Ohmygosh,ohmygosh,ohmygosh,ohmygosh I'm so sorry for not updating until now! Long story short I had color guard all week until 4:30 of sometimes 7 or 8 o'clock at night. Not to mention I had a story project for English where I had to write a satire so I was working on that whenever I could and I almost forgot about this, then there were other projects. AND there was Hurricane Sandy leaving me without power and internet for a about two weeks. I'm so sorry :( I didn't mean to forget it. But I did manage to try and write something though. Here's what I have for a patcetic chapter 12.

A Random Human: Ya, I agree. But since I based her of me somewhat, she 's stubborn, to the point where it can annoy her friends (guilty. I've annoyed my cousins and friends because I was so stubborn.)

Ukulele Pichu: I'm really glad you're enjoying the story so far.

RangerTakara: I agree, it was kinda adroable in its own way. And, no, Summer isn't dead. But, but, remember what I've said so many times before (I'm saying it so many times so that when it does happen everyone is prepared) this is a tragedy, and for it to be a tragedy story, for me, someone has to die. I don't know who, I don't know when, and I don't know how. I just want you to be ready for it when it does happen. As for if they'll be more fluff between Ben and Summer, probably, but it'll be completely accedental, like all the fluff so far. (No I'm not joking, all the fluff is done by accedent.) Off-topic: I'm extremely sorry if you thought my review of your story was harsh and a flame. I didn't mean it to be. I read it, I like it, I honestly do, I just said those things because I knew it could be better. But if you found to harsh, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Can you forgive me?

Ranger Belle: Unintentional fluff for the win! I can understand how you would see Ben as rash and clumsy (maybe even cocky). To be honest that was what he was originally going to be like in the story, but it was so annoying for me to write him that way that I scrapped the idea and made it so he's based of my older brother slightly (yes, I have an older brother and we get along, gasp, egad it the end of the world). And I finaly got around to putting Pichu back in, I keep forgetting about him for some reason.

Blossomlight907: Well... here's your update. I'm glad you like the story, but it can't be that good. *holds hands up in defeat* But you know what, I'm not going to argue. Thanks. I hope you enjoy the rest.

Word count: 2,703 words(slightly long chapter as an apology)

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon its Nintendo's property, I am not Nintendo, I am Ember.

XoXoXoX

Chapter 12

Crystal Essence

When I went to stand up Ben grabbed my arm. He probably thought I'd fall or something, though since only one of my legs were currently working, I'd probably need it. Even still I gave him a hard look and shook off his hands, wanting to try and stand on my own. It worked, sure all my weight was on my leg, but I was standing at least. Slowly I took a step forward, and stumbled, I would have fallen on my face if Ben hadn't grabbed my arm again. "Take it easy. You don't want to hurt yourself again do you?"

With a sigh I looked at him and frowned slightly, disappointed with myself. "No, but still, it never hurts to try, right?"

"It does if you land on your face." He replied.

"It wouldn't have been that bad." I started raising my voice slightly "What's the worst that could've happened?"

Ben closed his eyes and shock his head, but he didn't reply back on the subject, maybe he didn't want to start an agreement. I didn't know; I just knew he said "Come on, let's go." He sounded like he disagreed with the idea –and he probably did- but he was doing it anyway.

He pulled the arm he was holding onto over his head so that it rested on his shoulders. Well… I was standing, sure he thought I needed help but at least he hadn't confined me to the bed. I turned my head and looked at Ben before turning away, looking at the floor. Pichu was by my right leg and I could see the slightly red bandage wrapped around my lower leg, three inches below the knee. A single spot was stained deep red near the center of the bandage facing inward, towards my left leg, and it throbbed slightly in irritation. "Pichu, chu pi pichu chu." The tiny mouse Pokémon was probably telling me to take it easy, but I had other, more important things, to do.

Ben took a step forward and that got me moving. As much as I didn't want the help, it was either that or stay in bed. Neither of them seemed really appealing, but being able to move with help was the lesser of two evils. The two of us walked forward, or limped in my case, slowly. I just wanted to get out of the room as quick as possible, who knows what World's End could have done while I was out. But Ben didn't seem to mind it. If anything he seemed like he was enjoying the fact that we were moving slow, like he was secretly hoping I'd lose patience and say that I'd stay in the bed. Well, we'll just see how well that idea works for him.

It felt like it took forever just to reach the door, but I didn't say a word, and Ben hadn't prompted me into trying to say something. When Ben opened the door showing me the interior of Rand's home, bookshelves against the wall, a small table and rug in the middle of the room. It was a simple, but efficient set up. Pichu immediately started running around the room happily, brown eyes closed in joy. Maybe he was happy he could run around? He always had been an energetic little guy. In truth, I'd never really know. That little Pokémon was as much of a mystery to me as I was to him. Besides, it wasn't my business, so I had no reason to look into it.

We were quiet, the only sound in the entire house came from upstairs, so it was fairly easy to guess where he was taking me. That was when I noticed it was raining. Water droplets falling silent and quick to the point where if you didn't look or listen carefully enough you would never know it. Wind caused the trees to sway and leaves to fall from pressure against a dark sky. Not that it mattered much, in about a month it would be fall.

Ben had stopped at the steps causing me to stop as well; my leg was still throbbing slightly, but not as much as it had been before. "You sure about this?" I rolled my eyes, sure one of my legs couldn't support my weight, but I have another and he's helping me even though I don't like it. I was fine, why didn't he get that?

"I'll be fine." My voice was firm and my brown eyes locked with his. "Honestly, Ben, you're helping me and it's not like both my legs are broken. I just have a flesh wound on my right leg. No big deal." Part of me knows that his definition of a "flesh wound" was different than mine, and that he would worry anyway. But I felt like I had to say it.

He raised an eyebrow before saying "If you say so Summer." And then he went silent. Something that surprised me, I thought for sure he'd be arguing with me… then again… maybe he finally figured out that I would just keep saying I'm fine and refuse to admit that I wasn't according to his standards. We started to move again, this time upstairs. The whole way I was tripping and stumbling. Ben kept looking at me, his eyes almost silently pleading for me to just accept the fact that I wasn't okay and I needed rest or help. No. This was a challenge, I accepted it just like any other challenge he would give me. I wouldn't ask for help, that would mean accepting failure, and I was not going to fail such a simple challenge.

Eventually we reached the top, and I could swear everyone up there was looking at us; probably because they were, come on, we (I, whatever), couldn't have made that much noise. Once we were on flat ground I gave Ben this look that said what I was thinking told you I'd be fine. Rand was walking towards us, he pat me on the shoulder said he was glad to see me awake and moving around before saying he had something to take care of and left; my eyes followed him until he was out of sight. I don't know why I did it, but I did. Then my gaze moved over to the Professor and Leanne, as though they had spontaneously decided that what was going on in front me was more interesting, which it probably was. When I smiled at them, and they just sort of stared. Somewhere my brain was telling me to say "don't you know its rude to stare" but I resisted the urge to actually say it.

Silence descended in the room and took control without even a fight. I would have shifted my weight if my right leg wasn't currently out of order. A few minutes later someone spoke. "Well are you going to speak up or not? There was a reason why you came up here and it wasn't to stand around staring at us." I nodded, not bothering to speak. "I guess you want to hear what progress has been made? After all that was what this whole meeting was originally about until Rand had to go out." Another nod. "Well why didn't you say so? Come now, Leanne will you please start?" The Professor had phrased it as a question, but I think all of us knew that it really wasn't.

She nodded, knowing her queue to speak as though they had rehearsed it as actors would do for a play. "Where to start…" I thought for sure someone would have responded by saying "at the beginning" but no one spoke. "Well… very little is known for about the shards that are facts. Those who do know about it aren't willing to speak of it for the most part. Though from what I could gather the crystal shards are artifacts that are spread throughout the regions of Kanto, Johto and Obliva." Great, so far its only information I already know. This would be interesting. "Within each region there is on real shard and multiple frauds, the shards are assigned a legendary Pokémon to guard it." I nodded and so did Ben. To be honest I sort of had that part figured out when World's End said they weren't sure it the one they found was real or fake, come on, I wasn't stupid.

"I also learned. That the three real shards are parts of a whole. And when brought together they reveal the location of an item known as the crystal essence." Crystal essence… why did that sound so familiar? I know I hadn't heard it before now… yet… why do I feel like I have…? Maybe it's my imagination, no; I've heard of it before there is no way I could be imagining that. "The only way to the real and fake shards is to find them and bring them together. What happens to the frauds is unknown, but the real ones, as I've said, will show the crystal essence's location.

Some say that it is like a parasite, hiding away in the body of an unknowing host, one who might not know it for their entire life. When the real shards are found there are side effects to the host, though they are unknown or just unstated with this theory." It felt like some part of my brain was agreeing with that theory, as though it knew it was true, it was like someone was sending signals into my brain telling me what to think. I didn't like it. "Others say it is a vapor that floats around a single area constantly shifting and shining brighter than any star in the night sky giving off a blinding white aura. Though from what I've read, it seems like more people believe the host theory.

As for what it does… well, I could only find guesses, quick passing comments on a page that were only a sentence long. Though I've found two of them that have occurred the most. One says that since it is guarded by the legendary Pokémon that it must be able to do something to them." Again I felt that signal light going off in my brain. This was getting weird, why did it feel so familiar. All this information should be new to me, shouldn't it? So why… maybe I just shouldn't even try to question it because it just seems to be confusing more than anything else. "The other says it is a powerful force that can destroy an entire region." My eyes widened in shock. Even though somewhere in my brain I knew it was wrong it was pushed aside and replaced with terror. What if it did actually do that? But I know it doesn't. Should I say something? Or just remain quiet and keep the information to myself? I didn't… I didn't know what to do, what to think, nothing. It was that awkward moment when you knew you should speak up, but you're in too much shock to do so. If it did actually do that… and World's End got a hold of it… oh god no.

"So… either way it doesn't look good for us if they get a hold of it." Ben concluded.

Leanne nodded "While I can't say for sure which it really is, both options could easily bring about mass destruction."

That was what did it. I had to speak up, and I had to speak now. "I-I think that I know-" I was cut off before I could even finish.

"We must stop them at once. Ben you go and search for them. Summer you should stay here." Professor Hastings had said it. And that was what pushed me over the edge.

"Look" I began "I don't care what you say Professor, but I'm doing this to. I'm in this as much as Ben, you and Leanne are; so don't even think about going and telling me to stay behind. I have one bad leg, so what? It'll be quicker to find the shards if I come along and search as well. I know what I'm doing; I'm not some child, Professor! If it's so important that these shards are found shouldn't more than one person be looking for them? I'm going to help out, Professor, whether you approve of it or not, I'm a ranger this is my job, and I'm not going to have anyone tell me otherwise." They looked shocked, all of them, I could see it in their eyes. Even Ben who was right next to me, I could still see the surprise in his eyes slowly turning into a disapproving amusement. He probably saw some of that coming, maybe not the fact that it was an entire mini rant, but he saw some of it coming.

Pichu was holding onto my leg with a death grip and I had only just realized it. Probably because I was so absorbed in what I was saying and he was as quiet as a thief in the night when he wanted to be. His eyes were somewhat pleading in their own way, like he didn't want me to go, something I could understand. When I looked at Ben, he looked at me. Our eyes met easily, but he had masked them to show no emotion. "Summer" he started, his voice was harsh, commanding, showing hidden worry and disapproval. "Think about something for once in your life instead of just running headfirst into it. You only just woke up like thirty minutes ago and you still can't walk right yet."

A growl formed in my throat but I didn't let it out. "I'm fine."

"Summer, you really should take it easy for a while."

"I'm fine, Ben."

"You always say that! Will you stop being so-"

I interrupted him, I knew what he was going to say, and I didn't care that I snapped at him saying "Stubborn? I don't care, Ben! I'm fine! You don't have to treat me like a child! I'm thirteen; I can take care of myself! What do you not understand about that?!" I quickly ducked under his arm and twirled away using my good leg, though I had to hide a wince. Once that was done I stood up straight, my right leg throbbing slightly in irritation, and looked him in the eye. "See I can support my own weight for now and worst comes to worst I have to use crutches."

The look on Ben's face… I didn't know what to make of it, he looked angry, but hurt. I couldn't have been that harsh, and at this point Ben knew that I wasn't the best when it came to controlling my anger. He sighed "Whatever you say, Summer, whatever you say." After taking a few extremely careful steps forward, feeling a small sense of victory when I hadn't fallen on my face or back, I hugged the kid. It was something Teran always did with me after being unintentionally harsh, he always thought hugs made up for it.

Once I let go I took a few steps back, once again glad I didn't fall onto the ground. "Come on, we should get going." With that said I carefully moved away and walked (limped) away, down the steps and outside with Pichu following behind.

Little did I know that this time, a time that should have been like any other trip I've taken,, was going to turn my entire world upside down.

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Congradulations, you'e just been plot dumped, you all knew this was going to happen eventually. I'm so sorry, about how late this update is. But at least it's up now. As for when chapter 13 will be up... heck if I know. I have part of it written, but I haven't had anytime to continue what I've got. But I won't abandon this story unless I go absolutly brain dead with it. And when that happens I'll let you guys know the entire plot(which I actually have written in a word document somewhere) to atempt and make up for it. Hopefully it won't come to that though.

See ya'll around,

Ember