-Evening, The Hub, Meeting Room-

Pilot rubbed his chin. "The Death Melody. Sounds similar to Jin's report."

Jake grimaced. "Yeah, I thought you all would need to know, plus you might want to listen to his podcast."

"Your friends are wasting time chasing things that might not exist." scoffed the leader. "Your academia is starting soon; shouldn't they prepare?"

"Some... people just want to waste time before school starts?"

"Knowledge is power, Jake." Pilot crossed his arms. "That's a lesson I have taught you all."

"I know."

"Other than that, is there anything else?"

The spiky-haired teen's eyes softened, then looked away. "Well...I had these thoughts about them for a while. Friends or a team of strangers. We all got together because the crystals came to us. I was worried that we would stop hanging out after defeating the Mistress and only get together when a threat emerged, but that did not happen. We still do stuff outside of fights. Sometimes, I think we wouldn't be friends if this happened."

"You don't know that." The red-haired man's eyes soften a little. "Even if you had not moved to Parkerville and if the crystals did not come to you, there could have been a small chance for you all to meet."

"Yeah... despite that, I was afraid we would just be teammates."

"You are teammates and friends. Not everyone who becomes part of a team, whether military, recreational, or professional, becomes friends. I know some that I work well with that I don't like and will never go to a tavern with. There are others I will share a drink with and join in recreational activities. Javo and I went to a bar 3 days ago, Reinstar and I discussed history and food, and Luka and I discussed literature."

"Huh, I never pegged you to be the literature type."

"Reading is an essential brat. I also build miniature ships in glass."

The information surprised the boy. "Never thought that about you. I always thought you were a weapons nut."

The leader scoffed at him. "I'm much more than you think." He sighed. "I behave the way I am because I want each of you to know how serious I am about your training. We are preparing you against foes that are crafty and dangerous. As the team leader, you need to help keep up morale.

"And what about the others? I don't think being their leader is alright because they have more experience."

He turned around and typed on the console to activate the monitor. He typed it up and brought up twelve folders with the names of each of the Radiant. "Blair, Jack, and Lina are not the type to want to lead." An image shows a young canokian woman featuring sharp yellow eyes and dark green hair tied into a spiky ponytail resembling the plumage of a peacock.

"Her name is Zeena Willowbark, the leader of the trio in Galvania. They are currently undergoing a mission, so you won't see them often unless they come seeking you."

The spiky-haired raven analyzed the young woman's face. "She is pretty."

"She and the other two are six or seven years older than your group and the others overseas." His eyebrows narrowed. "One thing, never underestimate someone based on their looks. A man who looks strong may have a weak constitution, and a beautiful woman who looks helpless may have bloodlust, right?"

"Yep."

"I brought her up for two reasons. One, you and her will work together to lead the team. The other is trust. She trusts the other two just like the others trust you. Enough for them to want to bond with you outside of combat. If they did not want to be your friends, then they would not invite you to mind-numbing activities."

He nodded. "Thank you for reassuring me. I did not want to tell mom and others for different reasons."

"Your mom won't understand this life, and you don't want to offend the others." He said. "You can always come to me, I am your teacher."

"Yep." The teen smiled at him.

----------------------------------------

-Aug 10, Smoothie Shop-

Tanya and Sam were at the counter ordering smoothies.

"You believe this place is better than all smoothie stores?"

"No." She shrugged. "But I do enjoy the fruit punch smoothie they have here."

"I believe you, sis." He looked at the menu. "Why did Amy drag us to that Flea Market across the street?"

"She's looking for fabric for crafting. She recently made a backpack for father."

"Huh, you learn something new." He nodded. "Maybe I can ask her to craft a belt?"

The bell by the door rang in the shop.

"She would if you ask her."

"Nah, don't want to break her hobby by asking her to make stuff all the time."

"Huh, you are here?"

The braided girl froze at the voice, then took a deep breath before quickly turning to see an annoyed Rita Gonzales standing before her. The faded-cut youth glanced at Gonzales, then at his friend.

"Hello." responded Tanya.

Rita scoffed. "You know what to do."

"She does not have to do anything." Sam frowned deeply.

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"I'm not asking you. Ugh, I don't even feel as irritated as I normally do. Since that blackout, I felt all my anger disappear, but seeing you has slowly brought back all the things I am annoyed at." She smiled cruelly. "Leave, so my mood will improve."

Tanya stared at the girl who was once her friend. Up to this point, her anxiety came like a waterfall every time they saw each other. Every time, she froze in place and ran away while the girl and the entourage laughed. However, recent events have molded her to realize things about herself, and there are more terrible things than the girl in front of her. She took a deep breath.

"No."

The tanned girl was startled while the young boxer smirked. The mean girl frowned at the girl. "Excuse me?"

"I said no. I will not be intimidated by you, and if I leave." She flicked her hair back. "It means I have places to be." She finished with a raised eyebrow, and her head slightly tilted up confidently.

"Your smoothies are ready."

"Like now." Tanya turned on her heels, grabbed the drink holder with four smoothies, and walked out with her head held high. Sam followed after with another drink holder containing smoothies. The mean girl scowled deeply, then turned around while glaring at the worker.

As the duo walked outside, Tanya breathed a sigh of relief, feeling her anxiety lessen. "That's progress."

"You taunted her with that hair flick, then walked out like a boss. You turned it right back on the spoiled princess."

"Indeed." She smiled. "Thank you for being there."

"Nah, that was you. She tried to pull her usual attitude on you, but you stood your ground and said, 'No, you leave.'"

"Mm hm," She picked up her smoothie with pride. "Let's go."

----------------------------------------

-Aug 14, Petalburg Park, 10 pm-

It was the Petalburg End of Summer Festival. Various games were set up, along with food stalls. Jake, his mom, sister, and grandpa were seen walking through the park.

"Ha, nothing says end of summer as launching fireworks." said the old man. "A soothing beverage and a cold desert. Ah, the days of youth."

"Yes," smiled the mom. "Including spending a summer evening with friends while on the fairgrounds."

"Relieving the past is healthy, right?" the daughter whispered to the brother.

"Sparingly." he shrugged. "Grandpa, does this remind you of the story you told me about you and your friends hiding the koi fish?"

"That and trying to impress a girl," he smirked. "I will never forget the craziness of trying to win her affection."

"And you failed."

"Of course!" He chuckled. "Jacob, Tina, if your friends are here. Go off and find them, also remember. If there is an opportunity to impress, do it. You never know what you are missing."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "That's random."

"But." He had a warm smile. "It might pop up during a significant moment in your life."

The sister laughed before leaving. "Kite and his friend are around here. I'll see you later."

The boy nodded as he watched her leave, then left a moment later. His grandpa was fun to be around, always having statements that were weird and sometimes helpful. As he walked, he heard his phone ding. He looked at it to discover a link to a live podcast by J.K.L. He clicked the link, put in his earbuds, and started listening.

"Supernatural lovers," said Lance. "This is the podcast of the century. J.K.L. presents! 'Unknown to us!'. First thing we will talk about! Death Melody! The song that plays before you succumb."

Jake nodded as he listened to the podcast.

"Reports around the world have listened to the haunting phenomenon. Some have lost their will to move on, others fall into a coma, and the rest... death. Is this... a myth or fact? As far as I know, if you hear the melody, you may be unaffected, but the person next to you will fall."

"They say," said Jamie. "It sounds like someone playing the flute, the song... well, think about the Pied Piper nursery rhyme. The one who lures rats and small children away. That tale might be based on something that is... heartbreaking."

Jake felt a push from behind. He turned around to find a smirking Robert and his two friends.

"Hi."

"Jake." He chuckled. "Buddy."

"Nope." shrugged the spiky raven. "What do you want? If it's Amy, that is... just sad, dude."

Robert scowled for a second before smiling. "No, I don't care about her anymore. All my ire on her is gone," A solemn expression came upon him. "The blackout changed that, so I'm done teasing her."

"Okay, cool, so are we neutral?"

"No, I still dislike you," He held up a phone to Jake. "Is this you?"

Jake watched in dismay as the breakup video with his ex-girlfriend from his hometown played out. A somber mood overtook him, letting out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, it's me."

"Pathetic, you let that happen? The way you are with me, I thought you had more backbone."

"I learned from that." The spiky-haired teen placed his hands in his pockets. "That dating as we are is overrated. We are acting like adults when we should be having fun." He leaned in. "I healed from that... mostly."

"Overrated?" The jock shook his head. "Sounds like you haven't moved on."

"Like when Amy rejected you?" scoffed the fire warrior. "You took it too far."

"Shut up, I said I was done with her. I shared the video with her and a few other people." He scowled. "The entire school will see you as a loser."

"My friends know about it. I showed it to them a month ago." Jake took his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms. "Even if people see it, some might be sympathetic."

Robert scowled. "Or others will see it as pathetic."

"Let's see what happens. Does not matter to me either way."

"Stupid hedgehog-haired bastard." He scoffed. "You're no fun."

"Whatever."

The jock roughly brushed past with his two friends trailing behind. The spiky raven shook his head as the jock increased the distance between them.

"Are you okay?"

He turned to his left to see Amy with a worried expression.

"I'm fine."

"He sent me a link to the video with the message 'loser.'" She rolled her eyes. "I was about to reply 'no' until I saw you all. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. He's just... a Mocko Jocko."

She tilted her, looking slightly confused. "So he's... a jock that.."

"Mocks, just a Mocking Jock."

"Oh..." She giggled. "That's kind of funny."

"Ryu would say it differently."

"Yeah, but you said it first. It's more of an insult to his image."

"I'm sure he imagines himself somewhere with a bigger pedestal. I think he's over you. Removing all that rage was probably a good thing."

"I asked Luka. She will still monitor for the next three months, but so far, everybody is fine."

"I hope so,"

"Forget about him and your old problems." She placed her hands on her hips, acting like she was ready to solve a crime. "This is the now!" She pointed at him. "Rub off that far-off look and give me a close-up look."

The boy snorted and leaned in with a smug look. "Like this?"

The girl leaned back while giggling. "That's too close."

"But you wanted a closeup."

She pushed his face away. "Yeah, yeah. Come on." She turned to her left. "The fireworks are starting soon."

"Alright."

Amy led Jake to where the rest of the Radiant and their friends were, in one of the pavilions where J.K.L. was running their live podcast. They joked, ate food, and had fun until the fireworks lit the sky. Jake smiled at the rockets sparkling in the night sky, enjoying the day with the gang. He never imagined his life turning out like this when he first arrived: gaining powers, fighting supernatural threats, and forming friendships. His life had changed for the better despite other threats out there.

"We'll ride the storm." He whispered.

----------------------------------------

-Aug 20, The Hub, Meeting Room-

The leader of Sword stared at the Head of Guardian on the monitor.

"Normally, you send a memo to Luka. What happened?"

"There is an urgent matter that requires your presence. It won't be a short mission. It might take a month or two due to how you will be traveling and where you will be going."

"Will I be alone?"

"No, you will not. One of them will be your protege."

Pilot narrowed his eyes. "What is the mission?"

"Where you will be going, you may run into Jarlon."

"Why him." He grimaced. "We are not on speaking terms."

"Because we and him have learned the 'his' location, the one who caused the rift in your old team."

The redhead clenched his teeth, and his eyes hardened, barely controlling anger as he stared, glowering at the imagined person he wished to slay. He slammed his aura-coated fist on the table, cracking it. "I'm heading over there now."

"Pilot," Zeracakja's voice was firm and had an edge. "I did not tell you this so you will rush in like a fool."

"Fine, I will tame myself." He calmed down. "When do I need to come?"

"Tomorrow at your earliest."

Pilot nodded. "Then it settled. I'll let everyone know."