Well... my mimi band camp is over (ya, probably should have told you guys/gals about it in the last chapter, sorry) so I can finally post this. Hopefully it turned out alright.

Akoza Heiwa: Thanks :)

RangerTakara: I can't garentie that they'll end up as a couple. Simply put romance is just an awkward thing for me to write. I can do the brother/sister kind of relationship well because I live with it everyday (I have a brother), but I've never fallen in love so I don't think I can do it. Most of my stories have to deal feel some sort of inner turmoil because I know how that feels. Basically if I've felt it I can write it somewhat well; if I haven't experienced it, then, I could try, but it would be horrid.

Ranger Belle: I have to agree she can be dense, therefore I must be dense to because I based her personality somewhat off mine. I'm glad I helped make your day better though, but can you explain how it was funny, (goes and rereads chapter then faceplams) nevermind I found it! Thanks for correcting my spelling, don't worry i went back and corrected it in the story, and I'll be sure to spell mountain as mountain thought the rest of the story that will last who knows how long.

Disclaimer: There is no way I will ever own nintendo... I have nothing else to say.

Word count: 3,447 words (I had no clue where to stop okay)

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Chapter 7

One shard

Laughter filled the air, I was smiling, and it reached from eye to eye. The wind was blowing in my face "Can't catch me!" The yell was a challenge and was laced with pure enjoyment. I sounded younger, maybe four? Yeah, four years old.

"Oh yes I can." It was a boy's voice, he sounded about six years old. More laughter filled the air as the wind rustled the grass that was under our feet and caused the trees to sway, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Everything felt… normal… me, him, playing in the forest, laughing, having fun. I tried to remember the last time I had felt this happy, this… normal.

I felt my right foot fall down lower then my left, and I felt the dirt rubbing against my wrist, I felt it twist slightly. The next thing I knew I was one the ground, trying to pull my foot out of the hole, only to feel it twist more. This time though, I felt pain shoot up my leg. It was a familiar pain though, nothing I hadn't experienced before.

There was a hand on my shoulder, pushing me to sit up. When I looked up, it was the boy, his short, neck length, choppy, chocolate brown hair waving in the wind, his deep dark brown eyes laced with concern that he was trying to hide. He was wearing a gray hoodie, that was tied around his waist, a cobalt blue t-shirt and dirty blue-gray jeans. It was him… my brother. "You okay, sis?" He asked tilting his head.

I nodded, and hugged him. There was a time when he cared, when we were younger, we didn't have to worry about the world that we would have to journey through when we turned ten, dad was still alive, and everything was right between the four of us. Sure dad and mom always thought that brother was better than me, why? I never found out. But, back then, I was fine with mom and dad liking Teran more than me; I didn't care.

Teran moved his arms under my shoulders and lifted me off the ground, into the air where we spun around in a circle, laughing. His eyes full of innocence and mirth, and his wide, cocky, grin as he said "Got ya!"

With a giggle I replied "Only because I tripped!" I felt the ground under my feet once again, a slight pain in my ankle, but I tried to ignore, and the wind blew the trees and grass rustled and swayed.

I still remember that day, and relive it, though only in dreams.

It was a time when I thought nothing could separate Teran and I. That we would always be loved by the other. If I ever needed to go to someone I would go to him, and if he ever needed to talk to someone he would talk to me. He would play a song on guitar and I would sing the lyrics, if he was on a certain team, I wanted to be on that team, if he left the room, I would leave the room. We did almost everything together. I miss those times so much.

The happy scene faded to black and was replaced by another, darker scene.

Buildings were in ruins, ones that were once tall and looked at with pride torn down and set a flame. Smoke filled the air and swirled covering up the sky causing it to look a menacing smoky red with the flames. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes, why? Why this? What happened to the joyful memories that were in my mind only mere seconds ago? Where was the lush forest and warm sun shining in my face? The caring embrace that only Teran and one other person could give me, the feeling of security and love that it gave me, where had it gone? Why where the buildings in complete ruins, and the sky filled with smoke making the scene before me somber.

There was a hand on my left shoulder, while the person's right hand was moving my hair behind my ear. I felt the person lean forward slightly, their breath on my neck. When I turned I recognized the neck length, choppy, brown hair and sad brown eyes instantly. He looked older, maybe fifth teen; he was wearing a dark brown t-shirt, torn blue jeans, and worn out black sneakers that look more gray than black. On his cheek was a scar that ran down the side of his face "Sorry sis." He whispered to me, I felt his arms around me.

I put my head where his shoulder met his torso, he had gotten taller from the last dream to this one, but that only made sense. The tears that I had been trying not to shed, spelt as we stood there. But I should have noticed, I should have seen, he was slowly fading away; his once clear image fading to become almost see-through. As soon as I felt my arms on my body I looked up and saw it. The tears fell harder. "No… don't leave me…" I was reaching out to his ever fading form. The words seemed meaningless, though, a plea that would never be answered He had already left me when he was ten, what was stopping him from doing it again. Answer: nothing.

Soon his image vanished entirely, and I was left alone once again. Falling to my knees I raised my arms to wipe away the tears. I shouldn't feel this way, but I did; I knew that Teran didn't really care about me anymore, so why do I long to relive the times when all we had was each other? Another pair of arms wrapped around me, and I leaned against them and clung to the body they belonged to. Words of comfort were being mumbled into my ear, and their free hand was stroking my hair, but it didn't help. It didn't feel the same; no hug would ever feel the same as the way brother hugged. But it close to it. Shaking my head, whoever this was shouldn't have to deal with me like that. No one should have to deal with me crying like that and have to comfort me.

They shouldn't have to see past the fronts I put up. But at the same time… I wanted them to. I wanted someone to see past those barriers that I placed around me and comfort me when I need it. The same feeling of the persons breath on my neck made me shiver. It felt familiar, but, at the same time, unknown. "You'll be okay." They whispered, those were the only words that made it through to me. The only words that I allowed myself to hear, even though it felt like big lie, I didn't care.

Before I knew it, the world around me had faded to white.

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When my eyes opened the first thing I noticed was that my face and the bed was wet. The second thing I noticed was that it was freezing, but it was the middle of summer, how could it be so cold? Maybe it was just my ever hyper imagination. Yeah, that sounds about right, my mind usually plays tricks on me, so it would be nothing new.

Slowly I get myself into a sitting position -which in turn caused a slight pang of pain behind my eyes, I blamed it on just having gotten up- and rub the sleep from my eyes. Grabbing the goggles and socks that were by my mattress and put them on. I wrapped the scarf around my neck and slipped my sneakers onto my feet. Gently I lean over Pichu's pillow and shake him using my fingertips "Time to wake up, Pichu." My voice was soft when I whispered the few words. The tiny mouse Pokémon stirred and opened his deep brown eye that were hazy from he quickly shook his head and hopped onto my shoulder.

Walking over to Ben, I repeated the action. The only difference was he didn't stir, and so, instead of whispering and shaking him gently, I rolled him onto the floor and said "Come on Ben, it's time to wake up." Just barely above a whisper. With a groan he opened his sleep filled eyes "Come one, we he to finish that mission." He nodded and grabbed the things he had taken off as well, slipping them on quickly. "You ready?"

"Ya."

"Alright, let's go." I didn't look in his eyes as we left the building silently. My mind was focused on my brother… Teran… a sad smile came on my face as I made the guardian sign to call Latias to me. Teran… we had loved each other, I needed him and he needed me. I still miss those days, the days when we would just play and love the fact that we were alive and healthy, and I could never tell myself that enough. As I climbed onto Latias I forced myself out of the past. Why was it that for some reason, no matter how hard I tried, they seemed to keep coming into my thoughts nowadays before I never thought about them, and it wasn't hard not to, but now it feels like it's all I can think about.

We flew in silence, the sky was turning from a deep navy blue to a light rosy hue; dawn had arrived. Pichu had taken his usual spot in my scarf. The stars had faded, and vanished as though they were stolen away by the rays of the sun. Every time the wind blew I could feel myself shiver and the goose bumps that came to my skin, it was early in the morning; I was allowed to be cold. My breath came out in small clouds of water vapor. But when I looked over to Ben I saw that he wasn't shaking from the cold at all, and his breath was creating clouds of water vapor. Weird, then again, I might just be too far away to see it.

Within minutes the two of us had made it to Mt. Sorbet and landed at its base, neither of us wanted to risk Articuno being there and being shot out of the sky (not really an experience I want to relive thank you very much). Sure it would be a trek to get to the top, but we both did it before, so it was no big deal. As soon as we entered the cave entrance to the mountain it felt like it was 10 degrees Fahrenheit (when in reality it was about 32 degrees Fahrenheit), I was shivering a lot more than before. "Why is it so cold for some reason? I know it's Articuno's mountain but it was never this cold, was it?"

I felt an arm wrap around my neck, a hand on my shoulder, and Pichu climbing onto the empty shoulder, turning my head I met Ben's eyes as he asked "You okay?"

Rolling my eyes, I duck under his arm and spin slightly so that I was one foot in front of him, still locking eye contact, and out from under his arm, and it sent Pichu to the stone, though I was still shivering; chills constantly being sent up my spine, goose bumps covering my skin. With a smile I replied "I'm fine." He nodded, and we continued walking…

At least we were until we had gotten out of the cave entrance and walked into the snow.

After only walking about ten steps into the area I fell on my knees and started coughing. I couldn't feel the frigid snow around my legs and feet, all I could feel was the coughs that came up. How they sent a pang to my chest every time they came out. It felt an eternity before they passed, and they left me shaking like a leaf; no one had to tell me that, I could feel it. For a while I just stayed on the ground Slowly I stood up shook my head and continued forward. "Summer?"

"Ya?" I asked, turning around. Both Ben and Pichu looked worried, it was just a cough, worst comes to worst IO had a cold, big wup, I'd live.

"You sure you're okay?" He was genuinely concerned, wasn't he?

With a sigh I shook my head "I'm fine. Worst comes to worst I have a cold. I'll live." He nodded, but he didn't look convinced. "Come on, let's get this over with. Then we can get to Canal Ruins, go to where we found Suicune, then get back to the Professor."

He smirked "Knowing him he's probably wondering what's taking us so long." Then there was an awkward silence that I didn't want to break, and Ben didn't want to break either –if he did, he would done it. I had stopped shivering… somewhat; I was still shaking, but it wasn't nearly as bad as after I had coughed.

For some reason, after that one fit, I had only coughed five other times, tops. Not that I was complaining or anything. If anything it was a relief, though Ben would still look at me like it would happen again any second, the kid really had to stop worrying about me I was fine. So I spoke my mind "Ben…" He turned to me, but we didn't make eye contact until I turned to him "I can tell you're still worried about what happened." Before he opened his mouth to speak I continued "I'm fine, okay. You can stop worrying."

He didn't reply, instead he just walked forward, the same look still on his face while a frown came to mine. All I did was tell him not to worry I mean really, I can take care of myself just fine. With a sigh I continued to follow behind him, Pichu had returned to his postition under my scarf, and had curled into a small ball. We stayed silent until we reached the top I tilted my head, Articuno wasn't here, that was strange. Then again, it had other places to live as well so it might be at once of its other homes. "Well, they aren't here." I turned to Ben and gave him a look that said 'No really.'

That's when that weird feeling came back, the same one that I had back to Faldera Volcano. There was really still no true way to explain what it was. "So… do you think we should try and find the crystal essence that World's End was talking about."

Ben shrugged "It'll give us a reason for taking so long."

"Sure he didn't assign us to do it, but better to do it since we're here. Personally, I'd rather not have to come here again to get something I could have gotten the first time." We stopped talking, and Ben went ahead and started pushing away the snow, he seemed less concerned about what happened earlier, so that was a relief. As for me, I just walked around the area, desperately hoping that the strange feeling would grow stronger or weaker depending on if I was closer or farther away.

For a while nothing changed. Ben was still shoveling, sometimes looking up to see me and give me this look that asked what I was doing, then he continued what he was doing. And I was just walking slowly following some strange feeling that might just be completely made up, and for a while I started to think it was too.

That's when I felt it.

Something pulsed. There was no other way to describe it. It was like a heartbeat, fast, harmonious, even, soothing. Kneeling down I started to remove the snow, layer, after layer, after layer. Soon it had gotten hard, I was close to the permafrost point, I could tell. Though something came into my hand, it was solid, it didn't melt in my palm. I knew it wasn't from the permafrost layer. Looking into my hand I saw the same thing that the girl with the deeper voice had in her hand near the end. I could feel it's pulse, like was alive or something, but it couldn't be.

I lifted it up to the cloudy sky, where its triangular prism shaped form shone and glistened better than the snow when the sun comes out. "Ben, I found it. Whether it's real or not, well, I have no clue. But at least we got it before World's End could."

The snow crunched under his feet as he walked over to look at it "Wow." Yeah, for him that was all he could say.

"Want to hold onto it?" I asked, with a smile that never came onto my face, but he could see it in my eyes.

The brown haired boy shook his head "You found it, you hold onto it."

I shrugged "Alright." Gently I placed it in my pocket. Walking over to the hole I made I took the dug up snow and pushed it back into place, I could tell by the crunches in the snow that Ben was doing the same. When the holes were completely covered we made our way down the mountain in silence. But I had to break it when I collided my hand with my head almost halfway down, remembering something that the grunts from Faldera had said.

When I turned to face Ben, he looked at me with questioning eyes, and before he could say anything I stopped him "We don't have to go to the Canal Ruins." If anything the confusion in his eyes grew with that one statement.

"But before you said-"

I was shaking my head "I know what I said, but I just remembered that those grunts never mentioned the places we found Suicune, or Entei, or Raikou. They just said Layuda Island, the ruins outside of that one village on Renbow, the Undersea Cavern, and the Rainbow Dais. And I guess they forgot to mention Mt. Sorbet."

"So you're saying the either have the one that's from there, or they don't have any at all."

"Exactly."

"So we could just head straight to Rand's once we get off the mountain?"

"Yup."

"Alright." With that we walked the rest of the way fairly silent. We never really had much to talk about, and it's not like we could try and do small talk seeing as we've seen each other a lot the past few weeks and just talked. Soon enough we were at the bottom and out of the cave. I hadn't even noticed we were until I felt the air warm up. The goose bumps that had formed on my skin vanished and I wasn't shivering anymore.

The sun shone brighter outside of the ice area, and I closed my eyes content with the warmth it gave. We called our Pokémon that we always used from flight and took off for the sky. Though they seemed… uncomfortable for some reason. Leaning in I whispered "What's wrong Latias?"

In response she said "La bru la." I don't really know what she said, so I asked a simple question

"Is it that crystal shard thing?" The red legendaries eyes widened slightly and she nodded. "I have one. You can feel it to, can't you? How it beats like a heart."

"La."

"Hey," I sat back and turned to Ben. "Do you have an answer? You said you'd give me an answer tomorrow. Well, it's tomorrow now."

With a sigh, I knew what he was talking about. Truefully I had hoped he had forgotten about it. I answered "I can't talk about it. Sorry"

He waved his hand "Alright no big deal. By the way, we're here." That's when I saw him descend from the sky and I felt Latias do the same. Time to tell the professor… this'll be fun.

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Important: High School starts up next week, and I have color guard practice on the first day D: so expect updates to be slowed down significantly. When I do post it will probably be around 7 pm EST on weekdays, or I could just post on the weekends. Tell me what you peoples think I should do just so I have an opinian from others.

Permafrost: soil at or below the freezing point of water 0 °C (32 °F) for two or more years (I do not own this definition. I got it off Wikipedia because I couldn't describe it in my own words). Big wup: just something I say instead of "big deal."

Later,

Ember