~Ssundee~ I walked down to the lake and sat on the shore, staring into the water. Nearly a week had passed since the battle with the giant squid and things had settled down now. The sun was beaning down upon me and casting warm rays over my face. I buried my head in my hands. Every time I closed my eyes I could see Derp's desperate eyes staring out of his blood covered face. It terrified me how close we'd come to death. It made me think that no matter how many battles we come out of alive, no one is invincible. I heard footsteps approach me, then a gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked up into Derp's scarred and broken face. "Hey." He smiled weakly, then sat down next to me. "Hi." I shuffled closer to him and leant my head on his shoulder. He put his arms around me and drew me closer. I listened to his heartbeat and it calmed me. We were both alive after all. I felt something inside me...an emptiness. "What's the matter?" I sighed. "It's Seto...I miss him." Derp was silent for a while, then I heard him give an angry growl. I looked up at him. "Dood...you ok?" His eyes were narrowed. "Sky said you couldn't come with us." I shot upright. "What?" Derp made a sound like a cross between a sigh and a groan. "He wants you to stay and help make repairs to SkyBase. He said 'you'd caused enough trouble already.'" I looked at the ground. "Do you believe that?" "Of course I don't Ssundee. What happened wasn't anyone's fault." I forced myself to look into his eyes, one blind and one working. "It was my fault. It made me realise just how vulnerable we both are." Derp's eyes were filled with sadness. "I-I just wish I could see properly...see you." I felt choked with emotions. I snuggled into him, looking up at the clear sky above us.

It was turning dim and faintly peppered with stars as twilight set in. "I'm gonna miss you." I turned to Derp. "I'll miss you too...more than you'll know." We both stood up as the sound of hoofbeats drew closer. Ty, Sky and Husky rode up to us. Husky was leading a chestnut stallion with a grey muzzle. Derp nodded to him and swung himself up into the saddle. I glared at Sky. He looked at me sadly. "I'm sorry Ssundee, but I think it's safer for you to stay here." I still glared at him. "Oh, not that I've 'caused enough trouble anyway' or anything like that then?" I replied sarcastically. Sky shifted in his saddle uncomfortably under my gaze. "N-no, uhh, why would you think that?" I shook my head and walked over to Derp. I looked up at him. "Stay safe, please." He smiled slightly and twisted round, trying to get something out of his back pocket. I tilted my head curiously as he brought out a small pouch. I undid the drawstring and gasped when I saw the sunglasses inside. I took them out and studied them. Apart from a few scratch marks, they were completely fixed. "T-thank you..." "Don't mention it." I grinned at him and he winked back. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. After all, it is my middle name." I shook my head slightly and walked back to Sky, slipping my sunglasses back on. I gave a small sigh of relief. It felt so much better having them on again. I stood beside Sky's horse, looking up at him. "Try not to get involved in too many scuffles." He grinned. "Don't worry! We'll be fine!" I turned away. "Famous last words." I muttered under my breath. Husky called me over before they left. "I've got some healing potions with me...you know...just in case." I nodded. "Thanks." Ty readjusted his sword belt before turning to me. "Hey...uh, be careful here dood. The squids haven't attacked for a while, the team's gonna get restless." I nodded solemnly. "I'll try my best."- even though I had no intention of staying here. Sky nodded in satisfaction before setting his horse off at a brisk canter. Ty followed on and Husky after. Last was Derp. He looked at me with a mixture of sadness and exhilaration. "Well...here I go again!" I grinned. Then we looked into the distance. The others' silhouettes were disappearing over the horizon. "You'd better go catch up." He looked at me. "Come with me?" I blinked back the tears. "I-I can't." He nodded, then slowly began to trot away. He looked back once and I waved briefly. He smiled and waved back. Then his horse galloped away and I was left alone, with none but the cold heavens for comfort...

***

Later on that night I snuck past Jerome and Kermit on guard. Through a lit window I saw Captain and Mitch comparing drawn up battle maps. I gulped as I saw my name marked on the map. I kept going till I reached the stables; my black suit and sunglasses blending into the shadows. There was one horse left. It was black with a white stripe on his nose. I checked the sigh next to its stable. "Huh. Not got a name then fellah?" The stallion stomped a hoof impatiently and snorted. "Yeah, we've gotta get going if we have any chance of catching up with them." I let the horse out before saddling and bridling it. Then I shut the gate quietly before leading it out of the stables. I shut my eyes in the peaceful night and took deep, calming breaths. ~Alright then Derp...where are you?~ The blackness of my mind dissolved into colours and blurred shapes. He was asleep. "Ugh. Can I wake him up?... No, that would be mean." I decided to stick around and see if he was planning on waking up anytime soon. The blurred colours sharpened and I could make out a scene. It had me in it...and him. We were standing in front of a house with dogs running round us and a couple of cats playing behind us. In the dream we were both happy. Then I realised. This was after the war. This was the life that Derp said we would live together...we would start anew. Suddenly it all went black and the scene changed. There were reds and blacks and I could hear the clatter of sword fighting and battle cries. This was a battle. The scene changed one more time. It was all white. The colours shifted and blurred out and I could see. We were in my head, I could guess. Or his...god this is so confusing. Derp stood in front of me, hands on hips, shaking his head. "Ssundee, why are you in my head?" His voice echoed around me. "I needed to know if you were safe." He frowned slightly. "No. I know you. You're planning to come after us." I shook my head quickly. "No I'm not!" Derp sighed. "You're so stubborn." Then he smiled sadly. "I miss you already Ssundee. I wish Sky had let you come." "Me too." He came towards me and hugged me. "See you soon...but just stay out of my head!.. Some things need to remain private." I tilted my head to one side. "I have a lot of bad memories Ssundee...things I don't want you to see." I nodded. Then it blacked out and my eyes snapped open. I swayed a bit as I became accustomed to my surroundings again. My horse nuzzled my arm and I stroked its muzzle. "I think I know where they are." I swung myself into the saddle and settled in it. Suddenly I heard voices approaching us. "He went this way!"

Every muscle in my body tensed as I saw Jerome and Captain running over to me. If I didn't hurry my journey would end before it started. I pulled on the reins and kicked my horse's sides. It reared up and I yanked the reins sideways. It galloped away towards the lake. I could hear shouts and yells behind me as the wind rushed in my ears. I could feel the horse's muscles bunching and releasing beneath me as it galloped on. I could see the lake rushing up to us. I had an idea, but I wasn't sure if it would work. And it was risky. I yanked on the reins again and my horse barrelled into the woods. I ducked low as branches whipped and snapped past us as the trees blurred around us. Then we burst out into a clearing. I brought the horse round to a walk and patted its neck. "Stay quiet." I slipped off of its back and led it into the trees. We kept walking until I heard muted whispers. I stepped out into another clearing and saw a small log cabin. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It opened and I swallowed my anger as I came face-to-face with Diamond. "S-Ssundee?!" I tried to look round her. "Uh, can I talk to Lancey please?" Diamond frowned. "Why?" "I need to-" I faltered as the sound of footsteps and voices grew louder. I pushed past Diamond as she closed the door behind me. "Are you...running away?" I shook my head frantically, my heart rate ridiculously fast. "No...I need to see Lancey, where is he?" Diamond gestured to the back and I followed her. "Uh, Diamond, why is there a horse outside staring at me?" Lancey turned and his eyes widened when he saw me. The corner of my mouth twitched. He still looked like a bear victim. ~Focus dood!~ I shook my head and stepped forward. "Lancey, I need to to take me into the jungle." "Why should I help you? You nearly killed Diamond-" "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't even KNOW Diamond!" I cut in. Lancey chewed his lip thoughtfully. My breathing quickened as I heard footsteps approaching the house. Outside my horse nickered and stomped a hoof. We were running out of time. Finally Lancey nodded. "Thank you-" "In the morning though." I nodded. Now that the adrenaline had powered down I was exhausted. I followed Diamond upstairs to the guest bedroom; then she left me alone. I sighed. Alone. It was gonna be weird sleeping without Derp beside me. I crossed the room to the window and looked out. Jerome and Captain were circling the house, and I could see Mitch and Kermit notching arrows from the woodland. I tried to ignore this as I flopped down on the covers, staring at the blank ceiling. It was a long time before I drifted off to sleep...

~Derp~ I sat up as the dim morning sunlight filtered through the jungle canopy. I tried to ignore the cold spot next to me where Ssundee would've slept. I still resented Sky for making him stay at SkyBase. I stood up and stretched, yawning as I did so. I winced as the scar on my face stretched too. I was still getting used to it, hopefully I wouldn't have it for much longer. Ty anticipated that we would arrive at Seto's within a day or two...give or take a few hours. That's if we don't run into any 'complications', as Sky put it. We all knew what he meant though. I stepped over my sleeping friends. We had camped near the edge of the jungle. I kept walking till I reached the beach. I froze as a dried blood splatter in the sand caught my eye. I still remembered that night...the intense fury and hate that had poured through my veins had filled me with a sort of adrenaline. But much more powerful. Like, I could, and would, fight forever to save my friends. Well...friend. And I knew Ssundee was more than a friend, he always had been. ~Perks of being a tramsmoganarian I guess.~ I smiled at the thought of Ssundee. Despite Sky trying to retrain him to SkyBase, he was still following us. I hoped we'd see him soon. My vision flickered suddenly and terror filled my mind. I whipped round and saw no one behind me. Why did I feel this way? I squeezed my eyes tight shut as a flash of pain shot through my head. Is this how Ssundee felt when he'd morphed into me?! I didn't realise I'd collapsed till I'd opened my eyes again and wondered why I was looking at the beach sideways. I pushed myself up onto all fours and shook the sand out of my hair. "Derp! You ok?" I stood up and looked back at the jungle. Sky and the others stood there. "Yes." I walked over to them. Sky eyed me suspiciously. "Why did you sneak off?" I tilted my head to one side. "I just needed some time to think." He nodded, but I knew he still had his suspicions. Ty pushed past him and stood beside me, looking out at the horizon. I was nervous. I felt exposed and vulnerable without Ssundee beside me. I guess that's why tramsmoganarians stick together. Ty nodded in satisfaction and gestured for us to follow him. Sky did so, followed by Husky. I hung back for a bit; staring back at the dense jungle behind us. "Please come soon Ssundee...I need you..." Then I turned away and trudged after my friends. Little did I know that Ssundee was missing me just as much I was him...