"So, none of the black magic spreading across the ground and trees is familiar to you?" Gerard asked.

It had been awhile since they had moved from their overnight resting point and dealt with the planet's rumbling. Frank hadn't retreated back into his head since they had started moving, but their conversations for a majority of their movement had been quick back and forths. They had began to slow, however, making for an easier pace to walk and talk.

"I fell. I saw you fall. Everything went white and then you were in front of me." Frank replied, shaking his head. "I didn't see anything like that."

Gerard frowned. The dark streaks that had trailed from his darkened eyes had fully faded now, but they had taken quite awhile to disappear. It had been quite the magic display to not be remembered. For someone so new to magic, it made the prophecy seem that much more plausible.

"Why was everything shaking?" Frank stepped carefully over a muddy patch of land in an attempt to keep from sinking down too far. "I've never felt anything like that."

"The planet is a living thing." Gerard stopped and crouched down. Frank had to backtrack a few steps before mimicking his movement. Gerard extended his hand to Frank. "It may not breathe like you and I, but it can sense things in its own way." Frank placed his hand in Gerard's, allowing it to be guided to the ground. Gerard slipped his hand away so that Frank's palm was against the dirt and instead rested his hand on top of Frank's. "We can't feel it all the time, but if we listen closely..."

Gerard's magic began to trickle down his arm. He could feel Frank tense as his magic made it to his hand. "This is only to help you feel what I mean, nothing else." He promised as his magic flowed over Frank's hand and puddled on the dirt. Frank's hand relaxed slightly.

As the puddle of magic began to seep into the ground, a soft vibration started under their hands. Rhythmic thuds and slushing filled their ears as the sounds of the planet's interior rose up. Frank gasped as the sounds and vibrations continued for another moment before Gerard pulled his hand away.

When he looked back up, the black streak like tears were back on Frank's face. Actual tears pooled and spilled from the corners of his eyes alongside the marks. Gerard reached out to swipe away one side of his tears. "Hey, I didn't mean to upset you." As he swiped with his thumb, the black tear streak remained.

"It was sacred." Frank's voice cracked as he spoke. He looked confused as Gerard swiped the tear from his other cheek. "It felt something was wrong and it was afraid."

Gerard frowned. "It tries to warn us." He rose to his feet, pulling Frank up with him. "The first time I remember was right before our first encounter with the Force."

Frank kept his eyes on the ground. He brought a hand up to his cheek, further confusion lacing his expression when he felt more of the tears that had fallen. "I don't understand."

"What do you mean?" Gerard wanted to focus on Frank, but he couldn't help but look back at the sky behind them. There was still a distance between their current position and the smoke, but the smoke had appeared to be steadily creeping onward.

"I don't understand any of this." Frank brought his hands up to cover his eyes. His breaths seemed to catch as he took shorter breaths and stepped back. Gerard reached out to him, but his magic pulled his arm back. His magic urged him to step further away as Frank shook his head. "I've never felt any of this before. I've never had any of-of these feelings or-or so much missing!"

As he spoke, the dark tear streaks under Frank's eyes began to drip. Black tears fell to the ground, leaving dark stains in the dirt where they landed. Gerard's magic pulled him back a step as Frank sunk down to his knees.

"I've longed for this world my whole life but being here..." Frank struggled to suck in a breath as more dark tears fell to the ground. Dark whisps began to seep from his arms, moving around him as if forming a barrier.

"Frank-" Gerard fought against his magic to lower himself to Frank's level. It felt like it was pooling within him, trying to tip him away from Frank as it whimpered. It took all Gerard had to stay upright, let alone lean forward as his magic pulled against him. "Please, I didn't mean-"

"But it's you." A laugh burst from Frank as he spoke, "Without you, I wouldn't be feeling like...like..." His hands dropped from his face. His eyes were uneven. One eye had a bubbling of black from around the darkened iris. The other eye was consumed by the darkness. "I don't know what I am."

Gerard's magic stopped fighting against him, sending him falling forward towards Frank. He pushed himself up as he could feel his magic softly agree with Frank's words, though Gerard couldn't tell what part it agreed with. "Frank, you don't have to know that right now." He extended his hand, though he couldn't fully reach Frank. "Some people never figure it out."

Frank looked at Gerard's hand, but made no attempt to reach for it. "I thought I knew." His shoulders sank as he spoke. "I was told who I was, and now I find out there was a whole other life..." He shut his eyes and took a shakey breath. "I don't want to feel like this. I don't feel right."

Gerard's magic whispered as it climbed up his spine. Despite it's earlier fear and reluctance, it now seemed curious. "I don't understand either." He muttered at a level he could barely hear, hoping Frank couldn't overhear. He gulped and retracted his hand again, without his magic's pull. "How can I help?" He addressed Frank now, sitting up to look directly at him. "Since I started this."

Frank's eyes shut tighter. "No." The whisps of darkness began to swirl around him faster.

"Frank, please, we need to keep moving. We're almost to our next safe place, just trust me to get you there and we can try to figure this out."

"Who I am, and who I was meant to be is a lie because of trust." Frank tugged at his hair as he spoke, eye twitching as he reopened them. "It can't make up it's mind, it's been asleep for so long." His voice shifted, as if multiple were speaking through him at once. The black in his eyes kept shifting between complete coverage and a chaotic bubbling from his pupil.

Gerard's magic whimpered, pulling back down. "No, I need you!" He urged with a whisper, "Can't you at least trust me?"

"Why is this happening?" Frank's voice was shakey again, back to a single tone. More dark tears fell from his face as a fear laced in with his conflicted expression. "I-I'm gunna be sick."

Gerard urged his magic towards Frank in that moment. The pink hit his swirling bubble of darkness, mixing in despite his magic's objections. "You're going to be fine." He tried to sound calm, but he could hear a tremble in his words. He had never seen magic do this to someone, though he didn't have much experience with other magics in the first place. "Didn't you just say a few hours ago that you were with me?"

Frank's eyes narrowed. "He said." The voices were layered again.

"If he trusts me, why can't you?" Gerard asked, urging his magic to try and push through Frank's barrier. If he could just get it through to Frank, he could try to ease him out of this state. "Didn't I start this?"

"He did." Frank growled, eyes consumed by darkness.

"Then let me help." Gerard could feel his magic beginning to drip through small cracks in the barrier. He urged it to find Frank within it to calm his emotions. "There's not a lot of magic folk left that can, so let me."

Frank growled again. His eye was still twitching as he looked toward Gerard.

"Just rest your eyes and lean on me." Gerard spoke evenly, bringing a soft melody to his words. He could feel his magic seeping further into Frank's space. He just needed to encourage it more. "It won't be long. We're so close to where we need to go."

The darkness retreated a bit in Frank's eyes. Gerard could see pinkish spots on his skin as the darkness continued to retreat back. "Gerard?" His voice was soft, as if he was just waking up. "I... I don't feel good."

"We'll be able to better rest soon." Gerard smiled to him. As he did, he could see the whisps moving around Frank beginning to slow and fade. His magic was able to easily sneak in and wrap itself around Frank's exposed skin. "Just keep calm, yea?" Gerard addressed his magic now, hoping for it to bring those emotions to Frank. "We can wait as long as you need."

"Calm." Frank repeated with slow nod.

The darkness continued to retreat and fade. Eventually, all that remained were the dark tear streaks that ran down Frank's face. His eyes were half closed as the tears continued to drip, leaving their marks on the ground beneath him.

Gerard's magic glowed on Frank's arms, presumably helping him come back to where they sat under the now darkening sky.

Gerard frowned as he looked back at the sky from the direction they came. The smoke hadn't moved much, but it was closer than it had been when they started. It had taken so long to calm Frank to this state, it seemed they had been able to gain ground.

"How are you feeling?" Gerard turned back to Frank, hoping he could bury his worry momentarily with Frank's status.

Frank sighed. He halfheartedly brought a hand up to his face and swiped at his cheek. "I guess." He replied simply, though he wouldn't meet Gerard's eye.

"That good?" Gerard tried to smile, "At least it's not as overwhelming now, yea?"

"It's still talking, I just can't hear it." He gestured to his ears before dropping his hand to his side.

"Sometimes magic is persistent." Gerard let his attempt at a smile fall. "Yours seems to get triggered by your memories and connection to the planet. I should have just tried explaining the shaking to you rather than showing you."

Frank shook his head. "It hasn't stopped talking since... feeling the planet only made me hear it talk." Frank seemed unsure where he wanted to take his thought, but settled there. "Now it's muffled again."

"It never really goes away."

"Then why could I never hear it before?" Frank's words caught. He shook his head before slowly inhaling and exhaling. "I've never had any voices in my head besides my own."

Gerard felt his magic hug tighter against Frank's skin. It seemed to be growing anxious. "We can figure that out." Gerard rose to his feet, dusting off the small pieces of debris that clung to him. "We should get a bit more movement in before we do though, yea?"

Frank sighed, but nodded. He took a moment longer, but he also rose to his feet. "How much further?"

"Not much." Gerard offered his hand to Frank, "My brother's and the others shouldn't be too far now."

Frank took Gerard's hand. "What are they like?" He squeezed his hand, "Tell me and distract me."

"They're strong." Gerard smiled as he began to lead Frank onward. "We're not as big a group as we used to be, but we look out for each other like family."

Frank nodded. He kept his eyes down, but continued to follow Gerard as he spoke of his group. The time passed smoothly and more ground was covered as the world continued to move into its night cycle. They kept moving despite the dark, however. Gerard could see with his magic and a new moon hung in the sky to give Frank enough visibility to follow.

After a distance, Gerard lead Frank into a large clearing. The moonlight illuminated it completely, casting a blue hue over the tall grass that brushed against their knees. Gerard let his eyes trail over the grass, looking for any signs of his allies. "Move slow, okay?" Gerard gave Frank's hand a squeeze before he began to creep along the edge of the clearing. Frank followed suit, never releasing Gerard's hand.

There was only the sound of shuffling grass and nocturnal chirps as they made their way around. They were almost at the other side when Gerard felt his foot nudge something.

"Hell." Was all he could muttered before netting was raising up around himself and Frank. Both boys were swiped off of their feet as the netting whisked them into the air. Frank cried out as he fell into Gerard, landing across his torso and elbowing him in the gut. Gerard groaned as the net swung in the air, well above the ground.

There was a rustling from the trees as Frank apologized and tried to reposition himself. Gerard hushed him and turned his attention to the noise. "Who's trap?" He called out, unable to see who or what was making the noise.

There was a brief pause of silence before a shocked voice responded. "If that's who I think it is, your brother is gunna kill you."

"He wouldn't be the first to try, Brendon." Gerard called out, though he still couldn't see his friend. "He won't get the chance either if you don't cut me down!"

A muttering filled the air alongside more rustling sounds. "Brace yourself!" The voice called out.

"Hold on!" Gerard attempted to wrap his arms around Frank as the net plummeted to the ground. Gerard was barely able to bring his magic beneath him as a cushion as they impacted with the ground.

The wind was completely knocked out of Gerard with the impact. Frank was still on top of him, and the netting had fallen over them too. "Ow."

Frank pushed himself up and wiggled his way off of Gerard. "Are you okay?" He asked as he tried to dig his way out of the net.

Before Gerard could reply, the net was yanked open, allowing moonlight to flood in. A dark shadow loomed over the new hole in the net, looking at the two caught within. A hand extended in, making a grabby motion. Frank turned to Gerard, fear in his eyes. "Go on, it's alright." Gerard encouraged.

Frank looked nervous, but he clasped onto the hand and allowed himself to be pulled out. A few seconds passed before the hand came back in, making the same grabby motion for Gerard.

Gerard allowed himself to be pulled out, coming face to face with one of his younger friends who grinned at him. "Long time no see, eh?"

Gerard laughed, clapping a hand on his friend's bare shoulder. "Told you guys I'd be back."

"And with a friend?" His eyes shifted towards Frank, "I've never seen him before."

"This is Frank. Frank, meet Brendon." Gerard gestured Frank forward with the introduction, which Frank followed nervously.

Brendon took a moment to look Frank up and down. While he did, Gerard took Brendon in for a moment, unsurprised to find him back to his shaggier hair and minimal body covering. "You're going to catch bug bites."

Brendon turned back to him. "Won't be nearly as bad as what you're going to catch from your brother." He laughed.

"Guess I'd better deal with that sooner rather than later." Gerard crossed his arms over his chest, "Care to take me to him?"

Brendon's eyes darted briefly to Frank. "Dare I?" He asked, raising a brow.

"He's with me." Gerard uncrossed his arms to reach for Frank's wrist. "I think you dare."

Brendon nodded, "Then yes, sir! I'll lead the way." He spun on his heel and began to move along the clearing's edge.

Gerard turned to Frank and flashed an encouraging smile. He could feel Frank's nerves under his magic. Frank smiled briefly, but his brow remained furrowed as the two began to follow behind Brendon under the light of the new moon.