Welcome to Gaia! ::

Magnolia swallowed thickly, but her saliva ran dry upon hitting the back of her throat. Her pale body began to convulse in a multitude of trembles as her face -- wide-eyed -- never even considered looking away from the middle-aged woman before her. The barrel of the pistol stabbed into her trachea suddenly shifted harder into her neck as the hammer was cranked with a mechanical creak. The seafoam haired woman's eyes were bare of any feeling and, upon withdrawing the cigarette clenched between her blush stained lips and blowing out a stream of smoke, did she lower her eyelids in disdain. A Liepard with combed markings stood behind her with her claws drawn and her scythe-like tail swinging to and fro in the air. She was prepared to attack when Cetus gave the word -- had she not killed the fourteen year old first, of course.

Cetus tapped the thin stick of nicotine and a pinch of ash fluttered off and trailed with the light wind blowing across the Zatao Grasslands. "I don't know who you are, kid," she said. "But you've come way too far. Seen too much. I'm just following protocol." Her gloved hand tightened on the trigger. "But I don't feel sorry for you in the least."

Magnolia's voice croaked. She wanted to say something, but her deep phobia prevented her. Standing before her was the very crime syndicate that awoke Altais and brought him so much pain. Standing before him was the very crime syndicate that gave Altais release. The very crime syndicate that wanted to twist the world to their being; alter reality, chase and rend time to nothingness. Team Galactic, her mind echoed. Team Galactic. Team Galactic. Team Galactic. I'm going to die. I'm going to die.

Her fear rose to ultimate levels as Magnolia suppressed her insane desire to shriek in terror. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and leaked like water through cracks in a cave. The gun only pressed harder against her skin, increasing the dread and tightening her pants. Cetus pursed her lips.

"I don't feel sorry for you in the least."

A gunshot rumbled the surrounding air.

"Stop it!"

Three heads darted in the direction of the voice. Like a falling star marring the heavens, Altais zipped into the area separating Magnolia from Cetus and Shea. He held up his arms defensively as he floated before the mauve-haired girl, his eyebrows scrunched in anger.

"Don't hurt her!" he yelled. "She's my friend!"

Cetus's teal eyes widened in surprise to the Steel/Psychic-type. "A-Altais?" she stammered in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Altais's eyes too stretched back in surprise. "Cetus!" he suddenly gushed, diminishing the glare on his face to a smile. "Cetus, it's you!"

Altais's streamers fluttered up behind him due to the speed she suddenly shot towards her with. He suckered his body onto the side of her face in a hug, giddy upon seeing her again.

"It's been too long!" he cried. "How are you? How are you?"

The very face that regarded Magnolia with contempt was now chuckling and smiling. "I've been well," she said. "It's good to see you as well!"

Magnolia stood in a state of mystification. What in the world was going on? Why was Altais so familiar with that woman?

"What did you do!" Magnolia screamed at the woman.

"I didn't frickin' do anything!" Cetus shot back before cocking her head back to the legendary. "Altais, wake up! Hey!"

The two shouted and shouted under their voice fell hoarse. Eventually, their panic settled them to exhaustion. They both sat where they stood. Cetus slipped off her vest and rested the Jirachi on it, sighing. Magnolia curled her arms about her shins and swallowed thickly, never once taking her eyes off of the Galactic grunt. It was about an half an hour before Altais finally stirred.

Cetus and Magnolia crowded by him as he rose and sat up, rubbing his temple again. Looking to both of their eyes, Altais sighed, and dropped his arm to his side.

"I . . . I guess I have some explaining to do, huh?" he said.

Cetus frowned. "A lot," she said. "From the very beginning. Start."

Magnolia sighed. "Why didn't you just tell me?" she asked.

"Because I knew you wouldn't understand," Altais replied.

The teen's anger began to brim again until the Jirachi tried to make her come to a realization.

"I know you, Magnolia. I've been with you long enough to understand. Had I told you, you would've sought the inevitable. Try and find a way to solve my natural dilemma and, eventually, come to self-blame when I do succumb to my hibernation. You're youth, your peevishness, and your naivety . . . Those faults would've blinded acceptance. I'm sorry."

Altais's words fell on deaf ears. "Of course I would've tried to find a way!" Magnolia bellowed. "You're my friend!"

Cetus shook her head, eliciting Magnolia to spare her anger on her too. "What, do you have something to say?" she spat.

"Goodness gracious, kid," the middle-aged woman sighed. "You really do have some growing up to do. Let me put Alt's words here into much simpler, easier to understand words for your dumb brain: You can't do s**t. Simple and straight as that. He's going to return to his sleep whether you fight or not."

"B-But . . . He didn't have to run away!"

"On the contrary, I think he did." Cetus folded her arms across her bosom. "Since he knew this was the way you'd act, he was doing both himself and you a favor. Saving himself from your none-too-quiet voice and, for you, the pain of his leaving. Heck, even I don't have the balls to be that nice to someone."