"Can we just stay here for the night?" Ice Cube asked, sitting beside the TLC.

Book shook her head.

"Sorry Icy- we have to go back. We can't stay here."

"But why? Pin knows where we are noiw.." Bubble acknowledged, sitting beside Ice Cube.

"She won't found us there if she goes back."

"Yeah, but then that means that she'll be out looking for us in the places that we were once around!"

"In the middle of the night?"

"Hey, the sun hasn't set yet- and you know how crazy she is. Who knows what she could do!"

"She wouldn't just look around the entire city to find us at 3 in the morning. It's dark, cold, and pretty spooky if you ask me." Ice Cube chimed in.

"YEAH! YOU READ THOSE FACTS, ICY!" Bracelety's voice exploded from the TLC

Book rubbed her temples exhaustedly, letting out a sigh.

"Listen, I know you two want to stay, and I know they're worried about your well-being in this situation, but we have to go. We aren't safe in this open area- she could easily come by here and take us out one by one!"

"Oh! Oh!" Ruby jumped up slightly, waving her hand in the air.

"Why don't we just rest on the roof? You know, like what you and Icy had to do when we first came to Yoyle City!"

"They had to do what now?!" Fanny coldly replied.

"What kind of fucked-up alliance shit is THIS?!"

"Fanny.." Bubble looked towards the side. "Please.."

She huffed out in anger, letting a few moments pass before she settled down.

"Sorry Bubble." She mumbled out. Bubble cracked a small smile, gently placing her hand on the wall and patting it.

"You're fine.."

"Okay...well, we could just crash on the roof! That way, if Pin does happen to wander about nearby, she won't be able to find us around here! And do you know why?"

"...Because we're on the roof?"

"EXACTLY!"

"Ruby.." Book walked up beside her, gently placing her hand on her shoulder. A kind smile grew on her face, as she turned her towards her.

"That is...a wonderful idea, but how are we going to get up there?"

"Well, we can just stack up on each other! Yknow, someone on the bottom, then someone on top of-"

"Uh, don't you think we can get hurt from that..?" Ice Cube glanced towards the roof.

"No! Bubble Can be on the top, you can go on Book, she'll be on top of-"

"Yeah, no." Book took her hands, holding them close to her chest.

"I appreciate the though Ruby, but we have to make sure we can do it efficiently, so no one gets hurt.."

Ruby hesitated for a moment, until she let out a sigh of defeat, leaning against Book.

"Well...What CAN we do?"

"Is there a way you can try to bust in? You know, unlock the TLC and go inside?" Ice Cube asked.

Book shrugged.

"We don't have a key, and we can't reach that lock. I'm sorry girls, but it looks like we have no choice but to head back to the van."

"Noooo.." Bubble and Ice Cube cried out, quickly clinging onto the walls of the TLC.

"I hate not being able to protect Bubble! I hate this! I hate the TLC!" Fanny grumbled out.

"I don't want Icy getting hurt!" Bracelety cried out.

The two outside began to comfort their partners inside, words of comfort being the only thing that could strike through the walls.

"Aw, cmon you two! We'll be back, we just have to go get that cake from the supervan! Its okay..." Book comforted, stepping forward.

"Can we just stoiy here and wait?" Bubble looked up.

"We'll be foine-"

"Bubble, please. We know that Pin could come by here- and if she seesk you? You'll be gone in the blink of an eye."

"Well, I'm so used to my entoire life disappearing in an instant that, it doesn't really-"

"It's going to affect you if we can never bring you back to life, Bubble. And not only that, but its gonna affect her as well." She glanced over towards the TLC.

Bubble frowned, turning back towards the TLC.

"Cmon Bubble. I hate when someone I don't hate much is in danger. You have to go." Fanny persuaded, her harsh tone still shining through. 

"But Foinny...I-"

"No. Just go...please. Its for your own good."

"But-"

"Bubble."

Bubble hesitated, tears stinging at her eyes before she slowly dragged herself off of the ground. The tears that had flooded her eyes were now being wiped away, as she looked back towards the wall.

"...Well...Oi think oi-"

"WAIT! HOLD THE PHONE! HOLD THE PHONE GIRLS!" Ruby exclaimed, dashing back to the TLC. All eyes quickly turned towards her, curious as to what the gemstone had to say.

"I have an idea!"

"Well...what is it?" Book crossed her arms.

"Okay okay- how about, we eat...some Yoyle Berries!" She grinned, licking her lips excitedly.

Book's face dropped, as she rubbed her temples angrily.

"Ruby, please- why on Earth would we eat-"

"She has a point there, though..!" Bubble walked towards her.

"Bubble, please don't tell me your on her-"

"Okay, when an object consumes anything that contoins Yoyle Berries, what hoippens to them?"

"...they turn into glue, right?" Ice Cube acknowledged.

"No, Oicy! They turn into-"

"METAL!" Ruby gasped out, fluttering her hands happily.

"Exoictly! All we hoive to do, is go back so we all can eat a slice of yoylecake we have in the van!"

"Freesmart, supervan?" Ice Cube reminded.

"Soime thing! If we all eat a sloice, we can turn into metal and that can buy us some time, since we're oill pretty fragile.."

"You know...that isn't a bad idea!" Book chimed in.

"Once we turn into metal, we won't have to worry about Bubble popping, or Ice Cube melting! Ruby won't shatter easily, and I won't have to worry about being torn apart or ripped!"

"Uh-Huh! And you know what that means?"

"We...stay here, and fight back together...?"

"Yeah!"

"But we still have to go back to the supervan and get the cake, as well as weapons to help us with this plan!" Ice Cube whined out.

"And I'm tired!"

"Icy, we have to go if we want to stay here with them. Even then, we need some sort of defense mechanism to make sure we stop Pin for good."

"If they don't want to go, maybe I will...I don't mind!" Ruby giggled out, a ditzy smile on her face.

Book shook her head in disapproval.

"Ruby, we're going to stick together. No more separation, no more running off. We stay together."

"How about we wait until tomorrow? We can always hide where Pin can't see us, if she were to walk by."

"...And where would that be?"

"BEHIND the TLC, of course!" She skipped over towards the back of the TLC.

"Ruby...you can't be-"

"That's a great idea Ruby!" Ice Cube exclaimed.

"Ice Cube!"

"Yeah! We can just stay here for the night, and then BAM! We go tomorrow to get everything!"

"And If Pin decides to take a morning stroll by here tomorrow?" Book snapped.

"...We just hoide. Please, Book...can we just stop running away, loike you said?" Bubble yawned out.

Book stared at the three, speechless and left in disbelief at their agreement. She let a few seconds pass, until she let out a exhausted sigh, rubbing her temples.

"...Someone is staying on night-watch, and it ISN'T GOING TO BE ME."

"YAY!"

What did you do with the daturas, hm?

"Oh, hush. You know anything out of the ordinary is eye-candy to her."

The hell are you even talking about? I thought you 'clever' plan was to poison all of them at once!

"You heard them- they ain't going back! So, if they won't go, I guess we'll have to lure them in somehow~"

Pin carefully placed the last datura on the ground, gently smoothing its' petals out. A grin slowly grew on her face, as she stood up, quickly dusting herself off. Specks of dirt flew everywhere, some even landing on the flowers.

Pin didn't mind.

You seriously think this could work. Remember, she has Book all up on her.

"Of course it will work! They're staying there for the night, and you know how Ruby wants to help the team...so, she'll take up the night-watch, and we just have to wait for the perfect time.."

...And what would that time be?

"When she's sleep deprived, duh!" Pin giggled.

"She wouldn't be able to last until 11! So, we pull off a...beautiful act to sweep her off her feet!"

Beautiful? Holy crap, you seriously are-

"Shush!"

Pin walked over towards a large tree, carefully pulling out a collage of painted petals- all mounted and glued together.

....Five, of them. All painted pink.

Ohhh, I see where your going...

"You think she's over her bitchy girlfriend? Pff, the moment she sees these bad boys, she'll have no choice but to follow!" Pin cackled out, wrapping her arms around herself.

"It's full proof!"

And what if she DOESN'T follow you?

"Well, it's nothing my good little trowel won't fix."

Killing her on the spot?

"No. Just letting her get a bit of shut-eye before I get the goods out, you know?"

.....

You better make this work. We've been waiting too long.

I need to take my mind off of all this. We need to. We're going mad.

"Don't worry sweetheart! Once we're through with her, that ecstasy will help you feel better!" Pin patted her forehead, walking towards a small clearing on her path.

She gazed up towards the sky, watching as the vibrant blue color slowly melt into a violet shade.

"All we have to do now, is wait."

..Why don't you kill one of the other Freesmarters?

"Huh?"

You know...Book, Ice Cube, Bubble. It's better to get them out of the way, before you let one of them-

"No no no, trust me on this one honey! A little shine towards our direction wouldn't hurt!"

Shine?

What are you planning to do to Ruby anyway?

Silence.

"...I think it's time for a little sparkle in this garden, don't you think?"

Hours had passed.

The sun was now below them all- the moon shining brightly in the night sky. Stars twinkled and glowed in the atmosphere, and a few clouds lazily drifted across the sky.

And on the ground?

Peaceful.

Everyone was deep into their slumber, dreams flying high into galaxy. Gentle breezes swayed through the trees, sending a shiver down their spines.

Except for Ice Cube. She was used to it.

Hours had passed by now, and Ruby was the only one who wasn't out like a light. She sat against the TLC, her eyes scanning the areas around the sleeping team. Bags of exhaustion hung underneath her eyes, but she didn't mind much- she let her thoughts ring in her mind, preventing her from passing out cold.

Beside her, Book snoozed away. She was curled up, quiet snoring coming out of her every now and then. Bubble and Ice Cube laid against the TLC- not too far from where they were. They leaned against it as closely as they could, not wanting to separate themselves from their trapped chambers.

A small smile grew on Ruby's face.

She was happy for them! She had always known how hard it was for them, with Ice Cube being an alternate, and Bubble..not being well-liked within the alliance.

She remembered Ice Cube's misery on the roof of the clubhouse. The sadness that emitted from Bubble's tone as she fought back tears to reassure Ruby that she was fine.

...and here they were.

Trying to survive, of course...

..But they both had someone.

Someone to keep fighting for.

..but what about her-

No.

Ruby shook her head, quickly shooing the sleepiness out of her system.

No more thoughts like that.

It was going to be okay, for rock's sake!

She's going to bring her back. Hell, she's going to bring everyone back! And things are going to go back to normal, like Book had promised!

Flower and her would reunite, they would go back to dating, and they'd marry!

Well, would she say yes..? She was just a puny little gemstone.

Clumsy..full of mistakes...

...a crybaby..

Ruby shook her head again, desperate.

Stop.

Enough!

Things were going to get better!

Were?

ARE!

What time is it?

I don't know.

It's been hours.

More like three..

Four?

Five?

I just want to sleep..

I want her back!

I'm bored..

Well we're protecting them! Isn't that enough?

Sleep..

No.

Rest..

STOP IT!

Love?

JUST HOLD ON, DAMMIT-

Flower?

Ruby's eyes widened as her eyes were locked onto the area ahead of her. She wasn't sure if her vision was failing on her, but she swore she saw something moving..

..or Someone..

"Ugh- what's wrong with me..?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

There's a lot of things.

Please just shut up.

You whine too much.

Seriously, go away-

Crybaby.

Stop.

Idiot.

No.

"Ruby.."

A whisper?

Ruby looked back.

There..

There!

Is that..?

No.

She's supposed to be DEAD!

Flower?

Her petals?

Is that..?

Ruby looked down, immediately pinching herself on her arm- just to be sure she wasn't dreaming any of this.

She grimaced.

...Nothing.

She looked back towards the trees..

...there they were..
Her petals...swaying gently in the late night breeze, as a hand reached up and slowly caressed them...

Her..

She..

She was THERE!

FLOWER!

Without thinking twice, Ruby sprang up, her heart overwhelming with joy and relief.  As she quickly ran towards the trees, she noticed a few flowers trailing down towards..

She grinned. She didn't know how she had managed to return-

Who cares?

WHO CARES?!

SHES BACK!

MY GIRLFRIEND IS BACK!

SHES HERE! SHES HERE!

Her eyes stung with tears, as she followed the trail of flowers..

I MISSED YOU!

She dashed desperately through the trees, her lungs burning with every cold breath she took.

ITS BEEN SO LONG, I-

"FLOWER!"

"Hey Ruby~"

Wait..

Wait-

You DIDN'T-

"..Pin-"

T H W A C K.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

This is kinda bad sorry-

I just retook the SAT and I'm dead right now

But! BFB 14!!!!

And I got me A FIREY PLUSH...the basard

ANYWAYS uh..enjoy I guess

~ice