"How could I refuse a chance at helping the mighty Jesse as he pleas for my help?" Lluna snorts instantly, and nudges Stella before running up to me.

And just like the first time we met, she kicks me, this time using her front legs, to the ground. Which notably hasn't gotten any softer since the last time I fell- only less than a minute ago. At this rate, I'll need to get special pants with a cushion on the back to keep my butt from bruising.

Promptly, Lluna strolls on tops of me and lies down. Leaving me to endure her massive weight. And in all of places I've been and all the things I've done, nothing is as heavy and suffocating as a fully grown llama. Nothing.

"I know I'm not suppose to call out a girl's weight," I wheeze a lot, my lungs unable to expand with the immoveable object crushing me. "but you Lluna... are much heavier than last time we met."

A spitball lands in my face, which I'll take as an agreement to the first part.

"Now now Lluna, I think you've shown Jesse enough love." Lluna snorts again but thankfull concurs. The moment she shifts her weight off of me, I fill as much air as possible into my squished lungs. Allowing them to properly expand once again.

"I don't know about that. I for one enjoy it when Lluna shows Jesse all of her heartfelt love." While I would love to get into a verbal war with Lukas, there is business to attend to. Yet I make sure to conjure up a spitefulness as I get back to my feet again. Which pays off when I see Lukas stiffen next to me before I face Stella again.

"Lluna, Stella, it's very nice to see you again. But," I walk closer to the man still kind of cowering and shaking. "I don't believe I have met you before."

"Oh yes, Jesse this is Radar. I hired an intern to help me keep track of storage and to assist in managing Champion City."

"That's great!" I stick my hand and smile at the trembling fellow. "It's nice to meet you Radar."

Hesitantly, he shakes my hand. Admittedly, his hand is a bit clammy. However, I'm pretty sure it is due to nerves instead of something serious, like fear. I'm willing to bet though he's a pretty good guy if Stella chose him to be her assistant.

"P-p-please sir, the pleasure is all m-mine. I've... uh... always dreamed of err, meeting you in person."

Okay, I've heard weirder. I mean, people have fainted at my touch before, so it's not that far fetched.

Although I don't think I'll ever get used to people behaving like this around me. After all, I am still just a guy. A guy with friends, a stressful job, and problems. It's just that my problems are a wee bit more world-ending if I don't solve them.

I don't really know what to say to that anyway, so I just smile and rub the back of my head.

"Sooo, Stella do you think you could help me out on the wall thing? I know it's a lot to ask out the blue, but tension is rising within the current ones."

"Oh of course dear, I'll be able to lend a hand. I can ease up on guards for a day or two for them to build your extended walls. I DO NOT however, posses the necessary amount of clay."

I open my mouth, but Lukas cuts me off. "You won't have to worry about the clay. Jesse here got that all taken care of."

"Lukas is right," I smile at him as he walks closer to our us, since I'm pretty sure he's still salty about my decisions, even if he respects them. "We can provide you with all of the clay you need to build the wall."

"Perfect! Just perfect! I'll have my guys by your gate first thing tomorrow morning." She turns to Radar, who has stopped quivering and now just starring awestruck with his mouth slightly parted. "Radar, make a note of that."

Radar jumps sky high at her voice, his glasses falling off his nose. He rubs his eyes, looking more disoriented than going on a minecart ride.

I lean down and pick up his glasses. Judging by the thickness of them, Radar must be nearly blind without them on.

Walking over to the still recovering Radar, I gently place the glasses in front of his eyes again. He quickly inhales and stiffens up.

"Y-y-y-you j-j-just, I-I-I-"

"Ah, deep breaths now, in... and out." This guy reminds me of a nervous little kid. He's probably freaking out on the inside, but it's just plain old adorable.

"Th-thank you Jesse for helping me. Y-you are... You're one of the greatest heroes that has ever lived."

Lukas elbows me, with a 'You better believe it' face. In turn, I huff at him and cross my arms. I still can't think of myself a hero when all I want to do sometimes is be left alone and indulge in selfish wants. Why do people adore me so much? They can go out and adventure too if they wanted.

Lukas laughs and pats me on the back. "Look Radar, you got Jesse all flustered."

Oh squid eggs... Lukas was able to feel that! I'm usually so convincing at covering up my emotions. I glare at him, my frustration might come across as just a normal response to teasing, but Lukas will know the difference. I am definitely talking to him about that.

"Anyway Stella, do you want anything in return for the labor you're providing?"

Stella discards the question with the wave of her arm. "Jesse, after everything you've done for me, I'm more than happy to do this for you. While we may be rivals,"

"N-no Stella, we're not ri-"

"We are friends too. And friends help each other without pay." Lukas and I share a smile, pride blooming as I think about what a good person Stella has become.

Lukas must share the same thought too. "Gosh Stella, it's hard to believe that you once conned Petra into giving up Miss Butter."

"That's all in the past now, the citizens of Champion City deserve to feel pride about their hard work, not obligation."

"Perhaps one day then we'll get together and fill up your treasure hall." Stella's face crinkles in sadness, and she looks to the ground.

"I'm no adventurer Jesse, I much prefer to run a city with my head than to use strength to slay monsters."

"Well then, good thing that isn't the only way to get treasure." I stroll past her and pick up the puffer fish from its pedestal. I've added more to put all the treasures I love on display.

"A-a puffer fish?" Radar, for the first time, speaks up on his own, surprising me. However, the memory stemming from this slimly creature causes a smile to break across my face.

"Yep, a puffer fish. Although I believe it really belongs with Olivia at Redstonia. However she insisted that it needed to stay here with all the others."

"So, what's the big deal about a puffer fish Jesse? I don't really want to fill my treasure hall with someone else's catch of the day."

"It's not about what the treasure is Stella, it's how you attain it is what makes it treasure."

I hold the puffer fish about to head level, examining it with nostalgic eye. "For instance, this guy was given to us when the Order was walking back to Beacontown. We've been out for a couple days and were wiped out. We were practically dragging our feet behind us.

"The fastest route back went along the coast for awhile, and while slowly shuffling back, we see a old shack with a rather frustrated man beside it."

"An-and you went straight over and helped right? That's what the Order does, helping people in need." Although Radar's eyes shine with admiration, I shake my head at him with a small grin.

"Nope." Radar wheezes, the unanticipated answer apparently hitting him with a lot force and winding him. "Axel, Petra, and quite frankly myself, just wanted to keep walking and get home. But it was Olivia who convinced us to go over and see what was wrong."

I place the fish back on its shelf, stepping back to admire it some more. "And am I glad we did. The fisher, with no friends or family around him, had his home flooded. Any redstone destroyed, and parts the house totally collapsed. Once we all saw what was wrong, everyone became determined to help. Olivia fixed, and improved, the redstone. While the rest of us moved the broken parts back and rebuilt what was totally destroyed.

"He tried to pay us, but we couldn't accept knowing most of what he had was washed away. All we accepted was this, a puffer fish he caught right before the wave came."

I walk over and pat Stella's shoulder. "So you see Stella, not all treasure comes from solving puzzles and killing monsters. Sometimes treasure is what you hold close to your heart, no matter what the object itself is."

I hear a sniffle, and see Radar whipping a tear from behind his glasses. "That was beautiful, just beautiful."

I gulp but fake a smile. Is there a way to politely respond to that without sounding prideful? I can't think of one way to respond to that. Never do I ever want to make any fans disappointed or sad, but sometimes I just don't know what to do.

"Yep, Jesse has a way with words." I inwardly sigh in relief, and shoot a thankful smile to Lukas. "You should've been there when he convicted Cassie Rose. The people who knew her beforehand were quickly convinced after only about two points of evidence. And everyone quickly forgot about the evdience against me."

"Being with Jesse during his adventures?" Radar shifts his weight from one foot to the other, his voice reaching an even higher octave. "No way! I can't- I am not worthy! It is an enormous honor to even be breathing the same air as he is! I-I-I can even die happily now that I have stood here in the Order hall, surrounded by the precious artifacts of the Order of the Stone. I mean- It's just that, only in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would meet THE Jesse."

"Ah Radar!" Stella crosses her arms at the intern. "You can't die. If you were to, then who will help me run Champion City when I'm spending time with Lluna?"

Stella turns towards me again. "Speaking of which, I must be getting back to Champion City. I need to prepare a few things before a new day dawns."

Stella doesn't wait for a reply and just starts walking to the door. "Come Lluna, and keep up Radar." Lluna snorts and spits at my feet, saying good-bye as the white llama trots over to her owner.

Radar quickly looks back at me. "Thank you Jesse for allowing me to stand in your presence." Before dashing after Stella. He goes through the hole first, then Lluna. Stella stops and smiles at me though.

"Y'know Jesse, you should really get this door fixed. But I guess it makes Champion City look better in comparison." And with that, she walks out of the door.

For a moment, Lukas and I just stand there, still smiling and everything. Then Lukas comes up to me and points at the workshops.

"She's right, we do need to fix that door."

"What's the door made of? Quartz? Yeah, there's some of that in the storage."

"Great, and I'm just relieved that Nell was able to get to Stella, I was slightly worried that she wouldn't get there soon enough."

I roll my eyes. "Only slightly worried? When are you ever just 'slightly worried'?"

"Hey! I was preoccupied with other..." Lukas opens the door, hesitates, then turns his head toward me. "...thoughts... at the time."

"Were they important then?"

"Well- While I was with Nell a very strong... concern for you came up and that denied any other thoughts."

"Good."

Lukas immediately stops to face me, frustration written all over his flawless face. He crosses his arms, and just glares at me.

"Okay Jesse, those emotions are very hard to control and impossible to predict when they'll happen. So why is that a GOOD thing?"

"Because you," I press my pointer finger into his chest. "Totally called me out earlier when I was embarrassed. I would've been able to easily cover that up if you didn't say anything."

"Oh yeah, that..." Lukas rubs the back of his neck, sheepishly smiling into the ground. "Come on Jesse, no one ever sees you get flustered. It's a nice humanizing experience to see that even you can get embarrassed."

"Just be sure not to do it whenever Petra, Ivor, or Olivia are around." I continue on walking, moving my arms and hands with my words. "They might get suspicious to how you can suddenly just know whatever I'm feeling despite the fact I've been successfully covering up these emotions for years."

"Wait, do you not want to tell them?" The shock clearly evident in Lukas's voice. "They're your best friends, they deserve to know."

"I just..." I sigh, feeling the thoughts I've repressed struggling to rise. "I dunno know... I want them to know, but..." The thought of rejection clashes with my mind. I hang my head, shaking it as if that could disperse the pressure in my skull.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, rubbing it gently. "Jesse, I know you don't want to burden other people and just take care of things yourself. But even if they have to leave, it's always good to have your friend's support."

"I... Well, I suppose your right. It's- just give me time to think of a way to tell them. Okay?"

"As long as you don't keep something like this a secret from them. Nothing good will come of that."

"We'll deal with that as it comes. For now, lets just get to work. We need to get a couple of quartz blocks then get all of the clay hardened."

"Clay's already hardened, I put it in the furnaces yesterday. I don't know where you keep the quartz, so if you'll get that I'll get the clay in chests ready for tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan." I go over and open the door to the storage. Once I'm out of Lukas's presence, I don't feel as light and energetic anymore. Oh well, I'll be fine without him for a bit.

Lukas obviously hasn't been in the storage room in awhile. It's been remodeled by Olivia so you don't have to know where anything is. Olivia said this is the exact same layout as Ellegaard's workshop in Redstonia, but I have never been in that room.

How could I dare stand where she would be if I didn't take her armor away?

Pushing down the depressing thoughts, I go over to the quartz lever. Flicking it enough times, I wait for the chest to get deposited with the materials. I turn the eight pieces of quartz into two blocks, and exit the room.

A creak floats up and light footsteps come from behind me. "Okay, we should be all good. We just have to get those chests out there and we're all set." He catches up and we both continue walking.

"The streets are too crowded with people during the day, we should do it at night." A memory sparks up at those words, the mere thought already dispersing heat throughout my face.

"Uhh Lukas... how did YOU get in MY bed last night?" I take a quick peek at Lukas, and find that his face is also slowly becoming a bright red.

"Ahh, that..." Lukas scratches his head, and refuses to look anywhere near me. "Well, you were the one that wouldn't let me go."

Although he mumbled, Lukas's words rang loud and clear in my head.

"Wait a moment, you're telling me that I FORCED you to stay?"

"I grabbed your hand when I felt you getting a nightmare, which for both our emotional sakes' let's make it so you don't get anymore of those."

"I can agree with that at least. But don't get off topic."

"Okay, okay..." Lukas sighs, but a faint smile appears as his eyes gaze back into his memories. "You kept my hand in a death grip, so I tried to pull my hand out. I only accomplished pulling you almost entirely off the bed and when you righted yourself, I fell on you.

"I tried to tug my hand out again, but you just reached over and flung me on the bed. It was useless to try again at that point, and I was pretty tired, so I just fell asleep."

The explanation does make sense to why Lukas wouldn't leave, but I still feel pretty frustrated about the whole thing. The only way for me to sleep well is for me to sleep with Lukas. Like actually touch him throughout the entire night.

This couldn't have been a more awkward even if it were a prank.

Lukas rubs the back of his neck as I open the door. "You're not mad at me are you? I swear I tried-"

"Lukas." I stop and look at him, and he finally makes eye contact with me again.

"Of course I'm not mad at you. In fact, don't ever even ask that again to me. 'Cause I know whatever you do, you do it with the of best intentions and you think it over. How could I get mad you when I'm grateful for everything you have done?"

"Thanks Jesse, I- it really means a lot."

"No problem." I walk into the Order Hall, heading over to place the quartz blocks. "So what do you think we should do now? As long as it's not paperwork, I'm fine with whatever."

Lukas waits until I fix the door. "Well Jesse," Lukas's innocent tone immediately makes me swirl around and face him. A smile is loosely hanging on his face, and his bright ocean eyes are shimmering.

"Why don't you practice getting the hang of your fire?"

****

Did you guys like Radar in the story? Originally, I planned never to have him even exist in this story. I didn't really know how to have him the story... so I cut him from it.

So, I hope I did a good job of writing his character and you guys liked it. If I didn't, then oh well. He's not going to appear very much at all.

'Til next chapty! Bye y'all!