After his enthusiastic outburst, Avery and Raldin took the same stances, stretching skyward with pulsing palms. They spun in a circle before emitting the lines of energy.
A second, then two went by with nothing strange happening. The youths expected a reaction similar to the last time but no such thing occured. But then:
Something's happening
They all looked to the portal, it shrunk at an increasing pace and at the same time, it attracted all the Creatures into itself like a vacuum and they didn't resist. It was about fist-sized at the moment.
"It's really working." Nalia sighed out in relief and gratitude. "Huh? Where did they go?"
*
Annie stood silently in the room, Raten arrived just in time to see the last one being sucked away. "Annie, are you-" She embraced him, holding tightly as she sobbed on his shoulder. He didn't know when, Raten didn't know when he had grown to care for her well-being. Why had he rushed off the second the threat had been neutralized.
"It was awful!" She cried, still shaken to her core by the experience. "They just... exploited all of me. My emotions, my past, my mom...! I-I-"
"Shh..." He whispered gently in her ear whilst caressing her head which was vacant because she had lost her hat somewhere in the room. She gasped inaudibly, surprised by his soothing voice but she let him comfort her as she belted out all her tears. "It's okay... It's… Just let it all out." He hummed rhythmically, singing a tune that was as much as a mystery as his identity.
"~Heyyy, you... It's fine. Heyyy, you... you can cry. Cry all you want and I'll still be here. Cry all you need and I'll wipe those tears~"
"Heyyy, y-"
He blushed in embarrassment when he felt her let out a chuckle. "Hey, it just came out, all right. You seem to be in a better mood now," He commented but stopped once he realized she was back to weeping. 'Damn... you...'
At the same time, Ace had made his way to Florian who he found to be doing better than he expected. He did a good job of keeping himself together but the former saw the void in his eyes, like he wasn't completely there deep down. "What? Why are you looking at me like that? I'm not a little kid you need to comfort. I'll be fine."
Florian instantly sighted his uneasiness and put it to rest, but it fell on deaf ears as he was pulled into a hug anyway, even being patted on the back. "Sorry, I couldn't protect you. I couldn't protect any of us."
"There you go, shouldering everything," Florian said, pulling from the hug and shaking his head disapprovingly.
*
The four teens met up just in time to watch the portal flash it's dying light.
"And that's a wrap," The Captain commented, dusting his hands like he had completed a day of manual labor as the portal was successfully sealed, allowing them all to finally free themselves of distress. As the portal had been shut, the sunlight returned to the village, visualizing that the strange anomaly that had overtaken Dreamdale had come to an end.
"I am deeply grateful, Captain. I apologize for not being able to clean up this mess myself."
"Huh?" Avery's lips curled. "Hey, loosen up, Raldin! If it makes ya' feel any better, I love how you've been able to change that ex-Spirit Soldier with amnesia." He gestured discreetly to the black-haired boy in approval.
"From the reports I received, he's come a long way." He rose his thumbs. Raldin was deeply touched and bowed again.
"Thank you, Captain."
"Alright, you're not allowed to thank me for the rest of the day. Now, it's time for a party!"
They returned to the Heart Base with thrilling news of how they defeated the Nightmare Creatures. Sooner than later, the villagers departed, claiming their rightful land back and some of the soldiers even accompanied them so they could assist in rebuilding. Like Avery had said, a party had been held in honor of his return at the North Hall.
Raten, Ace, Annie and the rest of their team dined on the same table but it seemed only the two Zen Wielders and the former were in the mood. The others made no attempt at conversation, the awkwardness got so thick that they could cut it like butter and it felt like they were mourning someone instead.
"Hey, Ms. Magician!" They traced the voice to a boy with dark-blue hair: Sky. He arched an eyebrow with folded arms. "Hey, Annie. Didn't you hear me just now? I-"
Instead of listening to him, she stomped to another table, lifelessly selecting more food.
"Uh, okay? What could've happened on your mission to make her like that? No sarcastic comeback, no eye-rolling, nothing. Was she almost sacrificed to some shadow cult or something?" Although he had a different way of expressing, Sky, as well as the rest of them were worried about her.
Later that day, the party had come to an end but before they could make their way to their living quarters, the boys had a conversation with Nalia.
"We've gotta cheer Annie up," Nalia pitched, receiving a supporting nod from the darker-toned boy.
Ace replied, "She's right. The world can't function if she's in a bad mood."
"That's a tad bit dramatic."
"Even still, her mental state's in havoc. I know exactly what she's been through. We gotta help her and I think I know just how to do it," She said, proposing an idea.
* * *
Annie arose from her bed, looking to the window with a gleam in her eyes. "Another day, another opportunity for adventure and maybe some romance." She rubbed her hands thoughtfully, preparing to get out of bed when it struck her all at once like a flood, the events of the last day playing in her mind. The gleam in her eyes died down. Her mood had been spoiled.
While putting on her jacket, she realized that the boys weren't in the room. 'Weird, where'd they go?' She turned her attention to her pocket, pulling out a shining crystal; her short-ranged Nova Communication Crystal. "Come meet me in my room? Double weird." She tucked on her collar, completing her look before making her way to the other's room.
She remembered that Nalia had her room all to herself, although it was a smaller room. 'If what Ms. Penny said is true, she gets shy around strangers. Then how the heck does she make friends?" She twisted at the doorknob, pushing the door opening but never in her life could she have prepared herself for what she had seen.
Minutes before she had awoken, Nalia discussed her plan in detail which only really involved one person: Raten. But it wasn't without complaint from the latter. "No way in hell am I doing this. That goes against some moral principles and practical decency and that's coming from me."
"Come on, Raten. Don't you wanna cheer her up? If you don't do this, she might never perform for the kids at Dreamdale ever again." Ace nudged at his weak point, coercing him.
"Fine... But don't expect me to do anything for you guys again."
"Perfect!" Ace and Nalia celebrated.
There Raten was, completely topless, his chiseled abs on full display but that wasn't all. There wasn't one, not two but five of him taking the same flirtatious stance with pink roses in their teeth. Ace and Nalia's presence didn't even register in her head. Annie blushed profusely, so much that she could give a tomato a run for its money.
"Did I die and get sent to Handsome Hunky Guy Heaven or what?!" She exclaimed, almost choking from the sight before her.
"It's working," The male Energy User and female Zen Wielder whispered to each other. She continued staring in awe until she realized the edge of his lip was quaking. At that moment, she also spotted the duo and knew what all three of them were up to and it sent her heart fluttering.
"I... can't do this anymore!" Raten buckled, resting his arms on his knees. The Carbon Clones also vanished. "I'm tired of keeping up that pose."
Before they knew it, Annie had somehow disappeared from the room. Their eyes darted around the room but she was gone. "So... did your stupid plan work?"
The Fire Mage made her way back to her room, pulling on a drawer and bringing out a box with sections for a necklace and a choker, with the choker being absent. She heaved a deep sigh before taking the necklace with the word 'Regina' carved into it and placing it around her neck.
"Hey, mom. I'm doing just fine. Sorry if I made you worry." A bittersweet tear fell from her face to the jewel she held close to her chest.
_ _ _
End of Nightmare Village Arc