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[Jasper]

"Hope is a beautiful thing. It is a kindling to ignite much more than mere wishes for a better future if given enough time to grow."

The sounds of struggle outside seem to have calmed down just enough to hear the languid creaks of the rusty hull and splashes of fresh seawater, seeping through the gaps in the thickening vines.

Dense mossy strands continue to grow, filling the breaches in the holed and mangled walls. Feeding off my life force.

Deep breath. We're going to be okay. We always manage to find our way out. Somehow.

Droplets of sweat slide down my forehead as I try to maintain focus. It's hard. The magic is draining me dry. Still haven't gotten used to it.

A funny tingling sensation coils up my arms. I channel the unfamiliar energy dancing around me like an invisible breeze and swirling under the touch of my fingers.

Just. A little longer. I can do it.

"Please..." I whisper to myself to calm down my nerves.

My claws instinctively slide out from the strain. It feels like the weight of an entire mainstay pressed into my shoulders, pinning me down in one spot.

"Come on..."

The craft suddenly tips to the side from yet another monstrous impact, disrupting my concentration and throwing me against the wall. If it wasn't for the knee-deep level of water I would have fallen flat on the floor.

For a moment it seems that the spell starts getting out of control, slipping through my fingertips like fine particles of sand. The vines give way, opening the space for the liquid to pour in and gush over my back.

"Please, please, please, I can't fail now..."

I bite into my tongue out of distress. We're going to sink, aren't we?

My body shudders at the thought, forcing me to push it to the limits. I anchor my paws above my head to brace against the rebellious flow of magic forcing itself away from my grasp.

The floral tendrils begrudgingly accept my lead, growing in size and springing out thorns to embed themselves deeper into the metal.

"A-Almost..."

The incantation ends with a pop. A sound not unlike a crack of a ball deflating reverberates through the cramped bilge of the vessel. As the arcane flow finally reaches its critical mass, flora invades the confines of metal, unchecked and abundant. Following its will rather than mine.

Iron changes its color to pale green, overgrowing with lichen. The breaches get choked by the roots, leaves, and trailing plants tightening themselves in knots and preventing the leakage.

A wave of relief washes over me. My head feels heavy. So heavy. But tension is lifted at last.

I can't believe it! It worked!

Hazel will be so proud of me. I did something useful. For once.

A loud echo of the ship's propellers winding up shakes up the hull, sending tremors across the bulkheads beneath my feet. The raspy hum of the engine is followed by the dizzying sound of the blades tearing through something moist and fleshy.

A monstrous ear-piercing yell is cut short. The silence falls yet again.

Is it over?

Shaking my head to push the anxiety away, I slowly make my path through the half-drowned hold, evading the scrap that strews the surface of the water. A winding ladder guides me back to the main deck.

Fluid is streaming out of my soaked fur. It's going to take such a long time to wash the salt away.

I pull up an exhausted smile at the thought of having to spend another couple of hours trying to spruce myself up. A nice distraction from the grim reality. That'll have to wait.

The timid daylight welcomes me anew as I emerge from the cramped and humid bilge. Brushing both brine and sweat off my face before covering it from the sickly rays of sun penetrating the rapidly expanding rain clouds. My other paw shoves the planks and metal shards out of the way.

Things are way too sour to commemorate.

The ship is a wreck. Barely afloat after all the grievous damage it sustained throughout the battle. The mast is gone. The floor is crammed with smoking debris and ash. The cabin is a mess. Pure wonder we're still going.

Looks like the beast is gone. If anything.

I utter thanks to Arceus, and I am grateful for not having to face it myself.

The waves around us are red. Jam-full with shattered cyan scales tapping on the hull as the boat starts to move again.

The creature is nowhere to be seen. It must have been mauled badly enough to retreat.

<JASPER!>

Our caretaker's scream makes me flinch and turn around impulsively.

There she is. Kneeling down amidst the rubble and embers. Her clothing is covered in soot, her dark green blouse has lost its former polish, turning almost black. Her brown vest is halfway unbuttoned. It seems like she didn't have much time to prepare for the attack. Just like the rest of us. Her jeans are ripped all over and stained with...

Is it... Is it blood?

Her young face looks grey and grimy. But even that can't mask her mortified expression. She's worried. I can tell.

I stumble forth, taking a step towards her.

Her sailor's coat is on the floor, wrapped around another figure. This one is still. Unmoving.

Garnet. Slumped over the deck like a broken puppet. His head tilts back, revealing a thick crimson stream flowing down his lips.

My heart quivers.

"NO!"

Cold feeling sweeps down my spine. The realization hits me like a falling tree.

My stroll turns into a sprint as I clumsily leap over the pieces of wreckage cluttering the way.

It's bad. I sink my teeth into my finger to cope with the growing feeling of dread.

His chest is producing sickening crackles each time it rises and falls. Ribs must be splintered. Horrifically so.

His bright red eyes are still half-way open. Glassy. Reflecting the sky like a mirror. Snow-white fur looks tattered and heavily scraped in the struggle. Long bunny ears are blemished with carmine, fresh vital fluid seeps out of their canals. Seawater and scarlet foam escape his throat as he gags, struggling to breathe.

I freeze in shock, unable to move my limbs.

"I..."

Tears well up in my eyes, my shaking paw covers my mouth in pure disbelief. It can't be happening. This isn't happening.

<Stay with me!>

Hazel softly shakes him by the shoulder, her voice sounds audibly panicked. But her actions have little effect. Cinderace looks torpid, his whole body is loosening up. Submerging into the padding of her jacket.

Auntie's fingers latch onto my arm, trying to pull me out.

"What happened? Is he..."

I respond instinctively. As if hoping she would understand my speech. She never will, no matter how hard I try. It all sounds like garble to her ears.

<Jasper. Hold his head. Help me fix this.>

Dropping on the floor and barely suppressing the fit of terror clawing its way into my heavy heart, I loudly exhale. Desperate to recollect myself.

My paws cautiously wrap around Garnet's head, gently cradling and turning it to the side to let the remaining saline leak out.

My arms feel weak. The mere sight of his wounds stings my heart like a venomous barb. Shaking me to my core.

He's so icy.

Is he dying?

Such a suggestion concocts a lump in my throat, making my heavy pants sound wheezy. This feeling is suffocating, getting the words stuck in my throat.

I want to plead, to beg, to say so many things hoping he'd be able to hear. But the only thing that comes out of my mouth is hopeless sobbing shuddering my sternum.

Don't go.

Please don't go.

I'm scared. I don't want to be alone again. I'd rather be dragged to the bottomless black pit of the sea along with the boat than see you leave.

Anyone else but you.

Please. Hazel. Arceus. Anyone.

My chest feels so tight. I cannot breathe. Drops are streaming down my cheeks like a waterfall, making a mess of my face.

The caretaker shakes the backpack off her shoulders, practically ripping it open and slipping her hand in.

She stops, looking at the miserable display that I am.

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I'm a coward, aren't I?

Her eyes fill up with warmth. Despite the circumstances.

<Jasper,> she whispers, softly tapping me on the back.

I flinch at first. A force of habit. Before gathering my courage to glance at her. Hardly making out her expression through the tears.

<Now-now. We got this under control, my boy.>

Her touch sends a tingle through my spine, making me lean into it by instinct. Why is she so patient with me? I don't deserve this. I never did.

<Hey. He's going to make it with our help. Think. Focus. Improvise. I know you can do this.>

She's right. She always is.

I let out another sob, wiping down my snout with my floral collar.

There's no time to feel sorry. Not yet. Not when his life's on the line. He needs me.

My mind is so cluttered. I need to come up with something and I have to do it quickly.

Think, dumb cat, think.

The broken ribs. If only we had something to hold them in place so she could use one of those potions. Something a little stronger than a bandage.

Wait.

My fingers tighten around the ruff, pinching at the florid bract.

Hazel smirks, seeing my face light up.

I know! It's worth a try.

Ripping a small petal out of my gorget and dropping it on Garnet's breastbone, I roll up my eyes trying to maintain whatever composure I have left. Turning my attention to what cannot be seen.

The energies wax and wane around us, following their intent, but with enough compelling it might just work.

A light tickle runs across my palm as I try to channel the arcane again. I'm stretching it, coming dangerously close to forcing the magic to lash out at me. It doesn't like it. But there's no other way.

The petal makes a sudden twitch, solidifying and hardening under my spell. It cracks and snaps like a ripened seed. Roots spring out of its edges. Thin and feeble at first, but they stiffen and clabber, sucking in the generous moisture of the marine air.

They wrap around the bunny's ribcage, forming a sturdy corset to hold it all together like glue. Muffling the sounds of crepitation and locking the fractures in one piece.

That'll do. For now. I think.

I loudly puff out, still shaky from the overwhelming stress.

<Great job!>

Auntie rubs the top of my head.

Slightly wincing away from the stroke at first, I can't help but give in. She's the only human I can trust being anywhere close to me. It feels. Different?

As she pulls her hand away, a pang of vulnerability spills over me again. But now is not the time. I quickly shake it off, pulling an awkward smile of gratitude for her parental gesture.

She slips a flask out of her bag. It looks all too familiar. A glass container with thick red soup-like liquid glistening within. The bottleneck itself ends with a plastic handle and a sealed nozzle on the top.

She bites the plug off, spitting it aside and pointing the faucet at my friend's sternum. A gentle push of the activator unleashes a cloud of bright ruddy mist that swiftly sips into his fur.

I'm glad he's out of it and cannot feel the potion's touch. It stings. A lot. Like cold jagged iron sawing at one's skin.

It smells like a foul mix of sharp-scented chemicals and herbs blended in together with just a tiny trace of what they call spirits. The stench itself leaves a sludge-like aftertaste in my mouth. Yuck.

However disgusting it might be, it does the job.

The bruises start softening up and receding. Small cuts are closing before my eyes. The bones underneath let out a teeth-grinding crunch as they start snapping back together, forming bumps in places where the fractures are. Far more of them than I hoped for.

The sight isn't for the faint of heart. It seems unnatural. Uncanny. Sickening. But it works and that's what matters.

I sigh in relief, seeing Garnet's breaths becoming more regular and soft.

He's going to be okay. I hope.

<Whew.>

Hazel wipes her forehead, giving me a celebratory look.

<Crisis averted. Couldn't have done it without you, pumpkin.>

She pulls her glasses, shaking off the droplets of condensate. The veins on her temples are still visibly inflated from the pressure, betraying her tough facade.

Too many things on her mind, I'm sure. Bunny's life to start with. Guiding this drifting hulk to the shore as a cherry on top. I don't think the captain is in any shape or form to do it himself after the ambush. Is he even alive?

My thoughts are interrupted by something dashing towards us in between the debris. Dexterously evading the remains of the dying fires aboard.

I tense up, releasing my claws again. Until I see the hero of the occasion.

A little creature looking like a lizard decked in black and yellow scales rushes in between me and our owner.

He quickly notices the morbid scene around us, his frills stiffen and expand. As if he's preparing to fight.

The reptilian's bright blue eyes dart around. He raises up on two, spreading his arms wide to appear much bigger than he is. It looks almost comical, squeezing out a tired chuckle out of me.

"He's safe now, goof," my voice sounds shaken. But our friend's appearance provides a much needed distraction.

Helioptile opens up his mouth to interject, but the only sound that comes out is a high-pitched gulp. It makes him pull up a guilty expression.

Poor thing still can't get used to being mute.

Goodness, we really are a team of misfits, aren't we?

"It's okay, Citrine," I try to hearten him. My tone's still weak.

He sways his head from side to side. One of his tiny grabbers reaches out to the unconscious bunny. And yet he thoughtfully stops, seeing the static crackling between his fingers.

The lizard clanks the frontal teeth together in frustration at his actions.

His eyes look up. His frills deflate. A frown is forming on his face.

He looks at me, then at our trainer.

His forearm slowly lifts, pointing at the sky. Two of its claws stretch out fiddling up and down above our wounded friend.

"The rain?" I quickly pick up on his gesture.

He nods.

Both of our eyes return to Hazel, awaiting her commands.

<I got it. Let's move Garnet to the quarters. We don't have much time.>

Jerking back up on my feet, I slide my paws under his neck. She swiftly follows up, lifting his lower limbs off the floor.

He's heavy. But the rapidly rising temperature of his body puts me at ease, reassuring me that he's still with us.

Citrine jolts forth, clearing the rubble in our wake to facilitate the task.

Helpful. As he always is.

My fur feels a gentle touch of drizzle starting to pour down from the skies. Worst timing. I'd welcome one in any other circumstances, but I know for sure that the bunny won't take it lightly. Especially in his weakened state. Water and heat don't exactly work that well together.

The sprinkle turns into a downpour quicker than I wish. The hushed whisper of the rain is becoming raspy, tapping on the wood and metal with menacing intensity.

Well. At least the salt will be washed away. A faint comfort.

The passenger compartments provide a long-awaited shelter. It isn't that much better than the rest of this disintegrating ship. At least in terms of looks.

The wooden hall is chocked full of debris and exposed wiring hanging from the ceiling like gnarly vines. Whatever furniture's left more or less intact is scattered around, forcing us to bounce in between the barricades.

My arms feel sore. But seeing my dear friend peacefully resting in them makes it bearable. Somewhat.

Our trainer's quarters are a mess. The bed is covered in dust and soaked torn pieces of wallpaper. The dresser is little more than rubble, mixed in with shards of plastic and damaged tools of research. Notebooks and journals are torn apart, covering the floor like a carpet along with wrinkled clothing.

The most important thing of all is still unharmed, however. A large transparent glass container has been tipped over but thankfully survived. The heating coils in its lid seem glitchy yet functional nonetheless, producing soft orange light and illuminating the centerpiece within. A brown egg with a thick cream-colored line. Firmly affixed to the bottom of the stand. No dents or cracks. It lives.

Hazel rolls her eyes at the sight of disarray, whispering something mean under her nose. I hope it's not about me.

I shove the rubbish away, helping her place Cinderace on top of a pile of garbs and garments.

<Watch over him. Will you, darling?>

She breaks the silence with her usual tone as she turns the incubator around, making sure that it's working as intended. Picking a sturdy short table for it to rest on.

"O-okay," I say to myself, sitting down right next to Garnet.

Another unpleasant sting pierces my stomach.

I'm not a healer. Am I even up for the task?

Her hand swabs my shoulder.

<We'll make it through. I promise.>

I hope we will.

Citrine draws our attention by tapping on the floor. His fingers scratch the surface before pointing at the wires up above.

"What? Are those dangerous?" I wince at the thought.

He raises his brow, then shakes his head in denial.

The lizard claps his palms together, clenching his grabbers into fists, and starts viciously shaking them near the broken electrical panel. His expression looks like he's pleading.

<The Generator?> Hazel joins in.

She's better at this guessing game than I am.

Helioptile starts to nod, but stops, letting out a silent sigh. His hands stretch out as if trying to tell that it's something that much bigger.

Auntie rubs her temple, <The Engine?>

Citrine victoriously jumps up. His claw points at the wrench hanging on our caretaker's belt. His wrist moves from side to side, holding the imaginary tool.

<Right. We need to make sure it won't break again.>

She grits her teeth in begrudging agreement, picking up the satisfied lizard into her arms and storming out of the room. Leaving me alone abruptly.

Can't catch a break. Poor soul. Too many responsibilities. Being a human isn't easy, that's for sure.

I close my eyes, trying to enjoy a moment of peace and space to let it all out. However fleeting it may be.

Oh Palkia, what have we gotten ourselves into? Is this expedition really that important? A question I wish to be answered. At least for once.

People. Too hasty to act and yet so slow to share.

But amidst the chaos and uncertainty I have my reassurance. As long as my friend is safe, I will be fine too.

Friend. Har-har.

The sense of crippling exhaustion starts to creep in when the state of shock finally lets go.

My paw moves a little closer to the bunny. One of my ears perks up, making sure that Auntie is too far to see. She'd probably trade me away if she knew.

I don't want to make it weird. But I feel like I need this. Now. Badly. Just like on that very first day we met.

My fingers gently wrap around his. The heat of his palm rekindles my determination. Enough to put my heart at rest. We're going to be okay. Now I know for sure.

Sweet tender butterflies flutter through my stomach like a storm, blending in with a bitter taste of guilt. I shouldn't be doing it while you're asleep. But I can't help myself. Nor can I continue to suppress it. I gave in long ago.

I'm sorry.

My head's so light. My skin is tingling.

I ought not to feel this way towards you. It isn't right.

I'm an affront to nature, aren't I? It's wrong. Bizarre. Abnormal. Twisted. On so many levels. But I can't stop. I don't want to. It brings me so much bliss and joy.

I'm a freak, I know. A coward. A hopeless wreck. And so many more things I wish I wasn't. But somehow. It seems like I'm not as worthless of a wretch when you're by my side.

You could have left me in the pit that you have found me in so many winters back. But you did not.

You've been the only one to listen. The only one to give a shoulder to cry in when I needed it the most.

You've taught me to have faith.

You've taught me how to laugh.

You've filled my hollow heart with life.

I wish I had the words to say how much you mean to me. How much I need you. Please never ever leave. Please stay. You're the only reason I press on despite the past.

It's getting harder to keep hiding it. But there's no other path. You aren't like me, are you?

Will I ever have the guts to tell you of these feelings? Perhaps one day. Will you ever understand? I don't know.

But what I know is that if hope had a face, you'd be the one to represent it. Your mere presence gives me purpose. And I don't want to lose it. Never again.

"Come back, dear."

I squeeze his paw a little tighter. It feels. Intoxicating. My mind's woozy. My heart is picking up the pace. Somewhere deep within I imagine myself speaking up to him so he can hear. One day.

One day.

I'm curious what he's dreaming of. I hope it's something sweet. I pray it is.

"I miss you."