Ch.92: Cherish What You Have! The Value of Family!

Three days had past, with four left on the way. By then, Gwyn will hopefully be ready to battle against the Metal Mage, Margo. Given her current circumstances, she wasn't sure how far she could get naturally due to limited experience. However, that wasn't what she was about. She knew how to draw out power from unnatural means.

She had spent a good chunk of the day training with Flint and Tony, then switching off with Krystal and Ebony later in the day. She had to admit, she improved on her hand-to-hand combat. It wasn't quite her specialty, since she preferred to keep at a medium range at least, but it was good to change things up. She doubted Margo was the type to fight from a long range, anyway. She had that warrior spirit, according to Griffin.

With the sun of this other realm setting into the horizon, Gwyn had herself cooped up in the girls' room, working with different ingredients. She was experimenting with what appeared to be pecan nuts. She took a syringe and injected her formula into it.

"Test number twenty-six," she mumbled, rubbing her weary eyes. She wasn't sleepy, but balancing workouts and complex formula crafting can leave the mind exhausted. She was surprised she could get to sleep at all. She held the pecan between her fingers and looked it over a couple times. "Exterior structurally sound…no spontaneous combustion…no odd mutations…and it's not cursing at me in some made-up language." She shook her fist at the ceiling. "Your harsh words stung, Test number thirteen!"

She pulled out a pot of soil, then buried the pecan into it. She quickly placed a glass dome over the pot, then jumped behind her bed for safety. She held her breath in anticipation.

Suddenly, a knock from the door caused her to shriek and fall over. She groaned, then flung her whip at the door, opening it. Flint blinked at the Mew on the floor. "Um…is this a bad time?"

"Very!" He yelped as he was dragged to the floor by her whip. "Now hush and keep low! It might sprout wings and sing the polka while spitting acid on us!"

"…Gwyn, what do you put in your potions to cause that?"

"Sometimes I just throw random stuff in when I run out of ingredients."

"That doesn't sound very smart."

"Hey, I'm sure if no one thought 'Hey, how about I just jam this lemon into this cake batter,' we wouldn't have the delectable confectionary known as lemon squares!" She licked her lips happily. "I could go for some more right now! Queenie sure does have some fancy cooks!"

"I don't think lemon squares are made like that."

"It's called trial and error. Just like how some olden day doctors used poison to cure illnesses…it didn't cure the illnesses. Now shush!" She ducked her head behind the bed. Flint sighed and followed suit.

Their eyes were on the glass dome as they watched the pot of soil reacting to the magically charged nut. The pot could be seen vibrating and gliding along the table, shaking the glass dome covering it. Gwyn and Flint's eyes widened in anticipation as a bubble formed from the soil, green in color. It grew to the size of the dome's diameter, then pressed against the sides.

Gwyn bit her knuckles gleefully, thinking she perfected it, then deflated…along with the bubble. It popped open and leaked a green gas that filled the entirety of the dome.

"Aw phooey!" she shouted. "You failed me, number twenty-six!" She stood up and walked to the dome. "At least glass shards didn't fly everywhere." She pulled out a strange, bulbous plant. Black with red spots. She gave it a loving pat. Flint could've sworn he heard it purr at her. Never question this girl's love of plants.

Flint sighed in relief, then stood up. "You've been working on…whatever this is for a while now. What is it?"

"I'm taking the barebones components of my Naturae Fruits and turning it into a power pill. I call it the magican!" She grinned, then giggled behind her hands. "Hee! I combined 'magic' and 'pecan!' Great name, huh?"

Flint's ears flopped, smiling lightly. "You're a real card."

"Aww, thanks." She lifted the dome, releasing whatever was that green smoke.

Gwyn didn't seem to be worried about it being poisonous, but Flint could safely say it didn't have a pleasant aroma. "GAH!" He plugged his nose. "Nope! I can still smell it through my eyes!"

Gwyn tickled her little plant, agitating it to suck up the gas in around them. It acted like a vacuum, sucking up the gas into a small stream. Once it cleared, Flint was allowed to breathe. As he cleared his throat, he watched Gwyn hold her hands out under the plant's leaf. It shook its leaf and…spat out green, hardened minerals into her hand.

…Okay…

"Thank you, Strawberry!" Gwyn turned and grinned at Flint. "Oh Flint, have you met Strawberry? I was working with a lot of smoke and gas and stuff, so I whipped him up to suck up all the gases and turn it into these cute little minerals! Hee!"

Flint, at this point, wasn't surprised she made a plant, gave it semi-sentience, and named it. It was charming, actually. "Um…nice to meet you, Strawberry." He glanced at Gwyn. "So, what were you saying about a…power pill?"

"Oh, right!" She held up a spare pecan nut, rolling it between her fingers. "I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to get a grip on my god aura before my fight with Margo. Sssooo, I decided to try something different." She grinned. "The idea is to make a pecan nut infused with magic to force the reserves out. In my case, my stored up god aura. It only works in small bursts, but it packs a punch."

Flint scratched his cheek. "Ah…so, it's like…training wheels, I guess."

"Exactly! Heehee!" She flicked the nut and caught it in her mouth. "Granted, results are…iffy, still." She smiled at the ground, hands clasped loosely. "I…do want to get stronger like the rest of you. I mean, even you're working real hard and you're so…um…"

Flint raised his brow. "Go on, finish that sentence," he teased.

She grinned sheepishly. "You…aren't the most…battle-oriented of the group."

"Uh-huh…sure."

"I'm serious!"

Flint turned his back to her, smirking. "I know, I know. Weak ol' Flint."

"You're not weak!" She lunged and snuggled him. "You're very strong!" She blinked, then melted into his fur. "And sssooo soft~!"

He blushed and scratched behind his ear. "Heh…" He pushed her off gently. "Well…either way, I'm happy for you. You're going to do fine against Margo."

"I hope so…" She stepped back and looked off to the side, rather worriedly.

Flint tilted his head. "Still have doubts?"

"A lot of pressure around me being a Mew and all that…almost feels like I should be living up to my dad's legacy as a god." She sighed, rubbing her arm. "Sometimes I wonder what he's thinking…if he's watching over me…"

Flint patted her shoulder. "Gwyn, I'm sure your dad cares about you. Sure, he hasn't been there for you, but…didn't have much choice." He smiled. "But hey, you got a lot going on with you. I'm sure he trusts you to do things your way."

"Maybe…"

"You want to come to the training grounds with me?"

"Actually, I might just take a walk later. I'm pretty tired from training today." She held her hand up and yawned into it. "What about you? You going with the others?"

Flint looked away awkwardly, scratched his ear. "Um…going by myself, actually."

"How come?"

"W-Working on something." He grinned sheepishly. "Making myself more…battle-oriented."

Gwyn giggled. "Hee…well, I won't hold you up."

Flint stood on his hindlegs and embraced her. Gwyn stood frozen for a moment, then returned the hug, nestling her head into his mane. They pulled back and faced each other. Come to think of it, they were pretty close. Their noses were about an inch apart from each other.

Flint felt his heart thumping, with a voice in his head telling him to make a move. It sounded annoyingly like Tony. He mentally shook it off. 'I shouldn't…I can't. She has enough on her mind right now.'

Gwyn was having her own mental debate. Her talk with the Shatter Star girls opened her eyes to how much she came from her beginning, all thanks to this Flareon before her. She felt her face heating up, acknowledging that the Flareon was more than just cute and adorable. This close, he actually looked rather handsome. A compliment he often didn't get from other girls.

She almost wanted to…to…

She felt her head leaning towards him, but Flint pulled back before her mind could act. "Y-Yeah, well…I should get going!" Flint shuffled back to the door and waved her off. "See you later, Gwyn! Good luck with your experiment!" He raced off.

"Y-Yeah…bye…" Gwyn slumped forward. Why did she have this feeling of disappointment all of a sudden? She could've actually…

She huffed and shook her head. "I should focus on my experiments first…" She turned back to her station and picked up some chemicals. "Was…I about to…kiss him?"

She only had the mental image to fall off on and…just the image could make her heart flutter. She wondered what it felt like to kiss someone you…loved…

"I…I love…Flint…" she mumbled to herself. "I…love…Flint…" It felt easier to say the more she did. "I…love Flint. I love Flint…" Her cheeks bloomed red. Her tail wagged involuntarily. "…Love…I…actually love him…?"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"AH!" Gwyn threw the chemicals in the air, spilling them over her pile of nuts. Thankfully, she didn't do anything weird to the serums yet, so it only turned the dull brown nuts into green and purple glazed pecans. A part of her wondered if Flint circled back and heard her say all of that.

Is this what mortification feels like?!

"Hey Gwyn."

…It wasn't Flint's voice. 'Oh thank goodness!'

Gwyn turned around and saw Wes standing by her door. His fur was slightly damp, likely from just getting out of the shower. He smiled awkwardly at her, then nodded his head out the door.

"You want to go on a walk with me?"

Flint groaned as he walked down the road, heading for the battlegrounds. A part of him was upset with himself for not taking his chances back there. He didn't want to do something stupid like kiss her out of the blue, even if his mind was telling him to take the shot. He really wanted to at least say something to her.

"But what would I have said?" he grumbled under his breath. "I've had the worst luck confessing my feelings." He grunted. "High school was the worst, I swear…I can still hear the teasing when I belch fire in that girl's face…ugh, that was mortifying…I can barely get the words out to my own friend."

He shook his head and tried to push away those thoughts. This was the first time he felt legitimately in love with someone. He couldn't help what his heart yearned for. Gwyn really was just an amazing person that made his world go around. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him.

Was now even a good time to say so? Gwyn has enough stress on her mind. She didn't need to have his confessions dumped onto her. How would she even respond? Gwyn wasn't the type to reject someone harshly, so at least he had no fear of that. They were close, so…would she be up to at least try it out? Dating?

Was there even time to date? They have a lot on their plate already. Not to mention, he wasn't all that confident about romantic endeavors. He was never intimate with a girl before. He doesn't know the first thing about dating. All he had was Wes and Ella's dating history to go off of, which…more so acted as 'What NOT to do' advice.

Perhaps that was harsh. Sure, Wes wasn't a great boyfriend, but he cherished Ella when he did. Plus, he was awfully regretful about his actions when he confessed to the guys that he still loved her. Flint had to admit, Wes has matured a quite a bit since the start of their journey.

Maybe he could go to Wes and get some advice. He would ask Ella, but he had two reason why not. One, Wes was his brother and he did trust his judgment. He knew what not to do and how not to act. Two…he did NOT want to get into a romantic discussion with Ella. She'd probably pull a Mesprit on him and Gwyn and lock them in a closet together.

That said, there was another reason Flint didn't want to confess yet. Like Gwyn, Flint wanted to get some training done. He made a vow he would protect his friends no matter what, especially Gwyn. She was right that he wasn't all that battle-oriented. All he had was his Guardian and that didn't really say much about his fighting abilities.

But that's why Flint was taking a page out of Wes' book. It was about time Flint learned more offensive magic.

Upon arriving to the battlegrounds, Flint signed himself in and walked into the fenced off area. He had his Guardian quickly set up one of the dummies, which was meant to take some pretty heavy hits.

The Flareon took a deep breath. 'Concentrate. You're not going to get it right the first time…I've never had to use my magic for purely offensive means. Only so much I can do with what I have. I'm perfectly comfortable playing the support role…but I need more if I want to protect my friends.'

He huffed, then parted his legs, taking a crouched position. He breathed in, then started channeling magic in front of his face.

"Alright…here goes nothing. Mystic…Beam!"

Gwyn patiently waited outside the ice cream shop while Wes went inside to get them some milkshakes. She was pleasantly surprised that he wanted to hang out with her. Granted, that's what she's been trying to do recently, though not as much now that she has some…other, complicated stuff in mind.

'Why the sudden request, though?' she wondered to herself.

Wes stepped out, balancing two milkshakes on his back. "The one with the red syrup is yours." Gwyn took it from him, then handed his to him. "Oh, thanks." He chuckled. "We quadrupeds are pretty good at doing things without our paws, but trying to grab a drink off my back is not so simple."

Gwyn giggled. "Yeah, Flint told me. How do you guys write with your mouths, anyway?"

"Years of practice. It'd look quite silly if you did it."

"Well, I'm already silly, so why not?"

"Very true." He slurped on his milkshake and sighed. "Mmm…delicious."

Gwyn slurped her, then smacked her lips curiously. She shivered with glee, feeling the wave of tastiness from the piquant treat. "Ooh! This is delicious! What is it?"

"White chocolate raspberry."

"MMM!" Gwyn slurped hers happily. "So good~! What'd you get?"

"Cookies and cream."

"Can I have a taste?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not?" He held it out for her to suck on the straw.

After having a taste, she shivered with delight. "Hee! We should make our own milkshakes! This stuff is delicious!"

Wes grinned. "Thought you'd might like it." He slurped on it again and sighed. "I thought I'd offer you a little treat since you've been working hard." He rolled his eyes. "Apart from the fifty batches of lemon squares you've been gorging on."

"I haven't eaten that many."

"You sure?" He poked her stomach. "You look pudgier."

"Hey!" she shouted, flailing her free hand and pouting.

He grinned cheekily. "Kidding!" He turned forward and started walking, with the Mew following by his side.

Gwyn slurped on her milkshake, looking down at the ground curiously. "…Why did you ask me to walk with you?"

He shrugged. "Well…it occurs to me that we haven't really…hung out all that much. Sure, we talk and stuff, but…you have your thing with Ella and Flint. You and Tony hit it off pretty well. Not sure where you stand with Griffin, but you two seem to get along fairly well."

"Aww. Worried I don't like you?" she teased.

He smirked. "I think you're adopting too much of Ella's personality."

"Guilty!"

"I know you like me, and I like you, too." He shrugged. "Just that…well, I saw how you were trying to cheer me up when we got here and…I figured now's as good a time as any to get to know you more."

"What's there to know? You pretty much know my life story."

"Eh, maybe, but…not you. I don't know, just thought we could chat and learn about each other. You're usually hanging out with Flint when you're making some new potion or Naturae Fruit." He waved his drink around. "I mean, there's certainly a bunch I could tell you about myself."

"Like what?"

Wes scratched at his head with his cup. "Well, have I ever told you about the time Flint, Ella, and I tried to do some digging at a site in the Earth Zone?"

"Isn't that most of your adventures?"

"Very much so. Anyway, we were digging there because we heard something about a treasure being buried there. Turns out you're not supposed to get your treasure hunting info from shady looking people in an alleyway, because it was actually some charged crystals set to explode."

"Really?"

"As you can tell, they didn't kill us. So, we hunted them down and got our money back…with a little interest."

"You robbed them, didn't you?"

"And possibly, accidentally knocked a lit candle on a flammable rug." He grinned. "We weren't little angels, but neither were they. That's what happens when you try to pull a fast one over Wes Ravenfield."

Gwyn giggled. "You're smarter than you look."

"Eh, I'm not book smart. When it comes to getting out of a bind, I can improvise something. It's how I get a handful of the amulets I have." He pulled out the Vortex Amulet. "This thing was especially high in the market given its limitless potential."

"How so?"

"Well, other than being a collapsed dimension set into the space of a hollow amulet, it's great for redirecting stuff." He chuckled. "I actually once had this funny idea where I could use the Dark Mirror and bounce around magic between portals, magnifying the spell's power before releasing it back on the source."

"Wow! That sounds cool!"

"Annnd…extremely dangerous. The Dark Mirror absorbs and reflects magic, but you'd have to be physically fit to withstand the strain it puts on you." He rolled his eyes. "I would only ever pull a move like that if my life depended on it. Even then, it's an easily exploited ploy that requires a lot of time to pull off."

"Are you always coming up with different strategies?"

"I have to. Keeps me focused and battle ready. It comes with the experience of seeing just about everything that wants to kill you." He held his straw to his lips. "I've seen it all and lived it all. Adventuring is in the Ravenfield blood."

"Huh…" Gwyn looked down at her milkshake, which was showing the beginning signs of melting. "Guess that's why everyone thinks you're the team leader."

Wes scowled off to the side. "Sometimes I wonder if that's a mistake…"

"That's not true."

"I don't know, I…" He groaned and shook his head. "When I took up this adventure, it was almost an impulse thing. I wanted to find the idol so that it could make me famous and rich. I wanted that thrill of treasure hunting I was losing again. Sure, I know what will happen if we lose it, but…honestly, most of my decisions are always entirely selfish."

"Most?"

Wes bit his lip. "…Has Ella…told you about that…last adventure we went on together? Just the two of us?"

Gwyn frowned. "…Vividly."

He sighed. "I was stupid. I missed having friends to travel with, but that accident made me realize just how selfish I can get. I'm always thinking for myself and drag others down when I go too far down myself. That's…not really the qualities of a leader, if you ask me."

"You're not always selfish. I mean, you got me a milkshake, so that's something."

It brought a smile to his face, for as short as it was. "…Flint says I bury my feelings down because I don't want to deal with the stress and hardship it brings to me and others. I just don't want to bother people with my problems because…I've caused enough trouble for others."

"That can't be true."

"I was the kid who picked fights with bullies and came home with cuts and bruises. I was the little squirt who was loud and obnoxious during class. I was the weirdo who obsessed over gold and jewels instead of girls and the newest trends or…whatever garbage." He shook his head. "Then there was me at my lowest…I've never felt true pain until I lost…my dad." He stopped walking and pinched between his eyes.

Gwyn frowned, then rubbed his back. "You okay?"

"I'm fine…I just…every time I look back at myself hearing the news, I can still feel the hurt confusion that swirled in my head. I legitimately almost fainted. I felt sick to my stomach. I was…" He sat down and pressed his back against a shop. "…I was crushed…devastated…I just wanted to wake up and plead to heaven and hell that it was all a horrible, twisted nightmare…"

Gwyn sat down next to him, clutching her shake. "…You felt like something was ripped out of your heart."

"Exactly…" He sighed. "You know that feeling, too…"

She nodded, instinctively rubbing her moist eyes. "I felt like I had it worse. You had friends to help you and a mother to comfort you…I lost the only person I knew in my world…" She set her drink in-between her legs and covered her eyes. "I didn't know anything about the world…I didn't know if there was anyone outside my mother I could trust…" She closed her eyes. "I didn't even fully trust you guys when you first stepped into my mother's shop…I thought you would've turned me in for money because I was a Mew…"

That stabbed Wes in the heart. "Gwyn…we would've never done that…"

"I know that now, but…" She set her arms back into her lap. "…I lost something I held precious to me and…it was something I've wanted for the longest time."

"And that is…?"

"A family." She smiled sadly at the ground. "Alone with my thoughts, I often fantasized about having a family of my own. Little kids running around and playing. Someone to talk to and cherish. All kiddie thoughts that kept me company." She frowned. "…I wanted a family for so long…a proper family. I was too scared to go outside and see the social world, but I wanted a family. I…don't want to be alone."

Wes frowned. "Gwyn…" He pulled on his hat. "…You really have been alone for a long time."

She sighed. "Kind of silly, right?"

"What's so silly about family?"

"Heh…" She looked up at him. "Wes…can I ask you a personal question?"

"Of course."

"What's it like to have a family? A mom, a dad, a sibling…"

He smiled. "Well, strap in, because you're in for a real detailed story." He leaned back, taking another sip of his shake. "I'm sure I don't need to explain much about having a mother. They're the ones that make sure you're doing okay, help you prepare for life, check up on you no matter how small or minute the issue is…" He chuckled. "Oh, my mom can go all out when she thinks you're sick." His eyes widened fearfully. "She's also quite frightening…"

"Do I want to know?"

"Never break curfew or you'll feel the wrath of hell pounded on you." He rubbed his head. "In retrospect, I was the adventurous child, so she had to keep special eye on me."

Gwyn scratched her cheek, chuckling awkwardly. "My mom was pretty ticked when I left the shop that one time…"

"Eh, mothers can get overprotective, sometimes age blind to their little babies…" He smiled. "But I love my mother very much. I couldn't have asked for a sweeter woman to raise me."

Gwyn smiled. "I'd love to meet her."

"She'll like you, for a number of reasons…" he muttered slyly.

"Hmm?"

"Anyway, my dad…who you knew." He shook his head. "I am never going to get over that. Seriously, one person was the bridge from us meeting each other. Crazy, right?"

Gwyn laughed. "Kind of, yeah."

"I wonder what would've happened if my dad decided to let you stay with us." He grinned. "You would definitely have had that family you wanted."

"Heh…yeah…"

"Dads are those fatherly figures in your life that do everything in their power to protect…or embarrass the hell out of you. Ever heard of a Dad Joke?" She shook her head. "You really are still innocent. I pray that you never have to experience the cringe that comes with it." He looked up at the setting sky. "My dad wasn't always around, but when he came home, it felt like a special treat.

"He is the guy who got me into treasure hunting in the first place." He took off his fedora and spun it on his paw. "This is his hat, actually. He gave it to me before he…" He frowned, suddenly feeling sad.

Gwyn frowned back, then smiled sympathetically. "He was a great guy when I met him. I can see why you and Flint looked up to him. You were both lucky to have such a caring man to look up to."

He smiled softly, then touched her shoulder. "Thanks, Gwyn." She smiled back at him, brighter than before. He sighed and looked ahead. "Speaking of Flint, let me tell you. Having a brother can be a pain."

"I though you and Flint loved each other."

"Oh, sure we do. Thick as thieves, we are." He grinned exasperatedly. "It's just that…Flint can get on my case A LOT. And, just as much, I get on his. It's this synergy we have with each other. I annoy him, he annoys me."

"Is that what all siblings are like?"

"Definitely not, but it's common. I mean, you're sharing the house with someone fairly close to your age. Heads will start to butt." He chuckled. "But, I can't deny Flint has gotten me out of some jams during school. Without him, I would've crashed and burned in high school and halfway through college. He's a good guy like that."

Gwyn looked down at her lap, blushing. "Flint really is amazing…"

Wes stared at her in silence for a moment, then looked down at his milkshake. "…Family…is important. Griffin is avenging his entire village. Tony has a loving mother and sister. I'd say Ella's probably the only one who doesn't care for family, but…even if her parents never particularly liked me, they weren't horrible people. I wasn't exactly lawyer or fancy doctor material." He shrugged. "But…it's good to have some blood that you can feel proud of."

Gwyn tilted her head. "What are you saying?"

Wes set his shake down. "Gwyn, I know why you've been worried about fighting Margo. It's like you said, you feel like you have this reputation to uphold. Your mother is one thing, but it's your father that you want to emulate. A man you've never met who probably has a million things he wants to tell you." He huffed and pressed his head against the wall. "…And I bet he worries about you, wondering if you'll make it through like the rest of us."

Gwyn blinked, then frown at her milkshake, playing with the straw mindlessly. "…There is so much I want to say, but…I do want to be strong like my dad. Or rather…be someone who can defend all their subjects." She shook her head. "No…someone who can…protect their family."

He raised his brow. "You serious?"

She smiled at him. "I've always wanted a family to call my own, but…I think I got the next best thing with you guys. I feel like we're one big, dysfunctional family." She grinned cheerily. "We're all just a bunch of goofs trying to get through all this strife and having a laugh along the way. That's…another reason why I admire Flint so much.

"He puts himself in danger for all of you, even if he isn't all that strong. He…has something I want. A passionate and strong heart to conquer fears and protect all that I love. I don't like to be violent. I much prefer hugs and friendship." She clenched her fist. "But that's why I want to conquer my madness. I want to have that battle-hardened drive to win like the rest of you. To fight on my own and face the toughest dangers that come. I want to protect my new family! I want to protect you guys!"

A breeze blew down the street, rustling Wes' fur as he stared motionlessly at her. He blinked a couple times, then tipped his hat over his eyes. "…I think you're on the right track for that strong heart." Gwyn blinked, then smiled. "…Do you think I'm a good leader?"

"What? Of course you are."

"Yeah, but…why would anyone want to follow me into battle?"

"Why would they…?" Gwyn took a minute to think it over. There were somethings one didn't normally question and this was one of them. The idea of following Wes just wasn't something she gave a second thought to. Honestly, regardless if he was the leader or not, she chose to follow Team Ravenfield because she had the courage to leave home and see the world she missed out on.

She scratched behind her head. "Well…if you want my personal opinion…"

"Oh no…" Wes groaned, expecting the worse.

Conversely, Gwyn smiled at him. "I think you have the most heart for this stuff."

"…Huh?"

"Well, I mean…it's like you said, out of all of us, you have the heart of a treasure hunter, more some than Flint and Ella." She grinned. "Would you rather have an budding archeologist or a thief leading you into danger?"

"I suppose not…"

"Besides, who cares about semantics." She waved her hand around. "Way I see it, you're plenty strong. Sure, you can't do much without your Star Amulet, but…hey, I know one day you'll be able to bring out your magic all on your own! You'll be the strongest Umbreon in all of Mysto! You'll be swimming in gold and dancing with jeweled clothes!"

Wes stifled a laugh. "I wouldn't go that far…"

"Plus, in my humble opinion, you do have the qualities of a leader. It…just might not be your preferred style. You're the kind of guy who takes charge, but doesn't expect your team to blindly follow your orders. You know what's best for any given moment and you can pull off some awesome moves when it counts!"

"Heh…gee, thanks…" He pulled on his hat gently. "…I want to do better for everyone. Make better decisions. Be…someone stronger that all of you can look up to. A good leader needs to know his team. I…I want to have strong bonds with each of you. Just like M said: a strong bond for a strong team can…defy fate."

"I say you're off to a pretty good start." Gwyn slurped her milkshake with a cute squee.

"…Yeah…" He took a deep breath. "…And I want to start now."

"Hmm?"

"I want to repay you for your kindness. I want to help you." He narrowed his eyes. "Gwyn…I've been observing your behavior ever since we got here and met with the queen. I can tell you want to fight for all of us with your heart, but I know what drives you to get stronger deep down…"

"H-Huh?"

He glared. "Your madness may have gone loose twice, but I have a feeling I know what triggered it. Your mother might run off the anger of damaged pride. The way I see it, with your innocent nature, it instinctively goes off when someone you care about with all your heart is in grave danger…or if they're pushing themselves for your sake." He sighed with a tired smile. "You have a good heart deep down, no matter what."

"I…don't quite understand…"

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"S-Sure…"

He looked her dead serious in the eyes, no impish or tricky glints behind them. He wanted to hear it from her mouth.

"Gwyn…are you in love with my brother?"

Her face lit up bright red, with her fur standing on end. Her eyes widened while her pupils shrank to pinpricks. He could hear her internally screaming inside, possibly out of mortification. She quickly flipped her jacket over her face and rocked herself to the ground.

"You heard me mumbling to myself back in the hotel, didn't youuuuu?!" she cried.

"I mean…count yourself lucky Flint already left by the time you started saying it, but…yeah, I did." He rubbed the back of his head. "…Sssooo…what is it?"

Gwyn sat up and pulled her jacket off her face, still burning in the cheeks. "I…I don't know…maybe…kind of…" She tapped her fingers together, then meekly added, "…He's really cute…and nice…and cool…"

"I have to say, you may just be the first girl to call my brother 'cool.'" He paused, then scratched his chin. "Well…Ella may have said it a couple of times, but…you get my drift."

"…Is that a problem? Me…liking him?"

He shook his head. "Nah. In fact…I'm actually really happy there's someone in his life that cares for him like you do." He sighed. "Flint never had a girl in his life who thought he was anything special. He was the nerdy kid who'd rather look at fossils than hang out at the local pub." He shrugged. "I'm sure there was someone out there for him…and I'm glad to know that potential someone." He winked at her.

She blinked, cheeks blooming brighter. "…Do you think…I have a chance with him?"

He held his paw up. "Let me put it to you like this. If Flint had to choose between some random, super-hot model with a billion bits and basically set luxury and relaxation for life or you, he'd jump at the chance to be with you without even a nanosecond of reconsideration." He smiled kindly. "He jumped in front of an arrow for you and helped you come out of your shell. Believe me, any guy who does that is a keeper. And my brother is nothing short of admirable."

Gwyn looked down at her lap, allowing herself to calm down some. She settled her hand over her beating heart, feeling each beat from the rush of excitement. "…Those girls from Team Shatter Star…told me that I should take a chance and just tell him…is that a good idea?"

He closed his eyes. "I don't know the correct answer to that…but let me say this. We may or may not get out of this unscathed. I don't like to think about it, but we all have a real chance of dying." He opened one eye at her. "One would say getting close throws off rationality…that you only worry about the person you love. If one of you were to die and the other witnessed, you may do something you'll regret…or make a fatal mistake. Some would say it's not the wisest move.

"On the flip side that I personally side with…why miss out on the chance? If we're going to die, you and Flint might as well spend what little free time we have being happy." He grinned. "You two would make a pretty sweet couple."

She smiled. "Thanks…" She narrowed her eyes, then looked at her fist. "…I want to get stronger so I can impress him. I want to show Flint that he doesn't always have to look out for me. I know I'm talented in magic. I just lack the hand-to-hand experience and…well, experience." She grinned confidently. "But if it means I can fight alongside Flint and protect him like he does for me, then what's stopping me from giving it my all?"

Wes grinned. "That's the spirit."

She nodded sharply. "Hmph! Right! I know what I must do!" She stood up and raised her fists. "After I defeat Margo and take her key, I'll tell Flint! I'll tell Flint…that I want to date him! That I…That I love him! Y-Yeah! I…I love Flint! There! I said it! You hear me, world?! I-MMPH!"

Wes quickly covered her mouth and pulled her down, laughing quietly. "Save it for when you win."

She pulled his paw off and laughed sheepishly. "R-Right…got a little excited…" She smiled at the ground, still feeling fluttery. "It's so funny to say…"

"Do you truly love him?"

"Heh…maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but…" She scratched behind her ear. "I don't mind the idea of dating him…it…it sounds nice…"

Wes smiled. "Then you have my full support, all the way. I promise you, you two will be happy together."

She nodded. "Thanks, Wes!" She clenched her fists. "Phew! I'm suddenly feeling pumped! I should do some training! I need to win! HIYA!" She kicked upward.

"We should do some training."

"…Huh?"

Wes nodded. "I'm going to teach you everything I know about fighting up close. I can't turn you into a fighting genius…but I can teach you some tricks that work on most opponents."

"You mean it?"

"I want to be a better leader for all of you. What better way to start than…helping a fellow teammate get stronger, right?" He smiled. "I'd be more than happy to be your coach."

She blinked, then beamed ecstatically. "Wes…that's so thoughtful of you!" She threw herself at him for a hug, but he pushed her back gently. "Huh?"

"I have one last thing to say before you do that." He sighed, then smiled awkwardly. "I…I enjoyed talking to you. Hanging out with you feels…uplifting. There's something about you that brings out the best in others. You're a gentle rose that graces all who pass you with an infectious vibrancy. You have your thorns when they count, but you dare not harm those who want to appreciate your company. I feel like you deserve something for all the trouble you've had to endure.

"You said you've always wanted a family, right?" She nodded. "Well…I know you feel Team Ravenfield is your family, but…I have something that'll one up that." He grinned. "How would you like me to consider you…my official, unofficial little sister?"

Her eyes nearly bulged out within the second he said 'sister.' She thought she misheard him, but no…he said sister, plain as day. It…It was the last thing she thought she would hear.

"You…You mean it?" she asked hesitantly.

He shrugged. "Yeah. I don't mind. You're cute as a button and full of spunk." He smirked off to the side and muttered, "Plus…if things go well for you and Flint, it won't be all that unofficial anymore." He looked back at Gwyn, then raised his brow as she stared at him blankly. Unmoving. Unblinking.

…It was getting uncomfortable.

"Uh…Gwyn?" He waved his paw in her face. "Um…please tell me I didn't break you. I'll have a hard time explaining this to the others-WHOA!"

Gwyn suddenly lunged into him and trapped him in a tight, affectionate hug, giggling up a storm. "Hee! I would love that! Ooooh! Thank you so much, Wes! I always wanted a sibling!"

Wes sighed in relief, glad he didn't overload her brain, then wrapped his forelegs around her, returning the embrace. "Heh…you're welcome…sis." That made her squeal in delight. "Alright, alright…" He patted her back, then pulled her back. "Finish up your milkshake, then we'll head back. I bet you still want to finish up with your experiments."

She nodded. "Yeah. This was nice. A good little stress reliever." She slurped her milkshake with a newfound glee in her spirit. She pulled it away, smiling fondly at the cup. "…Thank you…for this."

He shrugged. "It's what family does."

"Hee…" She held the straw to her lips, then glanced at him curiously. "…You want to tell me more stories about your adventures, don't-?"

"Never thought you'd ask!" Gwyn giggled at his sudden enthusiasm. It made him happy, so why wouldn't she want to listen? That's all she wanted from her friends: to see them smiling and happy. "Have I ever told you about the time we went to a casino out in the Fire Zone?"

"Aren't casinos supposed to be…off-limits to minors?" she guessed. From what Ella told her, they stopped adventuring as a group ever since college rolled along.

"That's where the adventure part comes in!" He cleared his throat as Gwyn scooted closer to fully engross herself into it. "So, there we were, looking for this Rhydon who got his hands on the Gauntlet of Aurum, a valuable piece of magical history, according to Flint. Belonged to some guy named Midas, if I'm remembering that correctly. Turned anything the five fingers touched into solid gold. We had to sneak through the bouncer, so I came up with this ingenious idea to…"

Flint panted in exhaustion, as sweat dripped down his face. He had taken off his blazer so it wouldn't get soaked with sweat. He glared at the dummy set up in front of him, lightly singed from his attempted shots. He got it off a few times, but they weren't any different from tiny fire crackers popping close to the skin.

The Mystic Beam…a spell his brother and father used quite a lot along with the other Mystic series spells. One to augment magic and strength, the Mystic Burst, the other to concentrate that magic into a long-range attack, the Mystic Beam.

As he did have an aptitude for magic, Flint figured learning Mystic Beam would be good for his arsenal of spells. Might as well carry on the tradition of the Ravenfield magic users learning the spell series, though he didn't have much hope in learning Mystic Burst like his brother.

Besides, long-range capabilities would suit him better, as he had all the direct assault power he could ask for from his Guardian. Even so, it was a lot of hard work to pull off. While everyone else has been using their time to train different aspects of their magic and abilities, Flint was stuck on trying to learn this spell.

He took a deep breath, then parted his legs. "Alright…one more time. I can get it this time." He breathed, then concentrated his magic before his mouth. Orange magic materialized before him and swirled into a small sphere. Flint's eye twitched as he tried to contain the shape, which began fizzling like a bubble of water.

"Concentrate…concentrate…" he panted through his open maw.

He breathed, then fired the magic. It was just as the others were: a thin beam that did nothing more than graze the surface of the dummy.

He gasped a breath of exhaustion and fell onto his stomach. "Alright…that's enough…" He rolled onto his back and panted. "Ugh…gifted in magic, but I'm not as inclined to battle as Wes, even if he can't naturally bring his magic out…" He closed his eyes and sighed. "I need a drink…"

A water bottle appeared before his eyes. "Here you go."

He sat up and came face-to-face with Saffiro and Oswald, the former handing him the container of hydration. Flint took the bottle in his paws. "Thanks." He unscrewed the cap and took a sip of the bottle. "Aaah…what are you two doing here?"

Saffiro smirked. "You don't have private access to the grounds, pal~," he reminded.

"Ah, right…" He sipped the water again, then stood up. "Heh, sorry, just getting my own training in."

"This is training?" Flint's ears drooped as Oswald inspected the singed dummy. "Are you practicing some pinpoint, fire spell to catch your opponents off guard?"

Flint didn't reply. He groaned and covered his face, sinking to the ground. Saffiro smacked Oswald in the back of the head. "A little less honesty comes a long way~." He turned to Flint, holding his hip. "I'm guessing it's not supposed to look like that?"

"No…it's supposed to be a powerful beam spell…" He sat up and rubbed his forehead. "Supposed being a strong word."

"Guessing you aren't doing too well." It wasn't a question, but a minor observation.

"I don't do any actual battling. Not my style." He sighed and scratched behind his ear. "It takes a great deal out of me just to use once, much less fifty tries. And they were just weak blasts." He huffed. "My brother has better control over it."

"Oh, I know how you feel," Oswald brought up. He struck the air with a flurry of kicks. "I took a great amount of years learning the might Ultimate Fist martial art. Dedication, sweat, blood, tears, and broken bones! All to achieve the power of the mighty!"

Flint paled and held his paws up. "Um…not going that far, but…thank you?"

"No problem!" Oswald exclaimed obliviously.

Saffiro scratched at the singed marks on the dummy, with his sheathed sword over his shoulder. "What exactly is the idea behind the spell?"

"Concentrating magic into raw power. It's the Mystic Beam."

"Mystic Beam? I heard of that. Very powerful stuff~." He scratched his chin. "You know, we could help and offer some pointers."

Flint raised his brow. The offer was appreciated, but… "Um…aren't we technically rivals? I wouldn't want to give you guys an unfair advantage over me."

Saffiro rolled his eyes. "It's only one spell of countless others you probably know. But, if you want to even things out, I'll tell you my main magic style. Won't know my tactics, but you'll know what to expect."

"True…" He scratched his cheek. "I…guess I could use some pointers." He stood up and dusted himself off. "If you guys don't mind…"

"Well, not today, of course. You need to rest and we need to train." Saffiro spun his sword with one hand. "We can try tomorrow. Sound good?"

Flint smiled appreciatively, admitting he needed rest. "Perfect…"

"Oh, we'll have a grand ol' time!" Oswald punched his fists together. "We can go a few rounds with each other and show you what we're made of!" He inhaled deeply, then slammed his palm into the dummy's chest.

Flint's jaw dropped as the dummy quite literally EXPLODED into fragments. Pellets of the dummy rained into his mane as he stared dumbfounded. Staring hard at Oswald, he couldn't detect a drop of magic within him or that attack. There wasn't any magical power behind his strike.

What kind of martial art did he learn?!

Either way, he made the note to NEVER piss this guy off. He grinned nervously and held his paws up. "N-No thank you! I'm good! No sparring for me! Hahahaha…" He was surprised he still had sweat to…well, sweat.

Saffiro sighed and held his face. "Oz, I swear…"

Flint tipped his hat to him and briskly left the ground after retrieving his blazer. "Well, I'm off! Take care!" It never donned on him how strong potential opponents in the tournament would be. That first initial trial sounded like it was going to be a race for glory.

He sighed and shook his head, throwing the blazer atop his back. He couldn't let this deter him. He was going to learn the Mystic Beam sooner or later. Gwyn was trying so hard to get stronger, so he should do the same. For her sake and the sake of his friends.

He raised his paw and clenched it, smiling boldly ahead. "Right…I can do this. I've overcome dangerous obstacles before this journey and survived many more. I won't let the rest of them leave me in the dust! Just you wait, guys, I'll be an ally that you can call upon in your desperate hour!"