Note: Phew! Got another one done today. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter so I hope you guys have a lot of fun reading this. Well, Rose is gonna behaving more fun today than Blade is, though...
Rose's POV:
"Rise and shine!" a voice called out to me.
I slowly opened my eyes. For once, it was paradise to have a sleep without any dreams. It was good to know that Cresselia was giving me some privacy.
"Huh?" I sleepily replied, "Why? Is anything the matter?"
"Ain't it obvious? There's some kind of news!" Sandra gravely returned.
I slowly walked over to the table, everyone was already gathered there, except for Blade and Blaze, who I presume are busy talking to each other somewhere else considering that they're best friends and such.
"News?" I returned, my eyes opening when I saw the headlines of the paper Sandra clutched.
"I assumed that was what you're reaction would be..." Celsus returned, his usual annoying personality not present.
"Here, Rose... Check this out..." Sandra worriedly whispered as she shoved the paper into my face.
I began to read the paper.
Mysterious Thief Ruse escaped from prison!
An outlaw by the name of "Ruse", as she calls herself, has managed to break free. For informative purposes, she is of the Gardevoir species, and has been a skilled thief as much as the other Gardevoir thief which we believe has gone into hiding. Further notice is that she is currently accompanied by a Mismagius and a Staraptor. Records show that a Mismagius and a Staraptor were the ones who broke her free in the first place. See more at page 7...
"WHAT? She's out... again?" I scowled, "She was annoying enough in the first place and that pathetic hag had to come back?"
Claire slowly approached me and took the paper.
"Umm... Rose... That isn't the worst part," Claire gravely told me as she flipped open to another page.
I looked at the page she had flipped open to.
Up in Spinda's Café, we have a limited offer of free cupholders for every three shakes made. Cupholders may vary in size, depending on the type of berries used.
"What's so bad about that?" I coughed.
Sandra slapped her forehead as she pointed to the article below it.
"I was suspecting you didn't check the bottom article, Ms. Mysterious Thief who is very experienced?" Celsus scornfully replied, sounding annoying again.
"All right, all right! I'm checking it! Don't break your tail in impatience..." I snarled as I grabbed the paper and checked the bottom article.
Odd Distortions Appearing Over Horizons
Exploration Teams have been claiming that as they travel afar, they claim to be seeing that over the horizons of the seas that surround this land some sort of distortion operating up and crumpling the world. While many have been believed to be hoaxes, a recent study made by a group of Psychic types prove that there is indeed something wrong with such.
To the naked eye, they may seem like stars, less visible in daytime. But further studies prove that there is something slowly tearing away at this land of ours. It appears to be faint at first, but theoretically, it has been proven that if such distortions continue, it would close in directly on our land, trapping it all into one ball of highly concentrated mass. This mass would explode soon and cause an intense field of gravitation, swallowing and engulfing other lands around ours until there is nothing left to engulf.
While this may seem unlikely, we are advised caution as the results of the studies seem highly accurate.
On a side-note, there are reports of huge rising sales of cupholders in the Secret Bazaar.
I snapped the paper shut. The only thing such an article reminds me of was the news of XD002 that Cresselia had told us. If she was afraid of the world ending, maybe that was how it was gonna end... Maybe this XD002 thing is already taking its steps.
"What do you think about it, Rose? Claire has been restless ever since she read that article," Sandra replied as she slowly took Celsus off her head.
"Yeah, I've never seen her that agitated before... We tried asking her but she wouldn't tell us... Maybe you'd know, Rose..." Celsus shot out.
I turned over to Claire.
"Claire, I have to speak with you... in private," I told her as I gestured her over to Blaze's bathroom.
Once inside, I closed the door and opened my mouth to speak. But before I could, she started first.
"Rose... Remember how I located you back when you were struggling with that Gengar back at Midnight Forest?" Claire slowly asked, her eyes looking down at the floor, as if she had suddenly taken an interest to every single dot of dust on the ground.
"Huh? Yeah..? Why?" I answered her.
"Didn't I tell you that I found you all thanks to this Cresselia appearing in my dreams?" she confessed, "Well... Rose... At first, I didn't believe her... She told me... you were in trouble... That I had to go over and help you. I told her that you would never get into any kind of trouble, but she advised me to head over to Midnight Forest and help you as soon as possible anyway. She warned me, that if you weren't found... THAT thing in the news... She told me that would happen..."
My throat felt dry. Claire knew all along what was going to happen. She kept silent, yet she had to take the blunt of knowing such a harsh fate.
I felt guilty for not telling her what Cresselia and Darkrai wanted of Blade and me.
"Listen... Claire," I sat down, knowing it was my turn to confess, "I know it may seem funny... But that is actually true... Darkrai and Cresselia also appeared to Blade and I... And the end of the world is inevitable."
"But, why?" Claire teared up.
"I didn't finish... It was all set in motion by Cipher," I told her, "They created some sort of weapon, according to Cresselia, and it got released into this world. Cresselia told us that this thing is unstable and if it continues on to be unstable, it would slowly but surely drag the world into its doom."
Claire remained silent.
"But, there's something else... Blade and I, Darkrai and Cresselia said that we are the destined ones to stop this from happening," I explained, hoping to cheer her up.
"Cipher..." Claire muttered.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Cipher... Cipher did this? Those... those brutes?" she screamed in anguish, tears dropping from her eyes, "They... They destroyed my life! Now, they want to destroy this world?"
"Claire? Are you... okay?" I patted her back, hoping to get her to calm down.
I was quite surprised... I never saw Claire in such anguish... She looked almost... angry.
"No, Rose..." she suddenly looked up, "Rose... I-I've never been much of a use to you before... Please... Let me join this fight... I-I want to go after Cipher! I want to... make... them... PAY!"
I froze. I suddenly felt something bad was happening. The way Claire's eyes looked, it seemed as if she was overcome with rage. It was even more scary considering that I've never seen her angry before.
"Claire... Calm... Calm down!" I tried.
She suddenly burst not tears and collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily.
"Claire!" I screamed, checking her pulse. She was alright, but she was unconscious.
I slowly hoisted her up and exited the room.
"Take her to her bed, she's going to need some rest," I commanded Celsus and Sandra.
As the couple helped Claire to her bed, I took a seat on a stool. I began to think deeply... Was the world really going to end? Didn't I wish that? Why would I join them to stop it? I was always selfish before... Why stop now?
The door burst open as Blade and Blaze burst in, laughing and chatting with each other.
I slyly smiled to myself.
No! I thought, I'm just as selfish as ever. I'm probably doing it only for him! That pathetic excuse for a Gallade, he just got lucky.
"Blade!" I called, "We have some serious news..."
"We have some news too!" Blaze grinned, elbowing his Gallade friend, "Spinda's Café now gives away free cupholders!"
The two appeared to be holding cups with some sort of liquid in them, they seemed to have four or five of those things. On Blade's other hand was some plastic cupholders.
I simply slapped my forehead as I thought to myself, Oh Arceus, please don't tell me Darkrai chose the wrong Gallade to be a 'so-called hero'...
"While you two were out fooling around, I actually found news that was way worth being informed of!" I scolded as I stuffed the newspaper into Blade's face, who responded with a weak cough as if he was choking on some drink.
Blade took the newspaper and read the article, when he was done, I could see his eyes grow in size.
"R-rose!" he coughed, some of his drink still evident on his lips, "T-this news... It could be what Darkrai's asking about!"
"I know!" I repeated myself, "Now please go and wipe that disgusting thing off your mouth! Blade, shouldn't you be the one worried about this?"
Blaze lifted his eyebrows.
"Wow, Blade... Since when did you become the type to be bossed around by a girl?" Blaze chuckled as Blade tried to hide his reddening face by holding up the newspaper.
"She's right, Blaze... I'm sorry... We gotta go... We have to warn Darkrai and Cresselia," Blade replied as soon as he cleared his throat.
"Sure thing, go on... Good luck on another date you two... It's always nice to know there's love in the air even as the world is ending," Blaze laughed, eventually choking on his own drink.
I resisted to urge to send the idiotic Typhlosion flying. Blade simply gestured for me to follow him and leave.
I followed him off and we began to head over to the area we met Darkrai and Cresselia yesterday.
"So... uh... would you like to have a drink?" Blade shyly offered as he took out one of those disposable cups.
"Huh?" I groaned, "Umm... If you insist."
I took a sip as we walked, the problems still filling up most of my mind.
"This isn't really bad... Thanks," I shyly replied to Blade, "Sorry if I finished it..."
"Er... Don't mind it... It was for you in the first place..." he sheepishly smiled.
I caught his smile and I smiled back, but I quickly hid it when I decided to switch topics.
"Uh... so... You should tell Darkrai what has happened," I urgently replied, snapping Blade out of his not-so-serious state.
"Huh! Yeah... Oh... right!" Blade continued, "Well, we're here then... Darkrai and Cresselia said that they would meet us over in Beach Cave again..."
We stood in awkward silence, side by side... I swear, if Blaze saw us like this, I'd kill him.
I began to open my mouth to say that Darkai and Cresselia were late but that was when a flash of light engulfed us again, before I could speak.
When the light had faded, we found ourselves back on top of the floating gear. Darkrai and Cresselia floated side-by-side, waiting for us.
"Darkrai! We have news-" Blade started, only to be interrupted by the Pitch Black Pokémon himself.
"Yeah, I know... XD002 has started to go out of control," Darkrai sadly whispered, "The end of the world is imminent... And yes, you need not say it, I know about the free cupholders too."
"Well, Rose..." Cresselia smiled, a light blush appearing on her face, "Darkrai and I... We... err... worked up in something else for your training today due to the unfortunate incidents happening... This is the final test... We want to see if the resolves of the two of you are firm enough... I want to pit you... against Darkrai's student, Blade!"
I staggered backwards. I was gonna have to fight Blade again! What's worse... I know that this was the real thing.
"What's the matter, Rose? Scared of him?" Cresselia giggled.
A light blush formed on my face.
"N-no! I-I am NOT scared, not of him!" I hissed, getting into a fighting stance.
"Don't worry... Clearing this will also clear all doubts I have on your skills, Rose," Cresselia smiled, "And then I can move on to entrust to you the last thing needed to save this world."
"Hmm... Cressie... Are you sure about this?" Darkrai scratched his chin.
"Trust me," Cresselia winked at him.
"Fine then," Darkrai calmly returned, facing to Blade, "Now, Blade... Are you ready to put what you have learned to use?"
"Yes, sir," Blade closed his eyes as he bowed to Darkrai.
"Good... I suppose both of you are ready now, am I correct?" Darkrai stated, "If so... Then... Begin! Now!"
Blade simply stood at where he was. He stood still, not making any intention to attack. He merely stood straight up, hands behind his back as he stared at me with cold and calm eyes.
"Blade? Are you underestimating me by choosing not to attack?" I taunted as I charged forward, starting off with Thief.
Blade didn't move, he allowed the move to hit him. I was disturbed by that. Why wouldn't he get out of the way?
I snatched up his item, which had turned out to be another of his items that were supposedly made by the mythical humans. It appeared to be some purple orb... All of a sudden, I began to feel dizzy. I felt... poisoned!
Blaze turned around immediately as soon as I had fallen to the effects of his Toxic Orb.
"One must not be too quick to judge one's opponent!" Blade scolded as he charged with a Night Slash.
He charged forward and swung his arms at me.
"But one shouldn't also strike when his opponent has seemingly fallen!" I quipped back a I jumped, one foot landing on his arm, throwing him off his attack as I jumped over him and let loose a Thunderbolt.
"I always found your battling style... interesting," Blade grinned as he staggered backwards, readying a Stone Edge.
"Odd... I thought that you were only interested in me the same way I was interested in you," I taunted back as I launched an Attract.
Blade let loose his Stone Edge, countering my Attract.
"Really, now... The way you attack, it's as if you wanted to tell me something," he scowled, charging forwards in a Night Slash.
"I do want to tell you something!" I smiled as I charged, my hands glowing black with Thief.
"What is it? Tell it to me with the way you fight!" Blade seriously replied, I could feel his determination burning as if he wanted to beat me.
"I want to beat you! I will let my attacks do the talking!" I burned as I charged, I wanted to beat Blade for once, just so desperately.
"Then, tell me... Tell me NOW!" Blade nobly called as our attacks collided.
My hand clashed against his arm, we were pushing our attacks through each other.
"I wanted to tell you this..." I snarled, "I... love you!"
Blade seemed shocked. The effect that I had anticipated.
"W-what..?" Blade spat.
His attack began to weaken.
"Wait, really?" he blushed, his attack losing it's effect.
I smiled.
All of a sudden, I overpowered his weakened Night Slash with the Thief that clashed with him. Overpowering his attack, I lashed out the punishment I had been waiting so long to deal.
"Nope! Not really," I giggled as I jumped above him and launched a surging Thunderbolt from above him.
"Ungh, you..." he muttered, getting up sluggishly, as if he was paralyzed.
"Yeah... In fact, it's the other way around!" I grinned as I launched Attract, "It's about to be, anyway..."
Blade, in his paralysis, was unable to dodge it quickly, so he mustered a quick Night Slash to destroy the pink ray of hearts before they could take effect on him. While he was destroying my attack, however, I took the opportunity to sneak up behind him.
"You're so stubborn... That's what I respect of you!" I growled as I unleashed a full-force Psychic on him.
"Ugh!" Blade groaned. He stood firm. His eyes piercing through my soul.
But he collapsed.
He collapsed. I had won. I had finally won.
"C-cressie?" Darkrai stared, "How did that..."
"Nice work, Rose," Cresselia broke the silence, smiling at me, "It's good to see that you've finally got your act together... Unlike yesterday where you-"
"Shush!" I blushed, glaring back at Cresselia.
"Oh... All right, all right," she smiled.
I held my hand out for Blade to take. Blade merely looked up as I pulled him up.
"Amazing... Rose... I..." Blade left his sentence unfinished as he stood up.
"Well, as I promised... Rose, Blade... We need to talk to you... Tomorrow..." Cresselia smiled, "We have to speed things up a bit with the news already found out."
I nodded in reply.
"Now, if you'll excuse me... Rose... I suppose you two should be resting now... " Cresselia grinned, "Leaving Darkrai and me alone... Seeya, come back tomorrow!"
In a flash, before I could complain, we were sent back to the beach.
Blade sat down beside me, gesturing me to do the same.
"Some day it has been, huh?" Blade asked.
I smiled, "You have no idea."
Note: Rose... You dirty liar... There you go, you finally beat Blade! Happy now? A well, what did you guys think of it? I hope it wasn't too shabby. Did you guys enjoy it? Did you think it was lacking? Again, every opinion counts! Please do leave a review! 'Till next chappie then... Seeya~