Ice's fresh blue eyes met Crepe's dimmed green ones. Gengar appeared behind him to watch Steip as Ice stared at the new arrival. Despite knowing the answer, he decided to ask anyway.

"Crepe...?" He whispered faintly.

The brunette paused. Ice was able to examine his friend. Something had clearly happened as his appearance answered that. Besides his dimmed eyes, he looked just as tired as Steip did. Technically, tired wasn't a good word to describe it. More like sick. Then again, the dark wasn't really helping him out. But his outfit was easy to see and he was clearly taller.

Crepe finally answered him as he snapped out of the daze Ice pulled on him.

"How do you know me..." Ice gulped. He didn't remember him? Great to know.

"I... don't. It's just that you look a lot like a friend with the same name. I didn't know... my bad." Crepe huffed. At least he didn't change his name.

"Out of the way. I'm not here for you." Ice huffed. He wasn't going to make it that easy.

"I know who you're here for, but unfortunately I'm not just going to listen to a bunch of Dumbbells and let you get away."

Crepe paused for a brief moment before he raced at the blue haired boy. Ice smirked lightly as Shedinja blocked the incoming attack. Froslass appeared behind Crepe and froze his legs and torso, stopping him entirely. Ice hummed as he jumped away from the taller male.

"I told you. I'm not-"

It wasn't that Ice forgot about Steip. It's that Steip was smarter than he anticipated. Something hit the back of his head, pulling his consciousness into the dark. The last thing he remembered was seeing Steip run over to Crepe to get him out.

~_~

Has he mentioned how much he greatly appreciated his partners?

Mismagius had gone and alerted the union while Froslass and Shedinja stayed with him. Gengar and several others of the Gengar line had kept an eye on the ruins in case the Dumbbells tried anything. Drifblim had gone near the entrance to help guide whoever came.

Dijon was surprisingly the one that came to his aid and who he awoke to. When Ice opened his eyes, his blue ones met Dijon's red ones. He was shaking a little bit, bringing concern out of Ice. He slowly sat up and grabbed his head. Dijon shuddered as Ice glanced at him.

He didn't look too bad for someone that just got out of recovery. He looked a little tired and was very pale from the time in the bed. His eyes and expression gave two different messages; one was fear from his eyes and the other was gladness from his face. He was still shaking, but Ice expected that as he just got out. His voice also said something about his condition.

"Ice?" Ice smiled at him. Yeah... he was still in the clouds. The painkillers were still in effect, which gave enough signals to keep an eye on him.

"Hey Dijon... how are you feeling?" Dijon paused as he rubbed his eyes.

"Better... what about you?" He asked in a small voice. Ice rubbed his head.

"Other than my head hurts? I'm alright. How..." Shedinja nuzzled his arm, giving him the message. He gulped before standing up. Dijon quickly helped him out.

"Careful... you're still weak from what happened..." Ice smiled softly as Dijon got his arm around his shoulders as he helped Ice out.

"I'm alright, Dijon. Are you sure you're alright? You're shaking." He gulped as he guided Ice towards the closest entrance.

"Just... fear. I fear the dark... and ghosts... but the dark is making it worse." Ice smiled as they got outside. Dijon rested him against a broken wall that sat nearby. "I'll go get a Staraptor."

Ice nodded as he drifted off. Dijon came over with the large bird and they got on with Froslass's help. The sun and wind brought life back into Ice as they flew back to the union. His mind drifted back to the ruins. Heath, Lavana and Crepe were on the Dumbbells' side and weren't going to be nice about it. He must've drifted enough to make Dijon worried. He touched the blue haired boy's shoulder and lightly shook it, bringing Ice back to reality. He blinked slightly and glanced at him.

"Are you sure you're alright? You're kinda distant."

Ice gulped softly. If he knew anything, it was that Crepe and Dijon were an item, according to Seafoam and the rest of the union. He already knew that Lavana was going to get Dijon on edge. This wasn't the greatest news to tell the redhead.

"I'll... tell you later. I have to tell the chairperson something first." Dijon nodded as they landed.