<3
"Radian! Are you okay?" A voice cried out, expressing a great amount of concern. The voice succeeded in rousing the conscious of the tiny Eevee, who had up until this point been drifting uncontrollably in and out of sleep. As Radian snapped to attention, her first instinct was to leap to her feet and answer the question being posed to her by the approaching Pokemon, but it was to no avail as Radian realized that her body was rendered completely useless.
Who's there?! She demanded, attempting to communicate to the other Pokemon through speech, but that effort was in vain as well as her question just rang out in a thought.
Please.. Get me out of here! She cried out desperately, willing her body to move in the slightest, just enough for her mouth to fly open and let loose a single plea for help, just one and no more, so someone, anyone, could come to her aid. But Radian's mouth remained firmly shut as every muscle in her body remained motionless, completely stilled, paralyzed with exhaustion from all they had been forced to endure. Radian had paid no mind to herself, her body especially, since she had arrived in this world, and was now paying the dire consequences for it.
Marc?! Tiffany?! She cried out again, hoping against all odds that someone would hear her.
I don't know how much longer I can last.. She pleaded, finally managing to pry her mouth open, her hopes of forming words immediately dispelling as instead, a harsh wheezing sound erupted from her mouth, being contained the whole time behind her sealed lips. As the ragged pants and wheezes began escaping her delicate form, Radian's ears slumped hopelessly at the sides of her face, her thin chest thrusting outward uncontrollably, Radian silently began to weep, hoping that soon, it would all just end, she would finally succumb to her fatigue and it would all be over.. all the pain gone, for good. Radian's conscious mind had again begun to shut down when the other Pokemon finally spoke.
"Radian.. Wake up or I'll Water Gun you!" The statement was soon followed by a playful bout of giggles, and Radian soon realized that the other Pokemon wasn't bluffing. An icy stream of water followed seconds later, splashing down upon Radian's paralyzed body, as it made contact with her skin, Radian squinched her eyes shut in shock, her entire body curling up defensively as the frigid liquid began to soak down into her fur, locking her in a tight, cold embrace. For a couple of moments, her breathing seemed to halt completely, as a chill jarred Radian's tiny form, seconds later followed by a series of jolts and shivers. As Radian began to shudder violently, she struggled again to open her eyes, but as she realized that she was still far too weak and tired to do even that, she slumped uselessly to the ground, huddling weakly against the cold earth.
"Now do I have to do that again, or do you need a hug, or must I drag you out of the woods by hand?" Another playful giggle, and Radian recognized the voice as coming from Tiffany.
Tiffany! She thought happily, her entire body tensing up as she attempted to force herself to move. Radian's efforts were rewarded with a tiny twitch of her left paw, but almost immediately after moving it, Radian's spirits sank as the subtle movement went unnoticed. Sighing inwardly, she realized that controlled movement was still way out of her league. The only time her useless body seemed to jolt into action was when it was met with something that opposed it, hence the icy water. Radian shuddered to think what its reaction might be were she shot with a powerful Flamethrower.
"Radian!" Again, Radian's ears perked upward, erecting suddenly from their slumped position on the cold ground. This time, though, the voice didn't belong to Tiffany, and as Radian's delicate ears attuned to it, her heart accelerated slightly, for a reason completely unknown to her. The footfall of the new Pokemon did, however, seem strangely familiar, and as Radian almost immediately connected the kind, gentle voice with the rapid yet short footsteps, her body brightened considerably and she perked up, ears swiveling quickly around to determine the location of the newcomer Radian now knew as her friend Marc.
Marc! She thought happily, upon hearing his voice experiencing a rushing, joyful sensation, which filled the tiny Eevee to the core, causing her delicate heart to flutter considerably, even skipping a beat as her hidden bliss spread to her round little cheeks, a rosy flush appearing across them. All this she transmitted to her Totodile friend, as she knew all-too-well by now that she wouldn't physically be able to communicate to him.
"Radian.." He repeated, drawing significantly closer to the fallen Eevee's side.
Marc.. Radian said again, the tiniest traces of a smile tugging at her motionless lips.
I feel like we're playing a game of Marco-Polo, she laughed inwardly, realizing that this was neither the time nor place for humor, but being unable to resist the opportunity to show her true playful nature. Besides, she reasoned within herself. The mood had grown too solemn, and now Marc and Tiffany both were completely silent, standing mournfully over her limp body as if they were at a Funeral.
Please.. Tell Tiffany.. Radian started off dramatically, as if what she were about to utter next would be the last thing she ever said. ..That I'm still alive and kicking, and if she sprays me one more time with that built-in water hose of hers, I'm going to give her a kick she'll never forget. Radian again laughed softly internally, to show that she was joking, then blushed a bit in humiliation as it dawned on her that she may be too weak in body and mind for Marc to even receive her thoughts. For all Radian knew, she could be wasting her energy on thoughts that would just end up bouncing around inside her head, but Radian had faith in Marc and his abilities, and believed that even if her weakened thoughts were formed into statements that were barely audible whispers to him, he would still pick them up and hear her. It was this blind faith that kept Radian hoping.
Radian I.. I am so sorry. I can't believe what this has ended up with. I can't express how sorry I am.. Really. None of this is your fault; so stop blaming yourself.
Marc.. You're hurt.. I can feel it. She thought, the words that he communicated to her passing through her mind in a quick blur. She took a deep breath, concentrating on Marc's presence, seeing not with her eyes, but with her mind. As she honed in on him, Radian flinched harshly, tears welling up behind closed eyes as again, her breathing quickened, and her heart threatened to explode from her chest. She could see the silhouette of her Reptilian friend, well, not see per say, but she could sense his presence standing there before her, and again she flinched, as she felt a heavy, scorching burn spreading across the front of her body. Petrified, she yelped, her body beginning to shake fearfully as the tears fell rapidly from her closed eyelids, streaming down her face and plopping one by one onto the cold ground on which she lay.
Leon burned you.. Didn't he? I can feel your pain. He hurt you during that battle, and now everyone knows it's all because of me! Radian's tone was heart-breaking, as she longed to open her eyes, longed to see and then to heal the injuries he had been forced to endure.. All because of her.
Consumed with guilt, and ashamed that now not only Tiffany, but Marc as well had suffered Leon's under wrath because of her existence, she became completely silent, ceasing in her wheezing and panting as her intake of breath seemed strangely to halt abruptly, the only sound being emitted from the tiny Pokemon being the pounding thump of her fragile heartbeat.
I don't care if Leon attacked me in the first place because of you! Marc insisted, though Radian couldn't be at all sure if he was responding to her previous statements, or was just continuing in a speech all of his own accord.
That doesn't matter.. I accepted to form the alliance with him anyways because I cared about you..I wanted you to be safe..
At these words, all seemed to go calm in an instant, at least inside Radian. Her heartbeat, while still irregularly fast in tempo, had calmed to the point where it no longer threatened to rip out from her delicate chest. Her lungs, miraculously inflating seemingly on their own, drew in a long, slow breath of air, filling Radian with fresh oxygen as again, she began to breathe normally. But despite how significant and incredible these improvements to her overall physical condition were, Radian didn't pay them any mind. Her mind was reeling, reeling from those four simple little words he had uttered to her.
"I cared about you" Marc had told her, and if her eyes had opened at that exact instant, she would've seen the sincerity in her friend's eyes. Stunned, the tears continued to flow from her, but these tears weren't tears of melancholy, they were tears of relief, and pure amazement.
"I cared about you," Radian heard him say again and again, over and over, and at that moment, Radian couldn't recall ever feeling so happy. Marc seemed not to note the significance of his words, but little did he know that they would be etched inside Radian's heart for as long as she lived.
I cared about you too.. She thought in a whisper, a series of brief images passing rapidly through her mind as this thought flew from her and into Marc, penetrating his being. She thought back to the time that Leon had been standing, menacingly before her, she being the only thing that separated him from her dying friend. A spark in her eye, and filled to the brim with fury and rage, she had thrown everything she had into one attack, into one last resort to both avenge and protect her pal. Her brow furrowing from the memory, she snapped back to attention as a new thought from Marc entered within her mind.
But oh. Look at what we have done now. I'm so stupid.. Things came out in the form of what I wanted to happen the least. It doesn't matter who started anything, but the consequences. My anger blinded me.. And that makes me ashamed for myself. I won't just turn away and leave you alone, Radian. Because I am willing to take much more pain than the one Leon could have caused.
Good..Because I never ever wanted to have to leave your side.. Radian murmured in thought, feeling her heart rate slow considerably, her mind grow slightly foggier as fatigue gripped tightly upon her consciousness. Uncontrollably, it seemed, she yawned, yet her mouth made no movement at all. She couldn't stay awake any longer..her conscious mind was succumbing to subconsciousness. Desperately, Radian tried to open her eyes, knowing that if she managed to somehow pry them open, she would stand a much better chance of staying awake. Why Radian was so fearful of falling asleep was obvious: the last time she had attempted sleep, she had been assaulted by Darkrai. Now, in such an incredibly fragile and delicate state, it seemed almost twice as likely that he would strike again. Since Radian at all wasn't willing to chance the odds, she forced herself awake, though her eyes remained glued shut. At Marc's selfless words, she felt as if her heart would burst with happiness.
Because of my appearance here in this world, Marc has been shocked, trampled, killed twice, and burned. But yet, he fails to even mention one bit of that.. He's already endured more than my share of pain, and I don't have a single scratch to show for all of it. His desire to protect me led him to a battle where he was blasted again and again with fire.. And still.. The tiny Eevee then paused in her thoughts, as a warm sensation traveled all throughout her body, evoking a sweet little smile on her round face. And still.. He's willing to bear more..For me?
But before Radian could inquire further, Marc had again begun to speak to her.
Since the first day you've always been with me, Radian. How you convinced me to stay in the guild the first day, then how you healed me when you were in the Dungeon. And how you were with me in the nightmare..And how you traded in all of your energy when I lied dead in the Medical Wing..
I didn't know whether I would live or die.. Radian recalled slowly, traveling back to just a few hours before when she had without one ounce of hesitation pressed her paw to Marc's chest and had given him all of her energy without a second thought, until she had eventually passed out.
But I really didn't care either way.. Radian mumbled, practically on the verge of sleep now. As she was nearly out of her conscious mind, she spoke from the heart, having no real idea of what she was saying.
The world would be a horrible place without someone like you in it, Marc.
There's no way I could ever pay that to you, Radian. I would give my life for you to feel fine right now.. I..Radian waited for him to finish, but the end never came. Radian winced painfully as Marc unmistakably erupted into tears, and as her companion hung out over her, Radian felt the rapid fall of the cold tear drops, one by one, plopping down into her soft, brown fur. Instead of responding through thought, Radian just let her head fall, sensing Marc's obvious pain as her own heart was captured by an instant flooding wave of sorrow. Tears poured remorsefully from her own eyes, and as they again ran rapidly down her face, she let out a soft sigh.
I am very sorry.. Marc finally finished, not even pausing in his loud sobs, and upon attuning to the sound of it, Radian felt herself being gently lifted up into Marc's strong, thick arms. Pressing her delicate body against his own, a slow smile settled upon Radian's face as she snuggled up against her friend, basking in his warmth as the heat he radiated transferred into the chilled body of the petite little Eevee. He buried his face into her soft fur, and as tear after tear continued to soak into her shaggy fur, Radian finally managed some form of movement, as she lifted her delicate head and nestled it against Marc's own. Her eyes and lips were mere inches from his, and gently, she raised a paw from her side to press it against Marc's forehead, pressing back against it in the slightest so that he could catch sight of her. Her eyes had finally peeled themselves open, and her golden irises now shone brilliantly into his own. The tears still ran from her eyes, as well as his own, but Radian hardly seemed to notice them now.
Don't be sorry for anything.. She told him sternly. Live with no regrets. Coming here and meeting you is the best thing that's ever happened to me, and knowing you and loving you as a friend is a far more beautiful gift than I could've ever hoped for.. Don't shed tears for me, Marc. I'm alive, and you're alive, and as long as we're together, there's still hope.. Don't be sorry for an instant about anything that's happened to any of us so far. If nothing else, it's brought us even closer together.
Radian stopped, and smiled, her golden eyes still beaming beautifully into his own. Her tail wagged eagerly, as she continue to lay within his arms, and the two were still only mere inches apart.
OOC: Ahem. *Points to Personal message.* Just kidding. ^^' Just seemed to fit, so I had to say it. Maybe not. *Shrugeth*
