"Jesse-"

"Just one more thing."

"No, you need to-"

"Thicken the walls of the refugee buildings since it's going to be cold tonight?"

"No! Come on, just-"

"Do a quick check on how much food we have for the refugees?"

"Rest!" Lukas throws his arms up, gathering the attention of the few early morning people. "You've been-"

"Double checking everything so that we're as ready as we can be for when Olivia gets here." My voice strains, and I gesture to him to keep it down. "In fact, Nell said Stella would come over to talk to me about this whole thing personally in the morning. Perhaps I should prepare for that?"

"Jesse, think about-"

"Whether or not we need to supply spare clothes for the refugees?"

Lukas groans, tilting his head up to the sky. I know I'm being a huge pain, but I know what he's going to say. I know I'll concede if he does say it. I also know that I can't. Because Olivia needs me to care for her citizens, and I will do that for her.

So when Lukas keeps his head tilted back to the heavens, I try to turn away from him so I could actually do all the things I just listed. Last night was practically cold, I should know since I stayed up all night working, and I doubt it's going to be any different tonight.

"Not happening." Lukas grabs ahold of my shoulder, the very active fire flickering powerfully at his touch. "You are resting."

"Lukas, I'm fine. So I have to make sure everything is fine when Olivia gets here."

"You told me earlier- yesterday- that I needed to go rest. I listened, why aren't you?"

I mentally kick myself, I'm letting Lukas talk. When Lukas talks, I generally agree. Which is what I'm trying not to do. There's still way too many things to do until Olivia gets here, and I still haven't checked if the hospital is going good or not.

"Because..." I check for anyone who could be listening, and when I don't see anyone, drop my voice. "I don't need to. Since I have the whole fire thing to keep me going. You don't have the luxury of having its full power working for you, and besides, you haven't rested either."

"Okay, one, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Two, even if point one was invalid, you're going to have to recharge soon and-"

"I'm good, I recharged not that long ago."

"You've been splitting with me for the entire time, taking way too short of breaks. You also didn't fully recharge, not too mention the itty bitty detail of all the injuries your fire also has to keep at bay along with exhaustion, thirst, and hunger. Oh, and the fact you've been doing this for over twelve hours."

"But it's not out yet, I can still do some more work- maybe until after Stella leaves, and then I'll go get something to eat and kill a few things in the Nether."

"Oh no, Stella might even take a couple more hours to get here and then it could be another couple hours before she leaves! That's too long, especially when you've already been working nonstop since yesterday evening."

I huff in impatience, I could be doing so many more productive things right now. "If you want me to stop then you might as well help me, since then I'll finish faster."

"I've been with you all day- all night- helping!" I glance up, just now seeing how many people are turning our way. "Jesse, I know you want to help. But you're burning yourself out, literally, and right now you have to be strong. Pushing yourself like this is only going to make you weak."

"One more thing, and I'll call it quits." The words flow easily from my mouth, just like with the doctor a day ago.

"Oh really?" Which of course doesn't fool Lukas. "I can see straight through that."

I roll my eyes, contemplating my choices. Lukas can feel my decision, but that shouldn't matter because either choice will leave me determined. It's two very simple options. Either fight him and continue to work without regard to what he's saying or go back and rest stewing in every moment knowing I'm doing nothing to help the citizens covered in blood.

"Jesse, please, I don't want you to hurt yourself even more."

"And I don't want the Redstonians be in anymore pain than they have to be. I have to help them."

"Sometimes that means also helping yourself." Lukas does it, he does it. He looks at me with those big blue eyes of his, which have actually been green most of the time, and my resolve begins to crumble away.

"Lukas..." I groan, yet just as I open my mouth to say something more. The gates to Beacontown beginning slid open, the heavy clay dragging open just enough to where one purple clad mayor and a llama can walk in.

"Well, the blonde chick certainly said Beacontown is working constantly to get ready. But think she mostly meant you."

A beaming smile spouts forth, only partially faked. Since I am pretty glad that this conversation with Lukas can end. I don't like arguing with him and I know he just wants what's best for me. But Beacontown has to be more than prepared to handle an entire city's population including its own.

"Hello to you Stella." I bow extravagantly to her, before giving a light bow to her llama. "Hello Lluna, I wasn't really expected you until maybe the sun got bit higher in the sun, but I'm glad you're here.

"And while I love hearing the great Jesse call for my help, can't you ever invite me just so I don't have to work to improve something? I thought you were the one who wanted us to be friends, not rivals."

I chuckle a bit as I walk up to her, a ticked Lukas grumbling behind me, and pet Lluna once I get close enough. "You technically aren't working here, I'll just you the most important details so you can prepare Champion City. Which is what I'm assuming Radar is already doing?"

"Yes, that one could hardly stand to sleep once he got the news." Stella sighed, rolling her eyes despite a small smile resting on her face. "He's been going at a frantic pace trying to set everything up."

Lukas shoots a glare at me. "Kinda reminds me of Jesse here, but at least he tried to sleep."

"Don't be salty Lukas, I'm fine." I'm starting to get a little irritated myself how much Lukas is hovering over me, but I have bigger fish to fry. "Stella, most of the Redstonian refugees are injured some way or another. They're going to need lots of medical help."

Stella nods, pulling out a book and feather while muttering. "I swear, I didn't need these log books until I hired Radar. He's gotten me hooked on them."

Lluna suddenly snorts, sniffing intensely. Stella pays her no mind as she continues to jot stuff down, but the fully grown llama gets my full attention when she sniffs the base of my neck. Right where I'm trying to cover the burn bandages.

"Okay Lluna, personal space please and thank you." The llama, to my growing uneasiness, begins to then probe me in the stomach. Right where the sensitive ribs are, which kinda really hurts a lot.

I shoo Lluna away and kick my flames higher in response to the pain, Lukas grumbling something. They are already really fanned up, but with Lluna irritating the wounds even more, my flames burn more powerfully.

"Okay Jesse, medical needs come first. But then..." Stella looks up at me, mouth hanging open and just kinda... staring now.

"Stella?" I tilt my head, scratching the back of my head. "You alright there?"

Stella looks away, only for her eyes to flicker back, and then turn away from... embarrassment? Shame? "S-sorry Jesse... but, uh, it's not normal for eyes to glow. Which what yours are kinda doing right about now. You don't happen to be an all powerful Admin right now, right?"

I instantly cover my eyes, cursing under my breath. I really don't want to have the flames back off, because that would really hurt. Yet I do still need to talk to Stella. Surely I can handle the pain for just a few minutes?

The flames die away, and I bite my tongue under the fierce sharp stings from the crack ribs. I remove my hand, and hopefully since it's pretty light out here, the faint glow can't be detected.

"Are you sure Stella?" She stares back at me, eyes widening. "Maybe it's just stress getting to you?"

"Jesse." Lukas hisses at me, face tight in some emotion I can't figure out. "Maybe you should take this as a sign to rest. You can't be out here forever."

"I won't be long now, just have to say a few more things." Lukas can't feel when I'm in pain right? He can feel how I react, so I just need to ignore the agony in my chest and not show any visible signs of pain.

Stella clears her throat, a tint of confusion still in her eyes. "So what about food? I assume they aren't every well fed at the moment."

"You'll definitely need to supply food, we've been gathering a lot but it's not enough. Oh, and make a note that a lot of injuries they have are burns."

Stella writes it down, and I can see her mouth pressed up in a thin line. My hands curl into fists, I know I shouldn't be doing that, but it's getting really hard to focus and I can feel the glare Lukas has on me right now.

"How many refugees do you think Champion City will have to take in?"

"I don't know, honestly. I didn't know the original population of Redstonia and I don't know how many survived. Although I know there are a lot of kids who are going to need extra care."

A tinge crawls into my throat, a reaction to the misery suffocating my chest. I swallow it down, with effort, so Stella won't be able to see it. She glances around, taking note of what we've been doing, and sending me suspicious looks every few seconds.

"Say Jesse...?" I bite my tongue, hoping this doesn't take a lot of thought power because it's becoming a struggle to pay attention. "How many of these acid scales did it take to bring down Redstonia?"

Memories flash before my eyes, and I squeeze my eyes shut as the fire reacts to that. The hundreds of demons chasing me, watching them terrorize and kill so many people, the air so thick with smoke and blood. So many that they covered the entire Dome, my ears bursting as they all shriek.

The fire gets bigger, reacting more powerfully even as I try to shut down the thoughts. Finally, Lukas takes pity on me or his stubbornness fades and he grips on of my shoulders. He gasp quietly as he better understands what's going on through my head, but I relax as I shove those thoughts down to where they can't bother me.

"Ahem, hundreds. But don't worry, they're all in the Nether now."

Stella raises a perfect eyebrow. "May I inquire as to why they are in the Nether?"

"Jesse here," Lukas's grip on my shoulder tightens dramatically, his words strained too. "Took it upon myself to trap them all in there. Just about two days ago and he refuses to rest properly despite how much he needs to."

I shoot a glare at Lukas, but he just gives me one too. Since he's touching me, the pain has become much more manageable. Giving me the mental ability to be frustrated with him again.

"I'd have to agree with handsome there." My glare transfers to Stella, now I'm just overall frustrated with everyone. "Beacontown seems like it knows what it's doing, you don't have to hover over everything."

I refuse to turn to Lukas because I know he's smirking, but looking at Stella who's trying to hold back her smirk isn't making me feel all too great either. Can't I just get a break here? But I'm not tired from work, just the people bugging me about it.

"Okay fine, if you all stop pestering me about it, you win." I drag a hand down my face, a worm of guilt already crawling into me from those words. "But do you know everything you need to before I leave Stella?"

"Darling, I only came to check a few things and get my info straight. I'll be leaving so you guys can go and have a rest you deserve." With that, the purple mayor waves and beings to walk off with her llama.

Sighing, already feeling really bad for stopping when Olivia needs me to be ready, I turn around too and leave. The cracked ribs raging forth with their pain again as Lukas's hand falls from my shoulder, and I lower my head so I can fan up my fire more. Smiling briefly when the pain fades away.

"Jesse, please don't mad." I glare at Lukas, and his sweet blue eyes not as effective as they usually are at calming me down. Why can't he just see that I can keep working, that I need to so Olivia won't have to suffer as much?

"Please let me work."

He groans, and I grunt in response. Now we can both be mad, that's fair. He got his way, not because I agree, but he should be happy nonetheless. I'm the one stewing in guilt right now and for hours to come.

"Okay look-"

"Jesse! Lukas!" We both turn to see one of the volunteers to build the refugee camp running towards us. But Lukas beats me to the response.

"I'll help out here." He raises an eyebrow at me, his face firm and set in his decision. "You. Go rest, I'll take care of this and then be right behind you."

I nod, and begin to walk back already, rolling my eyes when he can't see me. Impatience seeping into me as I can feel the energy of the fire crackle within me but not being used to do any work.

I know Lukas wants me to rest, like take a nap or something, but that just takes so much time. There has to be something I can do that can keep my energy levels up without depending on have my fire, since I don't want the whole world staring at my glowing eyes.

Food? Not good enough, neither is water for that matter. Ivor has his potions on him, and even if there were some I shouldn't use it on something so minor. Maybe I can wear a pair of goggles or something that simply covers my eyes.

My head snaps up, as the answer to my problems comes and hits me with a rock. Blake, or more specially his blaze rods, can help me. They seem to enhance my fire abilities, so I could have all the energy in the world with only a slight tint of a glow coming from my eyes. It'd be perfect!

"Jesse!" I glance to the side, some citizen jogging at me with a pleading look in their eye. "I need your help!"

Lukas told you not to

"Yes? What can I do to help?" I ignore the thought, I'm way too busy to give them any time.

"It's just I need to know something and I didn't know who to ask." I gesture for them to continue, used to this nervous behavior when people ask for something. "I'm trying to prepare my house to host some refugees but I'm out of coal! The shops are all closed with people getting ready for the Redstonians and I don't know-"

"Hey now, calm down." After taking a few deep breaths, I consider it safe to continue. "Go to the mines, there are generally some stacks of coal down there. Only take what you need, as the rest will go to other refugees who need it."

"Thanks so much Jesse!" The citizen bounds down the street, and I continue to the Order Hall, feeling more tired than ever right now. I should be thankful that the citizen was too panicked to see my eyes properly, and now I'm fanning them up more. Maybe I do need to rest.

A wave of guilt crashes over me at that thought, Olivia probably isn't resting either right now. Yet while the blaze rod idea lets me still work, I know I would still feel bad since I'd be going against what I said to Lukas.

I shake that thought away. As much as I don't like going back on my word, Olivia needs me more than Lukas. She's my friend too, and I would hate to see her suffer if even one of her citizens can't be cared for.

Nodding to myself as I approach the Order Hall, I try to erase away any of the doubts. Some of them go away, some of them fade. Yet there are also a stubborn few that bristle in disagreement, hating me for what I'm planning to do. Hopefully Lukas is too busy to notice those.

Slipping into the Treasure Hall, those doubts squabble at me. I know what Lukas wants, he spent such a long time trying to convince me of it. I know he's right too, I can't keep doing this and I need to rest. I know Beacontown will continue to prepare for Olivia and the Redstonians even if I'm out of the picture for a moment.

But then I think of that citizen, who needed my help, if I work even for a few more hours then just image all the people I could help just like that one. Besides, it's not like we'll be supporting the Redstonians for one day. We have to stock up on supplies because we have to be able to care for them and ourselves at the same time.

Sighing, I head over to the storage room, not even bothering to get something to eat. I'll get a blaze rod or two, put it in my pocket, and get back out there. Then my fire will be able to support me for a long while without showing it through my eyes. Next time I have to take a 'break' is when I'll replenish my fire.

When I enter, Blake gives me a grunt of greeting, but doesn't take his eyes off of the portal. I stare at him for a moment, thinking about what he's doing. Then I remember that I told him to guard against the demons. Man, I didn't realize blazes are so diligent.

At least the ones that my magical fire have infused with them.

"Hey Blake, come here for a sec." The green blaze moans and floats over to me. It's beady eyes almost looking curious as to why I called him over, a thought of how emotional these creatures can be fluttering through my head.

"Is it possible for me to have one of your blaze rods?" I know have some in here, but my gut's saying it would be better to have one of Blake's. "Although I don't want one if it means you have to die, it's not worth that."

Blake grunts, flying up to me and then backing down. I tilt my head at him, since it didn't seem like he was saying no or anything. He does the same thing again, this time also nodding at one of my hands.

It clicks, and I smile gratefully at him. I reach out and grab one of the green rods, already feeling the energy pulsing in it and none of my flames are doing it. Slowly, just to make Blake is okay with it, I pull at the blaze rod.

There's a bit of a tug, probably that mysterious force that keeps the blaze rods in place, but pops out nicely. I hold it in amazement, the energy even stronger now that it's in my hands instead of being a part of Blake.

"Wow Blake, thanks for giving me this. But..." I gesture to the hole in the line of blaze rods, seeing the strong green color fade a bit into the original orange. "Are you alright?"

Blake moans longingly, floating down and nudging me with his head. I chuckle bit, letting the fire that has been burning beneath the surface for so long spring out. A small bit of tension fading as I watch the vibrant flames flicker around.

"Here you go buddy, hope you enjoy." I push the fire towards Blake, which he soaks up eagerly. His body lighting back up to the same bright green. And to my surprise, some of the fire gathers together where the missing rod is.

"Oh that's cool, must be how you heal right?" Blake nods, happy grunts emitting from him. I smile at him, feeling happy for the moment.

Only to sigh to remember what I have to do. How my best friend is going through the worst and heart breaking times of her life, and I'm just sitting here having a good time with my magical green blaze. I have to get back out there and help Olivia.

"Sorry bud, but I got to go." I give a lighthearted smile that my heart isn't in as I turn to leave. "I give you full permission to come to me if I scream, but until then, chill out in here. Rest... if blazes need to rest or anything."

Blake gives a happy grunt as I walk out the door, and I smile until I pass by the kitchen. I give it glance, remembering that Lukas isn't that far behind me and I should be grateful that the volunteer held him up for so long, and enter.

Instead of eating though, I stare at the blaze rod. I should probably practice and get used to it before going out. Just so I don't blow up in green flames in the middle of town, that would be really bad and I'd never hear the end of it from Lukas.

I access the well of energy within the rod, and my eyes widen at the flood of strength that engulfs my body. It's more powerful than the strength I get from Lukas, although this doesn't do anything for my mental abilities.

Pain is now a distant memory as I look a bit closer to what this blaze rod is actually doing. After a moment or two, I get it. It isn't directly supplying me the energy itself. Instead, the fire linked to it emits the waves of energy throughout my body. It's an enhancer.

Grinning to myself, I put it in my back pocket. While the direct connection does weaken it a little, it doesn't make any sizeable dent. Even though part of me is still pissed that I'm planning to bend the truth to Lukas, I'm much more anxious about the Redstonians.

I glance at the door, wishing I could just leave already. But I if I leave now Lukas will surely stop me, so I glance at the fridge. Yet with the pain dead beneath the strength from the blaze rod, I don't feel hungry or tired. Just bitter guilt for doing nothing when I can be doing something. So I just plop down on a chair, waiting for Lukas.

But I can't just sit here and do nothing! My eyes snap around wildly, my arms trembling madly as the energy inside them has no direction. Nothing to focus on, nothing to do. Only to focus on how much Olivia and Axel and Ivor are all caring for the suffering citizens and here I am doing nothing!

The book Ivor brought, the only thing that provided us with scarce answers. I thrust my hand over it, jerking it to me. My fingers quiver madly, turning the pages a much harder task than what it's suppose to be. If only I could work now, then all of this energy would have a purpose and I wouldn't feel so anxious.

The words and pictures fly through my sight as I flip through the pages. The people and flames and words all black and just a blur to my thoughts. Nothing in this book can help! It certainly didn't do anything to save Redstonia! And it's not going to be doing anything to help Beacontown now.

I hear Lukas's footsteps, almost thankful to have something to focus on until I remember he's the reason I'm not out their preparing Beacontown. With tremdous effort I stop my quivering limbs, pressure spiking inside me.

I know he means well, and I know he's been trying to help me for the longest time now, but can't he see this is beyond me? I'm not what's important right now. The Redstonian refugees are.

The door creaks open as he comes in. Uncertainty flashing across his face as he looks at me, hesitating at that one spot. My jaw clenches and I look down at whatever page is open, feeling extraordinarily bitter. At him partly, party because I'll be lying to him, and still partly because I'm not out there working. At least Lukas can only tell that I'm bitter. 

"Jesse? Are you going to eat?" My mouth tightens, my eyes snapping up to glare at him.

"Finished already. Wasn't that hungry." He nods, shifting under my glare. Huffing, I roll my eyes before looking back down at the book. I can't even say though what I'm looking at, way to wound up. The fiery guilt and tense anger mixing together with the throbbing strength of the fire and blaze rod makes a recipe of chaotic frantic energy.

Lukas sighs, and the part of me that agrees with him scolds me for being such a pain. "Then come on, you need some sleep."

I look up, not as a glare this time, but trying to soothe the raging emotions. "I'm not tired."

"We are not having this conversation again." I sigh, taking note of the exasperation and fatigue surrounding Lukas. He should have break, but not both of us. I can work extra hard to cover him.

"You go, you must be tired too. Besides, I've dimmed my fire. It won't be long until exhaustion hits me."

Lukas peers at me, suspicious and slightly nervous. Some part of him is probably telling him that I'm lying or tricking him, which is right. But I haven't said a lie. My fire is dimmed, because of the blaze rod, and I know he's tired too.

After a few more moments, he caves. Lukas nods, silently slipping out the door. Part of me feels bad, really extremely bad. I just abused his trust in me. But if I don't work then I'm betraying Olivia and the Redstonians, even Axel and Ivor too. I'll rest at some point, but if I don't have to, then I shouldn't. When I turn out fine, I'm sure he'll understand. When he sees all the people it helps, he can't be mad.

My leg shakes up and down, the energy I clamped when Lukas was here roaring back to live with more strength than before. While there's nothing I'd rather do more than leave right now, Lukas probably isn't asleep yet. He needs to be asleep, or at least in his room, so he can't hear me leave or sense me work. Maybe he can't sense me work, but I don't want to risk it.

Bad enough I'm already abusing his trust, might as well success with my this plan to help the Redstonian refugees.

Groaning, I slam the book shut and toss it on the table. Jumping to my feet I pace around the kitchen. The blaze rod pulsing with an energy begging me to do something, anything. The guilt gnawing at me at how helpless, useless, I'm being.

With a deep breath, I focus on that string. That so easily ignorable string that's so important. It's vibrating with my emotions, and probably keeping Lukas awake. Something which ends to change, because he should sleep so I can go out and work.

I know I said I wasn't going to do this ever again, but I suppose it's just another level of trust I'm breaking. I conjure up the feeling of exhaustion, actually quite a bit hard with the energy flooding my body, and ease it onto that string.

It shakes differently, sending the wrong output. Judging from what I learned last time, Lukas is going to know it feels off. However, with luck, Lukas is laying or sitting down. And if he feels me tired and isn't paranoid about my emotions...

Well, it's my ticket out of here.

Keeping that false emotion in place, I hurry out of the kitchen. Being as absolutely silent as I can be, only soft whispers from when my feet touch the ground. The pulsing energy pushing me forward, my guilt cheering that I'm doing the right thing.

Although when I stroll back out of the Order Door, I don't feel right. Something's off, one of those gut feelings. I check the string, which seems normal. I glance at the sun, it's about mid morning. I scan my flames, strong and dormant.

"Hey Jesse! Can you help over here?"

I shake off the feeling, heading over to the group of citizens. Yet there's still something whispering at me. It's kinda agreeing with Lukas, it's kinda urging me to work, and it's trying to warn me. But whatever is making me feel this way, whatever intuition, I can't worry about.

And even if I was worrying, I can't exactly prepare for something I don't know anything about.

****

Okay, I swear, the exciting part is coming up. I didn't realize this was also kinda a 'Dark Chapter'. Consider it the chapter that preps all the exciting stuff. Because oh boy, next week is exciting.

Since this chapter's on the longer side, I'mma cut it off here. I'll be back next week and goodbye!