Hey guys! I'm back. I wasn't getting any inspiration for this story and had writers block, but everythings back in order and I have it all figured out! Sorry for the long wait, but here it is! :)

Story is rated T for Teen.

The Truth is Revealed

I lay there, staring blankly up at the stars. He had left for good.. The festival was probably over by now, but I couldn't have cared less. I sat alone, under a tree in the forest where he had wandered off to. I tried searching for him, calling his name and pleading that he hear my cries, but Steven was long gone.

I must have cried for hours as I sat there. The darkness only shadowed my tiny frame as I huddled against the rough bark of the tree. It was freezing and I could feel my body shivering as I wiped away the tears.

I stood up and rubbed my arms with my hands. It would be best if I went to go find Raiga and Declan, crying here in the dark wasn't going to get me anywhere. The red head had probably found him by now and the pair were most likely wondering where Steven and I were.

Steven.

"Believe what you want, but did you honestly think I'd want to spend my time traveling with a dumb klutz like you? I'd rather be alone."

I bit my lip hard and tried to hold back the tears as I trudged through the forest. Maybe it was best to try and forget about him. Whatever his problem was, I wasn't important enough to him to know. I was just some stupid little girl to him after all.

The moonlight helped a little as it guided me towards the exit of the forest, the spot where I had last seen Mr. Stone's son. I quickened my pace and was soon back in the town. People were packing up the festival as I walked back. The happy atmosphere of children laughing and lanterns burning brightly had fallen. It was silent and dark.

Once I reached the Pokemon Center, the same one we had stayed in the night before, I noticed Nurse Joy glancing at me. She was giving me a sympathetic look, as if she had known what had happened. I gave her a weak smile before approaching.

"Are Raiga and Declan still staying here?"

She nodded. "Yes, they're in the same room you guys were in the night before." She paused and then smiled hesitantly. "They were worried sick about you."

I looked down solemnly. "Oh." I dragged my feet away from the front desk, not caring if I was sounding rude. I made my way over to the room and opened the door.

The boys turned there heads quickly as I entered the room, looks of shock plastered on their faces. "Y-Y-Y-You're back!" Declan exclaimed.

"Where were you?" Raiga demanded. "We were worried- "I was trying to find Steven." I interrupted.

The two of them silenced and glanced at me expectantly, as if wanting me to tell them where he was. My eyes darted back and forth between each of their faces before my bottom lip began to quiver.

"He's gone." I said throwing my arms up in the air. My voice had cracked and I knew I was crying. I turned away quickly, embarrassed by my weak tear ducts.

"What do you mean..." Raiga started. "Declan told me he was acting weird earlier, but he actually left?"

"He said he didn't wanted to travel with us anymore, He- He...said he wanted to be alone." My eyes were directed at the floor as I continued. "I think somethings wrong..or something happened, but he didn't tell me anything. He just said..."

"I didn't mean it."

Dumb klutz...

I exhaled loudly. I wouldn't cry again, even though my watering eyes thought other wise. His words hurt so much. I couldn't get them out of my head.

"Hey", Declan said coming up beside me. "We'll look for him tomorrow. Maybe he's just upset or something."

"It's more than that!" I snapped. "What if Team Magma got him? What if he turned over to them? They were after him you know!"

"Do you think Steven would honestly work with them?" Raiga blurted, sounding angry. "You clearly don't know him that well do you?"

I felt my eyes widen in shock as I stared at Raiga in disbelief.

"You barely know me!"

Declan noticed my uneasiness and sent Raiga a look. "Don't yell at her like that. Let's just all calm down and look for him in the morning, alright?"

Raiga sighed and climbed up to his bed. "Fine, but I don't want anyone bad mouthing Steven. He's not like that."

Declan directed his eyes to me. "Are you going to be okay?" I nodded and he ushered me towards my bed. I lay down, not bothering to even place my body underneath the covers. I listened as Declan used the red coloured ladder to climb up onto his bed; above mine.

"Goodnight guys." The red head whispered wearily, clapping his hands so that the lights flickered off.

The room went dark and no one else said a word.

"Be careful." Nurse Joy called out as we left the Pokemon Center. Something about that nurse bothered me. It was as if she knew something, but wasn't willing to tell anyone. Her nervous smiles were making her uneasiness around us become too obvious.

I decided to forget about her as we exited. As planned, we headed towards the forest where I had last seen Steven. The sun was shining brightly in the sky and the town was alive again. They were other young trainers roaming with their Pokemon and people selling things in little booths. The atmosphere had changed so drastically.

Once we got to the forest, Raiga suggested finding a spot to declare as our meeting place when we set off to find Steven. A big clearing that had a lone log placed dead center seemed perfect.

"Let's all split up and try to look for him. Our maximum will be an hour and an half. Hopefully someone will have found him by then." Raiga ordered.

Declan nodded, but I just stood there."What if we don't find him?" I thought sadly. "What if something horrible happened?"

"I'll set out first, see you two soon." Raiga said abruptly. He didn't even wait for us to reply and disappeared deeper into the forest.

"You ready?" Declan's voice snapped me back into reality. His purple eyes eyed me curiously. All signs of competitiveness in him was gone. It was odd, but the way he was looking at me... it felt different..

"I guess, but maybe this is a bad idea." I said quietly. "Maybe, Steven doesn't want - "You have to go." Declan said cutting me off. He directed his gaze away from me and then half smiled. "You're going to regret if you don't, I can tell already."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You can tell what? He left- "I can tell you really love him." He said sharply.

My eyes widened at him. "Dec-Dec..." "You can't deny it." He said, his facial features softening. His lips formed a small smile. "I could see that he felt the same way."

I felt my jaw drop. Declan brushed away his bangs with his fingers, and stared at me intensely. "I've had the biggest crush on you since we were younger, but you love him. Even I can see that."

I couldn't speak. My mouth was pretty much useless as it gaped in shock at him. Steven and I had almost kissed, had he seen that? Did that really mean Steven loved me? But, Declan was never the type to take to losing, no matter what the competition was. I always had an idea that he liked me, by the constant teasing, but the festival was proof enough. So, why was he encouraging me to go after him? If Steven really did love me...he wouldn't have left.

I was so confused and didn't know how to respond, so Declan continued. "Look, all I'm saying is that he really does care about you..." He bit his lips as he noticed my eyebrows begin to burrow.

"What?" I asked, my hands balling into fists.. "If he did he wouldn't have left! He wouldn't have hurt me!" I shouted. "He doesn't love me!"

"He was trying to protect you!" Declan blurted, his purple eyes fierce. I looked at him startled, my eyes holding his. "What do you mean?"

Declan caught himself and put a hand over his mouth. "I've...said too much. Just forget it." "No." I growled. "You know where he is, don't you? What's going on?"

The red head turned away and I felt the desperation overcome me. "Please, Declan." I whimpered. "You've been my best friend for ages, you have to tell me. Please."

I watched as his head hung. A long silence took place before it propped back up. "Dec?' I whispered. He turned around, his face stoic. I kept staying at him pleadingly until his eyes closed. "Fine", he said caving in.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Now what's going on?"

"Team Magma", he started, "Last night they visited the Pokemon Center and forced Nurse Joy to tell them about Steven. That night when we all checked in to sleep, she wanted to speak to Steven...remember?"

I nodded. It made sense of why she had been acting so strangely. She must have been feeling guilty about the incident.

"Anyway, I had fallen asleep right away, but the sounds of voices woke me up. It was around eleven, and you and Raiga were still sound asleep. I sneaked outside and that's where I saw them. Steven was talking to two members of team Magma."

My eyes narrowed. "So they had been there after all."

"I came out and Steven demanded that I went back inside. I didn't listen and soon he was yelling at me. I was just as confused as you were at first, but I obeyed and went back to bed. I planned to return when he was finished talking to them. So, when Steven came in to our room again, I heard him say something to you and walk out."

"Forgive me."

My fingers trembled at the memory, but Declan didn't seem to notice. "I waited a bit and listened, but I didn't hear him exit the Pokemon Center. I crept out of bed and saw him. He was sitting alone on one of the sofas in the lounging area, his face is his hands..."

"Steven?" Declan whispered. "Dude, what's going on?"

The silver haired man, lifted his head to see the boy approaching him dressed in pajamas. His steel eyes gazed away as he spoke. "Do you really want to know?"

Declan nodded furiously and sat next to him. "That was Team Magma right? What do they want with you?"

Steven looked at the boy cautiously. His eyes softened once an idea popped into his head, even Declan could sense something had caused a change in his mood. "I'll tell you everything you want you know, but you must help me in return. Sound like a plan?"

"Sure!" The red head exclaimed and Steven jerked. "Quiet", he urged, "No one else can know, but you. That's our first condition."

Declan bit his lip and nodded again. "Right. What do you want me to do?" Steven leaned over and whispered something into his ear in a low murmur. The red head's eyes widened as he did so.

"You want me to what?" He asked bewildered as Steven finished. "But, I thought you liked her? I don't understand."

"I do." Steven stated. "That's the problem. I can't have her following me. If I don't go with them, they threatened to hurt her...and I can't have that. If she tries to come to my rescue then..." His voice trailed off. "I just want her to be safe, so please, you have to help me."

Declan looked at Steven wearily. His steel eyes weren't penetrating through him, but pleading him. The softness of his voice also helped the red head to figure out his weakness; his vulnerability was evident.

Steven was in love with his best friend.

"I'll do it."

I didn't said a word, but stared at Declan unmoving. His words were still sinking in. The red head looked at me sadly. "You see don't you? At the festival last night, Steven left you alone by that fountain so he could find me. He told me to be your date for the rest of the festival and try to..." Declan blushed slightly. "Well kiss you. He said that I had to try and get you to fall in love with me...and make you hate him. "

"Declan...this...just..." I couldn't speak properly as I listened. Was that why he had tried to make such a sudden move on me? Is that why...Steven was being so harsh? He wanted me to hate him, so he could protect me? I felt my eyes begin to water. "It was an act then? You pretended last night?"

"Not necessarily", Declan said bowing his head. "I mean I wanted to kiss you, but it wasn't planned for Steven to interrupt. I suppose it was too hard for him after all. I realized that I still had to go along with the situation and you gave me the perfect excuse to leave, by going off to find Raiga."

"Declan, go find Raiga and tell him something is wrong with Steven!"

"R-Right!"

"So, that's it." He breathed. "Steven loves you, I'm telling you. He just doesn't want you to get hurt, but I guess that part kind of back fired, eh?"

I closed my eyes and Steven's face appeared in my mind. I began to cry at that point. I had been so stupid to think that he had turned on us. He really did have feelings for me after all, I couldn't believe it.

I heard Declan sigh wearily. "Maybe, I shouldn't have told you..." "No..." I said trying to recollect myself. "This is it." I felt the determination surge through me as I looked ahead. This was my chance, I would be able to fulfill my promise to him.

"I'm going to save, Steven."

Declan didn't say anything at first, but then smiled. "There's the attitude I admire. Now, you're going to need some information that Steven gave me. They're after him because he possesses a special stone that is key to them obtaining legendary Pokemon. There's only one like it and it's extremely rare, but only Steven has it."

"But, what use is that, if he left?" I said quietly, realization hitting me. Steven had disappeared last night, meaning he could be long gone from here by now.

"He did set off to meet up with Team Magma, but I heard another Team Magma member talking to Nurse Joy last night. I think there were confirming if Steven had left." Declan clenched his teeth. "So, it's possible that Team Magma is still lurking around here. If were lucky, you might be able to find them."

I nodded, absorbing all of the information like a sponge. That was probably why Nurse Joy had been extra jittery in the morning when we had left the center. "How about, Raiga? Does he know anything?"

Declan looked back. "No, but judging by how quickly he took off he's obviously worried about Steven. I'll find him and tell him what's going on here, just go!" He nudged me forward.

I was about to take a step when I glanced back at Declan. He was staring at his hands, as if pondering to himself.

I ran towards him with a burst of speed and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Dec. Seriously, if you hadn't told me this..." Declan had managed to put his own feelings aside for me and tell me the truth.. I couldn't express enough gratitude towards him as we stood there.

"I'm your best bud, you can always count on me." He said breaking away. "Now go before it's too late!We will be waiting for you guys when you come back" I saw that familiar crooked grin on his face and couldn't help but smile in return.

With a nod, I obeyed and ran. I kept running and running until I was getting deeper into the forest. My shoe lace was coming undone and I was half tripping as I continued, but I didn't stop. Nothing else mattered, I needed to find Team Magma and rescue Steven!

The next chapter is going to be a lot more fun to write, this one was more of just explaining Steven's intentions. Please review and thanks for the patience! :)

~XOXO~