Crystal Hikara
New Member
Ha, thanks, but how so? Plot? Characters? Twists? I WANT INFO, DRAT IT ALL!
BTW, now we get to introduce one of the characters that was unintentional in the storyline, and yet he just strolled in through the door with a pair of shades thinking he was just the character. He's become a fave of mine; hopefully you guys'll like him too.
Chapter 18- Aikaze
“I’m telling you, we aren’t Missile Grunts…” Crystal found herself repeating for what seemed to be the thousandth time.
“That’s not what your outfit says,” came the same response from one of her captors. They walked in a line, Kara likely to be a few guards behind her. There was a rope that tied her hands behind her back, the ends of each held by the flying trainers on either side. Her Pokemon had been taken away from her, and they were being totted along at the front of the pack. In addition, they had her blindfolded, even in the dark woods.
“And I told you how I got ahold of this outfit and why I’m wearing it!” she cried exasperatedly.
“Uh huh. Likely story.”
“It’s the truth! By the Legendaries!”
“We don’t fall for Missile lies so easily,” and thus they were at the beginning of the vicious cycle once more.
“Alright, alright, fine! Call me a Missile even though I’m not! Where are we going?”
“We can’t tell you that, otherwise you’ll rat if you get away.”
“Yeah, rat to my Missile Grunt leader, riiiight?” she drawled sarcastically, tripping over some roots.
“Exactly. Good, maybe you’re not as idiotic as you seem, Missile.” Once more she sighed, grumbling. Why had Kiyo taken off like that, and where did she go? Where is that girl when you need her? However, she stumbled to a stop as they yanked back on the rope. Her ears strained for knowledge of this area.
“We’ve caught some Missile Grunts! We do this for Aikaze!” Aikaze? Wasn’t that the gym leader’s name? There was the sound of rustling feet, and once again she was tugged forward. Different voices and the noise of battling Pokemon came into ear, though they passed it by. Wings rustled and songs were song all around the area. If Crystal wasn’t bound up and free to do as she pleased, she would have loved to check out this bird paradise. Then, they paused at another guarded area, where something of a different password was spoken, and then continued on. Out of nowhere, though, they stopped, and they didn’t move again.
“Ms. Aikaze! We’ve captured two Missile Grunts! We overheard them in the woods, and look at the outfit this one is wearing!” Crystal was then nearly kicked to the ground. It felt like being stuffed into a cage all over again.
“Hmm? Two grunts, far into the woods?” she spoke with a bit of an accent, though her voice was calm.
“Yes! Look, this one even had a trainer card with the symbol on it, though she clearly tried to hide it.”
“…Let me see their eyes and let them speak?”
“Ah, of course.” Soon, the heavy cloth slipped off of Crystal’s eyes. She had to blink a few times to get used to the fiery lighting around. Her eyes found themselves at the bottom of a red dress lined with gold. Gazing up, she saw all sorts of golden wings about her, as well as black hair tipped in crimson. She had lovely chestnut-colored eyes that stared back down at her.
“Whom do you say you are?”
“Not a Missile Grunt. This is all a big misunderstanding!”
“She keeps saying that.”
“Wait, let me hear her out,” the leader muttered, turning to the female.
“We were trying to get into Zenith unnoticed so we could try and free it by challenging the fake gym leader. We had stolen these outfits and used them before when Sunrise had been taken over!” she hastily explained.
“When you say ‘we’, are you referring to your friend over here?”
“Well, there was another, but she just flew off right before your trainers here busted in and caught us.”
“I see…what was her name?”
“Kiyo Dustren!” There was a pause.
“And yours?” She also gazed at Kara, though her eyes remained soullessly on the ground.
“I’m Crystal Hikara from Dawndew.”
“I see…” There was a pause, in which she moved to the medic. “What of you?”
“It really shouldn’t matter.”
“How so?”
“I was part of Team Missile at one point. Punish me if you want, Ms. Aikaze. I deserve it. Just…be kind to Zaika and my Combusken, alright? They don’t deserve punishment.” The majestic gym leader’s face took to perplexity.
“…I…see. Your name?” Given the woman was so persistent, Kara sighed apathetically and gave in.
“Kara Hikorume.”
“Ah…I believe…I understand…” her voice saddened a little bit, before she turned to her underlings.
“May I see their trainer cards?” Hastily, there was a rustling sound from each bag, and the two were handed over. With cards in hand, she walked back, looking at the fugitive’s cards in better lighting. She paused just a moment, flipping each over, before she muttered, “It’s alright. Release them from the ropes.”
“Huh? But, Ms. Aikaze…”
“Congratulations, men- what you’ve caught are two high-class perpetrators to Team Missile, and not Missile Grunts,” she softly stated, and they murmured stupidly amongst themselves. Soon enough, Crystal’s wrists were free, and she rubbed them.
“Ah, er, thank you.”
“We’re sorry for the mix up, Ms. Crystal. You’ve probably already had a lot to deal with, no?”
“Maybe, yeah.”
“I see…” she paused, before taking a short curtsey. “I am Iku Aikaze, true gym leader of Zenith City. Well, this is our makeshift gym area, at least. We are well met and glad to have both of you here.”
“Ah, yes, thank you. Pleasure to meet you, too…” she gazed around. Well, now what? We found the real gym leader, but without Kiyo by my side, what am I supposed to do…?
“Now, it seems as though both of you are collecting badges?”
“Yeah…” Crystal sheepishly admitted, though as she got to her feet, Kara remained hollow. “…?”
“What’s…the matter?” Of course, Kara gave no reply to the gym leader.
“Well, it’s…a bit of a long story as to how she’s here, and…”
“Kara…I remember meeting you once. You aren’t anything like you were before they forced you into working. Don’t blame yourself for that. The important thing is that you and your family are alive,” Iku muttered to the trainer.
“It still doesn’t help my conscious at all.”
“I understand that. Still, would your parents and family want you to be held down by this? Or would they want their proud family member to fight for them still?” Still the traitor responded with nothing much, but she slowly got to her feet. “Well, if you wish, you two are welcome to stay here for a while, and challenge me when your Pokemon are all rested up. I have an inkling both of you wish to do that?”
“Ah, well, I mean…” Crystal stuttered.
“Chances are you won’t be able to make it too far without my badge.”
“Ah, it’s not that…”
“You’re a new trainer, and you’re relying on Kiyo for your aide?” And the girl gulped. She hit the hammer on the nail right into and through her heart. She quietly chuckled. “I understand that. Still, you should be more confident within yourself. It’s times like these where we must be strong together, and strong as an individual. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Of course, the words were registering through the young trainer’s mind, but she was just…totally shocked by the harshness of the words.
“Yeah, I…”
“Kiyo, despite her strength, isn’t always going to be there for you. I know that there will come a day where she will have to attend to something, much like she is right now, and she won’t be able to help out if you get into trouble. I hope that you will be strong enough by then to handle your own moves, and create your own strategies. Maybe…you should start now. Your Pokemon are being treated in the grotto not too far from here, where the stream curves through. If you wish, come back to me once you gather them, yes? I patiently wait for your challenge.” Iku smiled, twirling a bit of her feathery hair. Crystal turned to Kara.
“Let’s go, yeah? Your Combusken and Zaika are probably waiting for you…” She grinned like a goof. However, Kara only looked up briefly, and without her soul in her eyes. Mewster somewhat winced at the sight empathetically.
“Yeah, let’s.”
Back in Zenith City, grunts were still on high patrol for the three rogue trainers, though chances were they’d never find them. Aaron was blazing angry, his point-dancing creature waiting patiently by his side. “Grah! Kara brought it upon herself! Go for the family, you three!” he angrily thrust his hand randomly to three grunts, whom nodded and swiftly took to the house near the Pokemon Center. Soon afterwards, it was decided that two would stay outside the door, and only one enter. The family had no Pokemon, and given by all of the Pokeballs on the third’s waist, he was an expert trainer, despite his low rank, and thus could handle the situation if they tried to resist.
“Huh?! Who are you?!” One man suddenly rose from his chair as he glared at the incoming grunt.
“That isn’t of any importance,” he coldly stated.
“What do you want from us this time? We have your monthly fees, you scumbag, if that’s what you want-”
“I was not sent here for that.”
“Then what do you want?!” From the corner of the grunt’s view, he could subtly make out three female figures huddling over a sickbed. An old man lay there, muttering something about how he’d scare them off. The obvious grandmother of the family pet his balding, spotted head in an effort to calm him down. The mother was silently hugging the young daughter, who’s head was buried within her parent’s womb. It was a small house, too small for a family of five.
“I was sent to…move you.” At this phrase, the family man froze. Several chestnut hairs nearly left his emptying scalp.
“Move us…where? What…for?”
“That is not your concern.” As the grunt spoke, he rose up all of the normal Pokeballs on his waist, leaving his Missile Ball untouched. “Come. There are guards waiting outside.”
“Huh? What do you mean? It’s still daytime out, I’m sure…” Crystal gave her friend a puzzled look as she started moping off in the direction of where the camp’s beds were.
“I’m just…exhausted. There was a lot that was hard on my heart, and I fear more is coming. I really just need some sleep now. Ha, you might not believe it, but I did not sleep well last night, having decided I was going to find and take on Aaron.” Her eyes were still hollow, devoid of emotion.
“What about your Pokemon?”
“Well, I’d ask you to do it, but I don’t even deserve that much kindness from you at this point. I’ll get them tomorrow morning.”
“It’s not a problem to go and grab them, you know-”
“Don’t waste your energy on me.”
“If I’m gonna be over there anyways…”
“Just…good night.” With that, Kara slunk off, saying not another word. The gifted one merely observed as she left the area, walking around the training spots. She couldn’t help but feel the vicious pangs of empathy beat within her heart. I want to help, I want to do something for Kara that’d get her out of this stupor, but what is there to do, really? Well, I could at least get her Pokemon. Then again, that might lead to her possibly getting angry at me. Still, she resolved, I’m going to do it, regardless of the consequences.
With that thought permanently stuck in mind, Crystal paced herself to her Pokemon. She was all too eager to be with them again, to have them by her side; she felt so naked without her bag and trainer belt on. And soon, as the woods deepened in the eternal night, the young trainer began to sweat lightly. There’s something…about this area, I don’t know what it is, but…it’s really creeping me out, she shivered, feeling an infinite number of eyes locked onto her. Her walk turned into a light jog, and soon she found the area. The nature was broken by a single piece of machinery, one the girl noticed was the same healing machine they used in most Pokemon Centers. A murky stream trickled through the area lightly, with various wild and trainer Pokemon gathering to quench their thirsts in peace. Among these, Crystal noted, was Flora, Sergeant Pup, and Dragola. Oddly enough, though, there were no trainers besides her lonely self around.
“Hey, guys!” she whispered so as not to disturb the others. The small portion of her motley crew gazed up, and anxiously returned to their trainer.
“Hikara! Did they take you as a POW?” the Poochyena barked, obviously ready to ‘annihilate the enemy’ if she so much as moved her head up and down an inch.
“I was so worried when I was released by those bird trainers and I didn’t see you anywhere!” Dragola slithered up and around her mistress’s body till she was in her arms, snuggling tightly.
“Bah, I says to da ‘Pup, she be too tough to just be taken as a outsida, but he don’t listen to da voice of reason, fo’ shizzle!” Flora gleamed up proudly at her strong trainer. Serge merely rolled his eyes.
“Hahaha…it was just a big misunderstanding, that’s all. They saw the Missile outfit and just assumed otherwise, but it’s all okay now…” Crystal slowly hugged her Dratini, and gazed around. “Where are the others?”
“I’m right here.” Mewster then proceeded to nearly throw her poor serpent Pokemon into the river from shock. She swiftly turned around to see the Torchic.
“Ahh, Flare, don’t do that! It’s bad enough I feel as though I’m being watched all the time in these woods!”
“I apologize,” she cooed, fluffing her feathers up as she gazed warmly up at her trainer.
“Ha, it’s not a problem. But, uh, where’s the Mareep?” she glanced around, letting Dragola down as her arms screamed soreness.
“Oh, dat ol’ ewe? She never came outta her ball. I tink she be too nervous too, dat you not be around,” the Oddish motioned towards the healing machine. A single Missile Ball waited upon the counter, all upon its lonesome among four crimson and pearly balls.
“Ah, thanks...” The blonde wasted no time in heading over. Surely enough, her bag was waiting for her as well as her Pokeballs, and with an easy sling and clip, she was fully re-equipped. She then latched on all of her capsule tools to her waste, recalling her Pokemon, but then she stared at that last dark Pokeball. Well, a promise is a promise...We are out of Missile territory, and so she would more than likely be able to get back home to safety…
“Hey, Mareep, come on…out,” she called, holding her home before her gently. With a simple flash, the fluffy wool Pokemon was released, and she glanced around. Her tail glew, illuminating the area in a coat of pale yellow.
“Eh? You’re back!”
“Yeah,” she softly whispered. “Uh, Mareep?”
“Hmm? What’s with the pout, eh?”
“Ah, well…how far do you think your family is from the Eclipse Woods we’re in now?”
“Eh? Maybe a short walk. Why?” she rose a sheepy eyebrow, but Crystal uttered nothing. She just gazed over the Pokeball, taking in the dark colored. Her emotions infuriated her and contradicted her beliefs she was so stubbornly clinging to. That was the final straw that finally made her whisper.
“Go. You’re free.”
It was then that a bright flash of bluish light burst out from not only the capsule, but from around the Mareep. Her eyes widened in wonder as the malfunctioning Pokeball hopped open, before clamping shut. An arc of electricity ran over the tool, causing the trainer to drop it. It then remained still. It would never open again.
The sheep gazed up at her trainer in wonder.
“How…I mean…why?”
“I made…a promise, didn’t I…? Go on. Your family is waiting for you. You should…never be forced to abandon your family for another’s wants, anyways.” Crystal didn’t look up from the ground.
“…Crystal…” The Mareep muttered somewhat sympathetically, before taking a few steps back. “… …thank you.” With a final bleat, she dashed off into the woods, never looking back. There was a moment of silence, broken only by footsteps behind her.
“Are you…alright?” It was Aikaze.
“Yeah,” the trainer lied, her words obviously choked. “Fine.”
“That was…a very noble thing you just did. You promised that Mareep you would release her when you got the chance, because she was captivated by Team Missile, no?”
A small nod.
“I…realize how hard it may be to let a friend go, and to do the right thing. Not many trainers would have done that. Take some pride in that.”
Silence.
“Maybe you should get some rest. You obviously need it, especially after today.” It was then that Crystal slowly rose to her feet. She caught Iku gazing upwards at the sky, hearing a flight of several wings in formation, before she returned her maroon eyes down upon the newbie trainer. “There’s always tomorrow for training. Just remember something… that Mareep, even if she was released and went back to her family…she’s always going to remember your kindness, and you will as well. You’re linked now…I’m sure you’ll meet her again some day, and she’ll help you out in your greatest hour of need.” Finally, the gym leader caught contact of crystal blue eyes, lightly awash in tears. She forced a smile, despite she had just done one of the most difficult things in her life at that point.
“Yeah…you’re right.”
“Well, take your time resting up here and the like. I have some business to attend to, I think.” With that, Iku smiled, and gracefully left, red dress catching in the air as she departed. Crystal was left alone in the area for a moment, and she shot a glance at the dead Pokeball.
“…Maybe all…Missile Balls do need to be destroyed like that,” she muttered, before turning to leave. However, a dark cackle froze her mid-step. “…?!”
“Aw, look at the poor baby twainer. Do you miss your Kiyo by your side?” Shocked by these words, she spun around several times, gazing to see if any of the Pokemon had spoken. However, they were all too enthralled with their drinks to have possibly said anything. “Come now, surely you can see me? Hehehe! Don’t waste your time! Just go to sleep and wait for your twainer to fetch you and feed you, hmmm?” Completely wigging out of her mind, she fought to hold back a scream. A bead of perspiration rolled down her dampening forehead and onto the ground.
There was a light tap on her shoulder.
She sprinted off as though using Extremespeed, howling like a Exploud with a stomachache. The creature behind her cackled.
“Oh, how fun it is to play with a new toy and totally mess with their heads!” he gleamed, before fading away.
Now huddled in one of the makeshift beds stuffed full with feathers and leaves, Crystal was ready for sleep, though fear and paranoia had pumped her adrenaline to the max. Sleep would not visit willingly for at least another hour. She whimpered as she tightly held onto Flare and Dragola. She also called out Sergeant Pup to rest on her bed as a faithful watch dog, and he growled at the least bit of movement, taking his job seriously like everything else.
“Definitely my imagination, yeah. Couldn’t have been something touching me. There was nothing that coulda reached my shoulder around there!” she mindlessly squeaked and babbled, head under the covers.
“You never know around these parts, Hikara. One too many times I have seen gh-”
“DON’T SAY IT!” she screamed dramatically, continuing her whining. Her Pokemon gazed at her with concern, unaware of her deathly fear of the dead spirits of the world that haunted the living.
“…if you insist.”
“What, you mean a GHOOOOST?” Crystal winced and shrieked more at hearing Dragola tease her.
“NOOOOOO! DRAGOLA!!!”
“What?”
“Whyyyy? Why did you say itttt?!”
“Say what? …You mean, ghooost?”
“Yes, that! ENOUGH!” she pleaded.
“I didn’t say anything, though?” the Dratini eyed her questionably, clearly confused.
“Don’t lie! I heard your voice saying it several times!”
“I didn’t, I swear! I have no idea what the word is!” she exclaimed. “Ghooooooost!” Of course, Crystal’s eyes were now glued on the Dratini, panic-stricken. Her mouth hadn’t moved on that last word. Dark laughter once more tormented her, having been discovered as the outside source. The young trainer cried out in protest, clinging stubbornly to her Pokemon.
“He’s back, he’s back!” the gifted one sobbed.
“Where?! The Poochyena growled and used his Howl to bring up his attack, ready to lash out when the adversary was discovered. The girl daren’t remove herself from her sheets, too afraid to try and help answer the question.
“He’s laughing! Serge, make him stop!”
“I don’t…hear anything!” He sharply moved about on the bed, more than likely trying to place his sharp eyes on the creature.
“I swear I’m not lying! I hear him laughing!”
“Crystal, I don’t hear him either,” Flare lightly nuzzled up against her trainer, attempting to calm her down. “Your imagination may be getting the better of you.”
“I don’t hear anything, Crystal…” the Dragon Pokemon concurred.
“No, no, no! It’s real! He’s saying things that I didn’t hear before!”
“What’s the matter, hmmm? Do I…scaaaaaare you?”
“Make him stooop! He’s right above my sheets!” There was nothing but laughter, and she felt something the size of the Poochyena land at her feet. “Serge! Serge?!” There was no response. Slowly, and frightened, she dared to peek out. The dark type was, oddly enough, fast asleep. There was no visible sign of that…presence, though the air she breathed in was now putridly cold. “Serge…? SERGE! WAKE UP!” She quickly shook him hard, but he simply snored lightly. He never slept at night.
“Aw, how precious! The pup with the military complex finally gets a night off,” the presence scoffed with that deep laugh. “I guess it’s just you and me now, isn’t it…?” At that, she felt the persistent begging of her other two Pokemon to calm down end. Glancing back under her sheets nervously, she nearly screamed when she saw both Flare and Dragola fitfully resting. The small remaining color in her face disappeared all together.
“W-who a-a-are y-you…?” she stuttered, clinging to her Pokemon. Even if they would not awaken, they still gave her a false sense of protection against this fiend.
“Meh, not of any importance. The point is that you’re so…terrified by me just sitting here, taunting you…Crystal.” She horridly winced at that, her heart skipping two or three beats. She never knew that hearing her name could be so menacing, even in the case of her mother yelling at her or Team Missile’s Kinshayti calling her that in a rotten cotton candy voice. “Hehehe! I don’t even have to try to scare you! This is so fun!"
“GO AWAY!” Tears began falling out of fear as she buried her head under the pillow.
“Or else what? You’ll send Kiyo, your bodyguard, on me? News flash, tuts! She is GONE! You can’t rely on her for everything…” he sang menacingly, but…that last part caught Crystal by the heart. Iku had said the same exact thing just an hour or two ago. “Oooh, I hit the bulls-eye with my dart, did I?”
“Just go!” she feebly cried, trying to keep her breathing under control.
“Aw, but that’s no fun! Besides, I was asked to babysit you and that kid, anyways.” Hikara could imagine whatever beastly creature he was thumbing over to Kara, if he has a thumb. Maybe he doesn’t have any hands. Maybe he doesn’t have a head to nod over there with either! She hyperventilated at the very thought of it. “You know, I had so many cool little tricks to pull, but it’s kinda sad…I don’t even get to use them, because you got so frightened on your own! Pa-the-tic!”
She gave no fighting statement to that comment.
“You know, still…” his words drifted ethereally off. “I have to give ya some credit- maybe you are more bold and courageous than even Kiyo or yourself thinks.” Despite the grammar issue, the sentence caught Crystal’s attention, and she calmed down just a tad. “Heh, going boldly in and trying to help with Sunrise- though, granted, you failed at that, getting your first badge in one shot, still evading Team Missile, even going through with the infiltration and picking up that Mareep, even if you know it was the wrong thing to do… yet even though you somehow nearly managed to screw up on all of them, you still whipped them around into good experiences and smiled at the end of it! Hahaha…you really do got some dumb luck and a different kind of confidence, kid.” She remained entirely silent at this. Why on earth is he scaring me senselessly one moment, then the next, praising my adventures? “Still, maybe your lucky streak…will come to an end shortly. Or maybe later! The gambler, even when lucky, eventually has to lose it all in order to know his limits. Then again, sometimes they don’t know their limit, and they end up on the street in rags. Which will you become, I have to wonder…? Heheheh…
“Anyways, I think we have had an excellent first meeting!” The sound of clapping echoed through the area. “Tormenting you has been a great pleasure, trust me!” He boomed with that eerie tone, and soon she slunk back. However, the laughing died off, then there was silence. Crystal’s heart calmed down slowly but surely, and she once again removed her blind. There was nothing moving about except for the gentle rising chests of Pokemon and trainers alike. She sharply faced Kara near her, whom appeared unaffected from all the loud noise, though she appeared disgruntled as she hugged her pillow. It then hit her- she had forgotten to get the medic’s Pokemon in her fit of hysteria. Well, was she to blame? She didn’t think so. Regardless, the more she stared at the sleeping teen, the more guilty she felt.
It was only a few seconds later that Crystal was tiptoeing barefoot and in her lavender nightgown out of the area, towards the grotto. There were a few guards about, and they gazed at her oddly. Paying no heed to this, she made it to the quiet area she had first encountered ‘Mr. Presence’, as she would refer to him as, given he wouldn’t give her his name. Again, all was in general peace, the only sound that greeted her ears being the slowly flowing river and the occasional cry of a Hoothoot. Still, she scrambled desperately around, and soon she was more than happy to find the single Pokeball and the two Great Balls resting not too far from the machine in a cubby hole for Pokemon that had been left there for the night. The sack Kara always used to carry her essentials around in lay within Kiyo’s bag next to the balls. Quickly taking the creatures and her friends’ bags and releasing the Combusken, Grimer, and Scyther to make sure she was right in her selection, she hustled back to the camp site, placing the three balls and huge bag down beside her bed. Automatically the Combusken hopped out, sleepily situating herself with her slumbering trainer. Crystal gave a small smile as the traitor happily cuddled with the fire type, before getting comfortable in her bed.
Not that sleep would come to her or anything of the sort.
“Tsk tsk! That’s never how you fall asleep!” The voice returned for just a moment, and her breath stopped. She feigned sleep as best she could, though it was difficult on her back. “Come on, you can’t fool little ol’ me like that. I know you like sleeping on your side, Crystal.” Again, she gave an involuntary twitch. “But, I suppose I’ve been the bad guy for too long. Maybe I’ll help you out. Or not. Maybe I’ll hang around all night and deprive you! Oh, the choices! They’re inevitable!” he joked, taking on his mocking tone once more. “…I’ll be nice for tonight, though, because I think the one who sent me to baby-sit would be rather angered if I did the latter. Ah well, maybe another night.”
With that, there was silence. He had apparently left, and at that, the girl sighed. Still keeping her eyes closed, and trying to rid her head of that voice, she softly ran her fingers through her Torchic’s feathers, then moved on to feel the silky smooth scales of the Dratini. Just who was that presence? Why was he, of all things, sent to me, to ‘baby-sit’ me and Kara? Who would want to keep an eye out on me? I can’t imagine Kiyo doing such a cruel thing, and especially when she was still miffed at the traitor. Who, who, who?
Crystal sighed, slowly stretching in her bed, and yawned. She opened her eyes vaguely, just to clear out her doubt that there was nothing there before she would turn over onto her side.
Evil-appearing crimson eyes, surrounded by purple, glared back at her. She attempted a scream, but couldn’t get it through before he muttered two words in a death tone.
“Good night.” With the eyes flashing before her, suddenly the weight of her exhaustion caught up with her. Dizzily, her eyes shut, and she found herself asleep not a second later.
BTW, now we get to introduce one of the characters that was unintentional in the storyline, and yet he just strolled in through the door with a pair of shades thinking he was just the character. He's become a fave of mine; hopefully you guys'll like him too.
Chapter 18- Aikaze
“I’m telling you, we aren’t Missile Grunts…” Crystal found herself repeating for what seemed to be the thousandth time.
“That’s not what your outfit says,” came the same response from one of her captors. They walked in a line, Kara likely to be a few guards behind her. There was a rope that tied her hands behind her back, the ends of each held by the flying trainers on either side. Her Pokemon had been taken away from her, and they were being totted along at the front of the pack. In addition, they had her blindfolded, even in the dark woods.
“And I told you how I got ahold of this outfit and why I’m wearing it!” she cried exasperatedly.
“Uh huh. Likely story.”
“It’s the truth! By the Legendaries!”
“We don’t fall for Missile lies so easily,” and thus they were at the beginning of the vicious cycle once more.
“Alright, alright, fine! Call me a Missile even though I’m not! Where are we going?”
“We can’t tell you that, otherwise you’ll rat if you get away.”
“Yeah, rat to my Missile Grunt leader, riiiight?” she drawled sarcastically, tripping over some roots.
“Exactly. Good, maybe you’re not as idiotic as you seem, Missile.” Once more she sighed, grumbling. Why had Kiyo taken off like that, and where did she go? Where is that girl when you need her? However, she stumbled to a stop as they yanked back on the rope. Her ears strained for knowledge of this area.
“We’ve caught some Missile Grunts! We do this for Aikaze!” Aikaze? Wasn’t that the gym leader’s name? There was the sound of rustling feet, and once again she was tugged forward. Different voices and the noise of battling Pokemon came into ear, though they passed it by. Wings rustled and songs were song all around the area. If Crystal wasn’t bound up and free to do as she pleased, she would have loved to check out this bird paradise. Then, they paused at another guarded area, where something of a different password was spoken, and then continued on. Out of nowhere, though, they stopped, and they didn’t move again.
“Ms. Aikaze! We’ve captured two Missile Grunts! We overheard them in the woods, and look at the outfit this one is wearing!” Crystal was then nearly kicked to the ground. It felt like being stuffed into a cage all over again.
“Hmm? Two grunts, far into the woods?” she spoke with a bit of an accent, though her voice was calm.
“Yes! Look, this one even had a trainer card with the symbol on it, though she clearly tried to hide it.”
“…Let me see their eyes and let them speak?”
“Ah, of course.” Soon, the heavy cloth slipped off of Crystal’s eyes. She had to blink a few times to get used to the fiery lighting around. Her eyes found themselves at the bottom of a red dress lined with gold. Gazing up, she saw all sorts of golden wings about her, as well as black hair tipped in crimson. She had lovely chestnut-colored eyes that stared back down at her.
“Whom do you say you are?”
“Not a Missile Grunt. This is all a big misunderstanding!”
“She keeps saying that.”
“Wait, let me hear her out,” the leader muttered, turning to the female.
“We were trying to get into Zenith unnoticed so we could try and free it by challenging the fake gym leader. We had stolen these outfits and used them before when Sunrise had been taken over!” she hastily explained.
“When you say ‘we’, are you referring to your friend over here?”
“Well, there was another, but she just flew off right before your trainers here busted in and caught us.”
“I see…what was her name?”
“Kiyo Dustren!” There was a pause.
“And yours?” She also gazed at Kara, though her eyes remained soullessly on the ground.
“I’m Crystal Hikara from Dawndew.”
“I see…” There was a pause, in which she moved to the medic. “What of you?”
“It really shouldn’t matter.”
“How so?”
“I was part of Team Missile at one point. Punish me if you want, Ms. Aikaze. I deserve it. Just…be kind to Zaika and my Combusken, alright? They don’t deserve punishment.” The majestic gym leader’s face took to perplexity.
“…I…see. Your name?” Given the woman was so persistent, Kara sighed apathetically and gave in.
“Kara Hikorume.”
“Ah…I believe…I understand…” her voice saddened a little bit, before she turned to her underlings.
“May I see their trainer cards?” Hastily, there was a rustling sound from each bag, and the two were handed over. With cards in hand, she walked back, looking at the fugitive’s cards in better lighting. She paused just a moment, flipping each over, before she muttered, “It’s alright. Release them from the ropes.”
“Huh? But, Ms. Aikaze…”
“Congratulations, men- what you’ve caught are two high-class perpetrators to Team Missile, and not Missile Grunts,” she softly stated, and they murmured stupidly amongst themselves. Soon enough, Crystal’s wrists were free, and she rubbed them.
“Ah, er, thank you.”
“We’re sorry for the mix up, Ms. Crystal. You’ve probably already had a lot to deal with, no?”
“Maybe, yeah.”
“I see…” she paused, before taking a short curtsey. “I am Iku Aikaze, true gym leader of Zenith City. Well, this is our makeshift gym area, at least. We are well met and glad to have both of you here.”
“Ah, yes, thank you. Pleasure to meet you, too…” she gazed around. Well, now what? We found the real gym leader, but without Kiyo by my side, what am I supposed to do…?
“Now, it seems as though both of you are collecting badges?”
“Yeah…” Crystal sheepishly admitted, though as she got to her feet, Kara remained hollow. “…?”
“What’s…the matter?” Of course, Kara gave no reply to the gym leader.
“Well, it’s…a bit of a long story as to how she’s here, and…”
“Kara…I remember meeting you once. You aren’t anything like you were before they forced you into working. Don’t blame yourself for that. The important thing is that you and your family are alive,” Iku muttered to the trainer.
“It still doesn’t help my conscious at all.”
“I understand that. Still, would your parents and family want you to be held down by this? Or would they want their proud family member to fight for them still?” Still the traitor responded with nothing much, but she slowly got to her feet. “Well, if you wish, you two are welcome to stay here for a while, and challenge me when your Pokemon are all rested up. I have an inkling both of you wish to do that?”
“Ah, well, I mean…” Crystal stuttered.
“Chances are you won’t be able to make it too far without my badge.”
“Ah, it’s not that…”
“You’re a new trainer, and you’re relying on Kiyo for your aide?” And the girl gulped. She hit the hammer on the nail right into and through her heart. She quietly chuckled. “I understand that. Still, you should be more confident within yourself. It’s times like these where we must be strong together, and strong as an individual. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Of course, the words were registering through the young trainer’s mind, but she was just…totally shocked by the harshness of the words.
“Yeah, I…”
“Kiyo, despite her strength, isn’t always going to be there for you. I know that there will come a day where she will have to attend to something, much like she is right now, and she won’t be able to help out if you get into trouble. I hope that you will be strong enough by then to handle your own moves, and create your own strategies. Maybe…you should start now. Your Pokemon are being treated in the grotto not too far from here, where the stream curves through. If you wish, come back to me once you gather them, yes? I patiently wait for your challenge.” Iku smiled, twirling a bit of her feathery hair. Crystal turned to Kara.
“Let’s go, yeah? Your Combusken and Zaika are probably waiting for you…” She grinned like a goof. However, Kara only looked up briefly, and without her soul in her eyes. Mewster somewhat winced at the sight empathetically.
“Yeah, let’s.”
Back in Zenith City, grunts were still on high patrol for the three rogue trainers, though chances were they’d never find them. Aaron was blazing angry, his point-dancing creature waiting patiently by his side. “Grah! Kara brought it upon herself! Go for the family, you three!” he angrily thrust his hand randomly to three grunts, whom nodded and swiftly took to the house near the Pokemon Center. Soon afterwards, it was decided that two would stay outside the door, and only one enter. The family had no Pokemon, and given by all of the Pokeballs on the third’s waist, he was an expert trainer, despite his low rank, and thus could handle the situation if they tried to resist.
“Huh?! Who are you?!” One man suddenly rose from his chair as he glared at the incoming grunt.
“That isn’t of any importance,” he coldly stated.
“What do you want from us this time? We have your monthly fees, you scumbag, if that’s what you want-”
“I was not sent here for that.”
“Then what do you want?!” From the corner of the grunt’s view, he could subtly make out three female figures huddling over a sickbed. An old man lay there, muttering something about how he’d scare them off. The obvious grandmother of the family pet his balding, spotted head in an effort to calm him down. The mother was silently hugging the young daughter, who’s head was buried within her parent’s womb. It was a small house, too small for a family of five.
“I was sent to…move you.” At this phrase, the family man froze. Several chestnut hairs nearly left his emptying scalp.
“Move us…where? What…for?”
“That is not your concern.” As the grunt spoke, he rose up all of the normal Pokeballs on his waist, leaving his Missile Ball untouched. “Come. There are guards waiting outside.”
“Huh? What do you mean? It’s still daytime out, I’m sure…” Crystal gave her friend a puzzled look as she started moping off in the direction of where the camp’s beds were.
“I’m just…exhausted. There was a lot that was hard on my heart, and I fear more is coming. I really just need some sleep now. Ha, you might not believe it, but I did not sleep well last night, having decided I was going to find and take on Aaron.” Her eyes were still hollow, devoid of emotion.
“What about your Pokemon?”
“Well, I’d ask you to do it, but I don’t even deserve that much kindness from you at this point. I’ll get them tomorrow morning.”
“It’s not a problem to go and grab them, you know-”
“Don’t waste your energy on me.”
“If I’m gonna be over there anyways…”
“Just…good night.” With that, Kara slunk off, saying not another word. The gifted one merely observed as she left the area, walking around the training spots. She couldn’t help but feel the vicious pangs of empathy beat within her heart. I want to help, I want to do something for Kara that’d get her out of this stupor, but what is there to do, really? Well, I could at least get her Pokemon. Then again, that might lead to her possibly getting angry at me. Still, she resolved, I’m going to do it, regardless of the consequences.
With that thought permanently stuck in mind, Crystal paced herself to her Pokemon. She was all too eager to be with them again, to have them by her side; she felt so naked without her bag and trainer belt on. And soon, as the woods deepened in the eternal night, the young trainer began to sweat lightly. There’s something…about this area, I don’t know what it is, but…it’s really creeping me out, she shivered, feeling an infinite number of eyes locked onto her. Her walk turned into a light jog, and soon she found the area. The nature was broken by a single piece of machinery, one the girl noticed was the same healing machine they used in most Pokemon Centers. A murky stream trickled through the area lightly, with various wild and trainer Pokemon gathering to quench their thirsts in peace. Among these, Crystal noted, was Flora, Sergeant Pup, and Dragola. Oddly enough, though, there were no trainers besides her lonely self around.
“Hey, guys!” she whispered so as not to disturb the others. The small portion of her motley crew gazed up, and anxiously returned to their trainer.
“Hikara! Did they take you as a POW?” the Poochyena barked, obviously ready to ‘annihilate the enemy’ if she so much as moved her head up and down an inch.
“I was so worried when I was released by those bird trainers and I didn’t see you anywhere!” Dragola slithered up and around her mistress’s body till she was in her arms, snuggling tightly.
“Bah, I says to da ‘Pup, she be too tough to just be taken as a outsida, but he don’t listen to da voice of reason, fo’ shizzle!” Flora gleamed up proudly at her strong trainer. Serge merely rolled his eyes.
“Hahaha…it was just a big misunderstanding, that’s all. They saw the Missile outfit and just assumed otherwise, but it’s all okay now…” Crystal slowly hugged her Dratini, and gazed around. “Where are the others?”
“I’m right here.” Mewster then proceeded to nearly throw her poor serpent Pokemon into the river from shock. She swiftly turned around to see the Torchic.
“Ahh, Flare, don’t do that! It’s bad enough I feel as though I’m being watched all the time in these woods!”
“I apologize,” she cooed, fluffing her feathers up as she gazed warmly up at her trainer.
“Ha, it’s not a problem. But, uh, where’s the Mareep?” she glanced around, letting Dragola down as her arms screamed soreness.
“Oh, dat ol’ ewe? She never came outta her ball. I tink she be too nervous too, dat you not be around,” the Oddish motioned towards the healing machine. A single Missile Ball waited upon the counter, all upon its lonesome among four crimson and pearly balls.
“Ah, thanks...” The blonde wasted no time in heading over. Surely enough, her bag was waiting for her as well as her Pokeballs, and with an easy sling and clip, she was fully re-equipped. She then latched on all of her capsule tools to her waste, recalling her Pokemon, but then she stared at that last dark Pokeball. Well, a promise is a promise...We are out of Missile territory, and so she would more than likely be able to get back home to safety…
“Hey, Mareep, come on…out,” she called, holding her home before her gently. With a simple flash, the fluffy wool Pokemon was released, and she glanced around. Her tail glew, illuminating the area in a coat of pale yellow.
“Eh? You’re back!”
“Yeah,” she softly whispered. “Uh, Mareep?”
“Hmm? What’s with the pout, eh?”
“Ah, well…how far do you think your family is from the Eclipse Woods we’re in now?”
“Eh? Maybe a short walk. Why?” she rose a sheepy eyebrow, but Crystal uttered nothing. She just gazed over the Pokeball, taking in the dark colored. Her emotions infuriated her and contradicted her beliefs she was so stubbornly clinging to. That was the final straw that finally made her whisper.
“Go. You’re free.”
It was then that a bright flash of bluish light burst out from not only the capsule, but from around the Mareep. Her eyes widened in wonder as the malfunctioning Pokeball hopped open, before clamping shut. An arc of electricity ran over the tool, causing the trainer to drop it. It then remained still. It would never open again.
The sheep gazed up at her trainer in wonder.
“How…I mean…why?”
“I made…a promise, didn’t I…? Go on. Your family is waiting for you. You should…never be forced to abandon your family for another’s wants, anyways.” Crystal didn’t look up from the ground.
“…Crystal…” The Mareep muttered somewhat sympathetically, before taking a few steps back. “… …thank you.” With a final bleat, she dashed off into the woods, never looking back. There was a moment of silence, broken only by footsteps behind her.
“Are you…alright?” It was Aikaze.
“Yeah,” the trainer lied, her words obviously choked. “Fine.”
“That was…a very noble thing you just did. You promised that Mareep you would release her when you got the chance, because she was captivated by Team Missile, no?”
A small nod.
“I…realize how hard it may be to let a friend go, and to do the right thing. Not many trainers would have done that. Take some pride in that.”
Silence.
“Maybe you should get some rest. You obviously need it, especially after today.” It was then that Crystal slowly rose to her feet. She caught Iku gazing upwards at the sky, hearing a flight of several wings in formation, before she returned her maroon eyes down upon the newbie trainer. “There’s always tomorrow for training. Just remember something… that Mareep, even if she was released and went back to her family…she’s always going to remember your kindness, and you will as well. You’re linked now…I’m sure you’ll meet her again some day, and she’ll help you out in your greatest hour of need.” Finally, the gym leader caught contact of crystal blue eyes, lightly awash in tears. She forced a smile, despite she had just done one of the most difficult things in her life at that point.
“Yeah…you’re right.”
“Well, take your time resting up here and the like. I have some business to attend to, I think.” With that, Iku smiled, and gracefully left, red dress catching in the air as she departed. Crystal was left alone in the area for a moment, and she shot a glance at the dead Pokeball.
“…Maybe all…Missile Balls do need to be destroyed like that,” she muttered, before turning to leave. However, a dark cackle froze her mid-step. “…?!”
“Aw, look at the poor baby twainer. Do you miss your Kiyo by your side?” Shocked by these words, she spun around several times, gazing to see if any of the Pokemon had spoken. However, they were all too enthralled with their drinks to have possibly said anything. “Come now, surely you can see me? Hehehe! Don’t waste your time! Just go to sleep and wait for your twainer to fetch you and feed you, hmmm?” Completely wigging out of her mind, she fought to hold back a scream. A bead of perspiration rolled down her dampening forehead and onto the ground.
There was a light tap on her shoulder.
She sprinted off as though using Extremespeed, howling like a Exploud with a stomachache. The creature behind her cackled.
“Oh, how fun it is to play with a new toy and totally mess with their heads!” he gleamed, before fading away.
Now huddled in one of the makeshift beds stuffed full with feathers and leaves, Crystal was ready for sleep, though fear and paranoia had pumped her adrenaline to the max. Sleep would not visit willingly for at least another hour. She whimpered as she tightly held onto Flare and Dragola. She also called out Sergeant Pup to rest on her bed as a faithful watch dog, and he growled at the least bit of movement, taking his job seriously like everything else.
“Definitely my imagination, yeah. Couldn’t have been something touching me. There was nothing that coulda reached my shoulder around there!” she mindlessly squeaked and babbled, head under the covers.
“You never know around these parts, Hikara. One too many times I have seen gh-”
“DON’T SAY IT!” she screamed dramatically, continuing her whining. Her Pokemon gazed at her with concern, unaware of her deathly fear of the dead spirits of the world that haunted the living.
“…if you insist.”
“What, you mean a GHOOOOST?” Crystal winced and shrieked more at hearing Dragola tease her.
“NOOOOOO! DRAGOLA!!!”
“What?”
“Whyyyy? Why did you say itttt?!”
“Say what? …You mean, ghooost?”
“Yes, that! ENOUGH!” she pleaded.
“I didn’t say anything, though?” the Dratini eyed her questionably, clearly confused.
“Don’t lie! I heard your voice saying it several times!”
“I didn’t, I swear! I have no idea what the word is!” she exclaimed. “Ghooooooost!” Of course, Crystal’s eyes were now glued on the Dratini, panic-stricken. Her mouth hadn’t moved on that last word. Dark laughter once more tormented her, having been discovered as the outside source. The young trainer cried out in protest, clinging stubbornly to her Pokemon.
“He’s back, he’s back!” the gifted one sobbed.
“Where?! The Poochyena growled and used his Howl to bring up his attack, ready to lash out when the adversary was discovered. The girl daren’t remove herself from her sheets, too afraid to try and help answer the question.
“He’s laughing! Serge, make him stop!”
“I don’t…hear anything!” He sharply moved about on the bed, more than likely trying to place his sharp eyes on the creature.
“I swear I’m not lying! I hear him laughing!”
“Crystal, I don’t hear him either,” Flare lightly nuzzled up against her trainer, attempting to calm her down. “Your imagination may be getting the better of you.”
“I don’t hear anything, Crystal…” the Dragon Pokemon concurred.
“No, no, no! It’s real! He’s saying things that I didn’t hear before!”
“What’s the matter, hmmm? Do I…scaaaaaare you?”
“Make him stooop! He’s right above my sheets!” There was nothing but laughter, and she felt something the size of the Poochyena land at her feet. “Serge! Serge?!” There was no response. Slowly, and frightened, she dared to peek out. The dark type was, oddly enough, fast asleep. There was no visible sign of that…presence, though the air she breathed in was now putridly cold. “Serge…? SERGE! WAKE UP!” She quickly shook him hard, but he simply snored lightly. He never slept at night.
“Aw, how precious! The pup with the military complex finally gets a night off,” the presence scoffed with that deep laugh. “I guess it’s just you and me now, isn’t it…?” At that, she felt the persistent begging of her other two Pokemon to calm down end. Glancing back under her sheets nervously, she nearly screamed when she saw both Flare and Dragola fitfully resting. The small remaining color in her face disappeared all together.
“W-who a-a-are y-you…?” she stuttered, clinging to her Pokemon. Even if they would not awaken, they still gave her a false sense of protection against this fiend.
“Meh, not of any importance. The point is that you’re so…terrified by me just sitting here, taunting you…Crystal.” She horridly winced at that, her heart skipping two or three beats. She never knew that hearing her name could be so menacing, even in the case of her mother yelling at her or Team Missile’s Kinshayti calling her that in a rotten cotton candy voice. “Hehehe! I don’t even have to try to scare you! This is so fun!"
“GO AWAY!” Tears began falling out of fear as she buried her head under the pillow.
“Or else what? You’ll send Kiyo, your bodyguard, on me? News flash, tuts! She is GONE! You can’t rely on her for everything…” he sang menacingly, but…that last part caught Crystal by the heart. Iku had said the same exact thing just an hour or two ago. “Oooh, I hit the bulls-eye with my dart, did I?”
“Just go!” she feebly cried, trying to keep her breathing under control.
“Aw, but that’s no fun! Besides, I was asked to babysit you and that kid, anyways.” Hikara could imagine whatever beastly creature he was thumbing over to Kara, if he has a thumb. Maybe he doesn’t have any hands. Maybe he doesn’t have a head to nod over there with either! She hyperventilated at the very thought of it. “You know, I had so many cool little tricks to pull, but it’s kinda sad…I don’t even get to use them, because you got so frightened on your own! Pa-the-tic!”
She gave no fighting statement to that comment.
“You know, still…” his words drifted ethereally off. “I have to give ya some credit- maybe you are more bold and courageous than even Kiyo or yourself thinks.” Despite the grammar issue, the sentence caught Crystal’s attention, and she calmed down just a tad. “Heh, going boldly in and trying to help with Sunrise- though, granted, you failed at that, getting your first badge in one shot, still evading Team Missile, even going through with the infiltration and picking up that Mareep, even if you know it was the wrong thing to do… yet even though you somehow nearly managed to screw up on all of them, you still whipped them around into good experiences and smiled at the end of it! Hahaha…you really do got some dumb luck and a different kind of confidence, kid.” She remained entirely silent at this. Why on earth is he scaring me senselessly one moment, then the next, praising my adventures? “Still, maybe your lucky streak…will come to an end shortly. Or maybe later! The gambler, even when lucky, eventually has to lose it all in order to know his limits. Then again, sometimes they don’t know their limit, and they end up on the street in rags. Which will you become, I have to wonder…? Heheheh…
“Anyways, I think we have had an excellent first meeting!” The sound of clapping echoed through the area. “Tormenting you has been a great pleasure, trust me!” He boomed with that eerie tone, and soon she slunk back. However, the laughing died off, then there was silence. Crystal’s heart calmed down slowly but surely, and she once again removed her blind. There was nothing moving about except for the gentle rising chests of Pokemon and trainers alike. She sharply faced Kara near her, whom appeared unaffected from all the loud noise, though she appeared disgruntled as she hugged her pillow. It then hit her- she had forgotten to get the medic’s Pokemon in her fit of hysteria. Well, was she to blame? She didn’t think so. Regardless, the more she stared at the sleeping teen, the more guilty she felt.
It was only a few seconds later that Crystal was tiptoeing barefoot and in her lavender nightgown out of the area, towards the grotto. There were a few guards about, and they gazed at her oddly. Paying no heed to this, she made it to the quiet area she had first encountered ‘Mr. Presence’, as she would refer to him as, given he wouldn’t give her his name. Again, all was in general peace, the only sound that greeted her ears being the slowly flowing river and the occasional cry of a Hoothoot. Still, she scrambled desperately around, and soon she was more than happy to find the single Pokeball and the two Great Balls resting not too far from the machine in a cubby hole for Pokemon that had been left there for the night. The sack Kara always used to carry her essentials around in lay within Kiyo’s bag next to the balls. Quickly taking the creatures and her friends’ bags and releasing the Combusken, Grimer, and Scyther to make sure she was right in her selection, she hustled back to the camp site, placing the three balls and huge bag down beside her bed. Automatically the Combusken hopped out, sleepily situating herself with her slumbering trainer. Crystal gave a small smile as the traitor happily cuddled with the fire type, before getting comfortable in her bed.
Not that sleep would come to her or anything of the sort.
“Tsk tsk! That’s never how you fall asleep!” The voice returned for just a moment, and her breath stopped. She feigned sleep as best she could, though it was difficult on her back. “Come on, you can’t fool little ol’ me like that. I know you like sleeping on your side, Crystal.” Again, she gave an involuntary twitch. “But, I suppose I’ve been the bad guy for too long. Maybe I’ll help you out. Or not. Maybe I’ll hang around all night and deprive you! Oh, the choices! They’re inevitable!” he joked, taking on his mocking tone once more. “…I’ll be nice for tonight, though, because I think the one who sent me to baby-sit would be rather angered if I did the latter. Ah well, maybe another night.”
With that, there was silence. He had apparently left, and at that, the girl sighed. Still keeping her eyes closed, and trying to rid her head of that voice, she softly ran her fingers through her Torchic’s feathers, then moved on to feel the silky smooth scales of the Dratini. Just who was that presence? Why was he, of all things, sent to me, to ‘baby-sit’ me and Kara? Who would want to keep an eye out on me? I can’t imagine Kiyo doing such a cruel thing, and especially when she was still miffed at the traitor. Who, who, who?
Crystal sighed, slowly stretching in her bed, and yawned. She opened her eyes vaguely, just to clear out her doubt that there was nothing there before she would turn over onto her side.
Evil-appearing crimson eyes, surrounded by purple, glared back at her. She attempted a scream, but couldn’t get it through before he muttered two words in a death tone.
“Good night.” With the eyes flashing before her, suddenly the weight of her exhaustion caught up with her. Dizzily, her eyes shut, and she found herself asleep not a second later.
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Was that for epic or for funny?