared with laughter. "You're not very smart, are you, punk."

Instantly, a whole ring of Pineco dropped down, surrounding Jirachi entirely.

(-o-)

Celebi didn't know what to do. If she swooped down and intervened, the Pineco would surely explode— they didn't much care for sudden movements. But if she stayed up here...

"Jirachi!" she called down to him. "Fly straight up! Now!"

(-o-)

Jirachi was confused by Celebi's instructions, but looked up at her and nodded, letting her know he understood.

"I am sorry I have trespassed, Pineco," he addressed the Pokémon surrounding him. "I-I will not do it again. I will leave now." He began to float into the air, taking the Watmel with him.

"Ohhh no you don't," Blast growled, leaping up and landing on top of one of Jirachi's streamers, bringing him thudding back down to the ground. Jirachi cried out, dropping the Watmel berry, and Bristle held down his other streamer, keeping him tethered to the ground.

"No one trespasses and gets away with it," Bristle hissed in his ear.

Jirachi looked around frantically, whimpering in fear. Every direction he looked, a Pineco met his gaze, staring at him angrily.

"Prepare yourself, punk," Blast said, and his eyes glinted in a way reminiscent of a smirk. "Cuz we're gonna blow you away."

"Celebi!" Jirachi cried desperately.

(-o-)

Celebi heard his cry and knew instantly what was about to happen. "JIRACHI!" she yelled, and swooped down toward the ground. All around, the Pineco's eyes were screwed shut with effort, and they began to glow white. One near the back of the circle exploded in a cloud of smoke as she drew near, and Celebi dodged the blast with a yelp as she continued flying, hearing the worn-out groan of the Pineco behind her.

The Pineco were beginning to explode at an increasing rate, clouds of smoke blooming in every direction. A thick blast of smoke and debris suddenly erupted in front of her, and she flew right into it, suddenly blinded. "Celebi!" Jirachi's fearful voice reached her ears, and she gasped for air as she burst through the smoke and into clear air again.

"Jirachi!" she choked out. The Pineco were exploding nearly constantly now, the ones who had already exploded laying in a charred and fainted heap. Spotting her friend, Celebi swooped in. Blast and Bristle began to glow white, sensing that the opportunity was getting away, and Celebi gasped and acted quickly, knocking aside the two Pineco with her telekinesis. Bristle exploded as he made impact with the ground, Celebi caught in the blast. She cried out as she faltered in the air, and Jirachi coughed as he was enveloped with the resulting smoke. With effort, Celebi dove in and grabbed Jirachi's hand, yanking him upward. Jirachi took the lead and pulled her along, Celebi panting with effort to keep up and not pull him down.

"You won't get AWAY!" Blast roared, leaping up and exploding with more force than all the others.

"Dodge! Dodge!" Celebi panted frantically, and Jirachi swerved to avoid the explosion, rising higher in the sky. They had moved just in time, and only caught a puff of smoke as they fled skyward. Blast's charred body fell to the earth, and Celebi could hear him shouting curses towards them as they flew away from the Watmel grove.

(-o-)

Jirachi panted, his heart still beating a mile a minute as he and Celebi slowly sank to rest on the branches of the Pecha tree. The sun had long since set, and the moon was rising in the sky. Jirachi glanced at his friend with worry. She was on her hands and knees, gasping, sucking in air with deep breaths. Her side was singed painfully, and one of her wings looked slightly charred. Numerous cuts covered the injured side from the small pebbles stirred up by the blasts. Jirachi's eyes clouded over with sympathy and pain. Yet again, Celebi had saved him, and yet again, he was responsible for her suffering.

"Celebi..." he breathed, touching her shoulder gently. She winced. "I..." he trailed off, realizing that there was nothing he could say that would ever express his regret. "I am sorry, Celebi," he choked out finally.

"It's okay... I've been...through worse," Celebi panted, straightening and leaning her back and head against the tree trunk wearily. She took a deep breath and let it out with a whoosh, trying to calm down her breathing.

"No it is not!" Jirachi snapped, and Celebi looked at him in surprise. "It is not okay, Celebi," he continued, his voice calmer, but sadder. "I have done nothing but cause you unnecessary pain and trouble."

"You know that's not true!" Celebi said, and Jirachi thought she sounded a little defiant. She certainly looked it, with her bright blue eyes narrowed and a frown on her face. "We've had a lot of fun together, haven't we? And you don't know your way around here, Jirachi; how could you have known about those jerks?"

"It does not matter, Celebi," he said heatedly, stubbornly raising his voice.

"Yes it does!" Celebi countered, moving her head closer to his confrontationally. "I should've warned you about them, and I didn't. It was my fault!"

"I cannot keep relying on you to protect me and be my friend all the time, Celebi," Jirachi yelled, tears pricking his eyes, "because soon you won't be able to!"

Celebi's frown deepened. "Well then I'd better look out for you while I still can, hadn't I?" she asked rhetorically.

"I never asked for you to look out for me!" he shouted back.

Celebi drew back abruptly, shocked and hurt. "Jirachi..." she said, her voice breaking.

Jirachi glared at her, panting heavily for a moment, before his angry expression melted away and tears spilled from his eyes instead. "I am sorry," he whispered. "I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry..." he trailed off to a sniffle, and Celebi drew close and wrapped her arms around him.

"Shh, shh," she hushed him, holding him tightly. "Don't. It's okay." She spoke gently, trying not to let her voice choke.

"I am tired of losing the ones I care about," he whispered, looking at her with tear-filled eyes. "I do not want to lose you, too, Celebi."

"You won't lose me," Celebi said soothingly, squeezing him a little tighter. "I promise. I promise."

As she held him, repeating these words, Celebi wondered if it was really Jirachi she was trying to comfort.

Author's Note: What did you think? :3 I know this chapter was pretty angsty, but I swear to you that Chapter Six is almost nothing but happiness and rainbows and sunshine. It's probably the happiest chapter ever. XD

Thank you so much to my reviewers. Captain Piika, Tilfang, doggiefan, and T_S_EMOtional, you are pure gold for taking the time to read and review, especially more than once!

A special thanks to Happy Hereford, who has reviewed nearly every chapter. You have no idea how much that means to me, HH. You are an angel.

Thank you to all my non-reviewing readers too. I know you're out there! :) Please feel free to leave me a comment, even if it's just a short one. It really brightens my day.

Even if you don't review, reader, I really hope you're enjoying my story. Thank you so much. ^_^