Midnight wouldn't leave Parchment's side, marking it the longest he's gone without moving. It wasn't hard to get him food since he was easy to find.

Pichu, on the other hand, was forced to expose its work. It had taken Midnight's styler and was working in its lab, keeping everything running. Nema actually got it to sleep when it drained itself by getting it near Midnight, who was able to take care of the small mouse without having to leave his spot. But there was no denying how much they did for the sector.

~~~

The Minister walked in on Midnight's work.

While the others were slowly getting up, Midnight was able to restore Parchment. His eyes flashed a soft green before an aura pulsed from the room. The Minister peeked in before she paused as he kept a steady breath going. His hand held a pink orb that seemed to trap something. Pichu was able to get onto his shoulder before holding out a container, which Midnight took and placed the orb in before closing it. It glowed before the thing within tried to escape, failing instantly.

"You just don't know when to give up, eh?" He sat down in his chair as the aura faded. "I will find every little fragment you left and burn it. Watch me from your new place." He then gave it to Pichu. "Store that safely, please." It nodded before slipping out. The Minister went over as he sighed.

"All good now?" He nodded before she sighed. "Let me guess... former minister?" He nodded again.

"First second chance, now whatever he pulled during his little time..." He scoffed before sighing. She smiled.

"I will check the others later for you, ok?" He smiled before she paused. "Will you talk to them after?" He paused before sighing.

"Only if you don't kill me."

"I'll kill you if you don't."

"Fine..." She smiled before summoning a soft smell, which got his attention.

"Aw... is someone hungry?" He tensed up. While he didn't want to leave Parchment's side after what happened, the urge was much harder to fight. He growled softly.

"Don't tease me..." She giggled before the sound of the others filled the air. She slipped out as he growled lightly.

~~~

It was funny later.

They were lost when the Minister asked for each of them to speak with her one on one until Midnight called out after they were done.

"So... no more ugly guy?" Rednal sat down in defeat. "Good."

"I should've known." The others giggled at that.

~~~

Parchment opened her eyes as Midnight rested near her. A soft purr followed before it was interrupted.

"Captain...?" He woke up to her voice. He rubbed his face before he smiled.

"Morning... how you feel?" She paused.

"I- what?" He paused before she shook her head. "Uh- my head hurts... ow..." He smiled.

"I'll have Pichu get some medicine. But other than that, good?" She nodded. "Good... I'll be back." He quickly went to Pichu as the small mouse paused. "Parchment up with a headache." It nodded as he went back. "Wanna go get food?"

Her stomach growled at the thought. However, she still looked lost as he helped her sit up. He'd have to double check his spell just in case he missed something. He helped her to the table as Pichu joined them. It paused at the small movements of the small girl before Midnight managed to motion that he had to double check. He then got her some food before she put her head down. Oh come on. He bit his lip before going over.

"Parchment... food..."

She didn't raise her head, so he took his chances and pressed two fingers against her head and let a pink glow encase them. He closed his head before doing another scan. Was it just side effects? He was pulled out of the trance to another sound. He dispersed the light before looking to see Rednal going over.

"Hey... how is she?"

"Decent... but something mentally wrong. I got rid of one problem, but I can't find the current one." Rednal paused before Malov joined them.

"Here..." She gently rubbed Parchment's neck, getting her to relax. Midnight paused before pressing the light against her head again, this time with little tension. He then frowned.

"I still can't find anything..." Ponyta went over, causing Midnight to retreat before it prodded its nose at Parchment's face. A soft whine followed before she spoke.

"What..." It kept going, causing her to pick her head up, before it licked her cheek gently, as if to give her kisses. She seemed to calm down and let the Fairy type do its work. Midnight gulped.

"I'll check later." Rednal nodded before Malov growled.

~~~

Afterwards, it felt pretty normal. Midnight and Pichu went back to the mindset that they were soloing. Though the others said otherwise as Malov and Nema fixed the Wireless tower, Rand and Rednal kept the skies safe, Leanne and Parchment watched over the base and the Minister kept an eye on Midnight.

They later found him resting in his room after a mission in the sky. Rednal draped a blanket over the Ranger and Partner as they rested.

~~~

Later, they got their answers when Malov was checking him.

"What in the world-"

His throat closed up as she ran a hand across the scars on his neck. There was more all over his torso, almost giving it a rough feel. He couldn't tell her to stop without airflow. Parchment noticed his struggling and paused.

"Malov." Her hand retreated slightly before he took a sharp breath in. He then lowered his head into his knees before they paused.

"Midnight?"

"Yeah...?" He finally spoke, a raspy tone joining it.

"What happened?" He raised his head slowly before he spoke.

"Just... a stupid battle..." Parchment frowned. There were enough scars there to almost put him in a cage and his uniform was the only thing hiding them. Unless that was the goal. He felt the gaze before gulping. "For as long as the former minister was here, I was the big target. From scars to curses to... just about anything, my life was hell..." Pichu jumped into his lap as he trembled. "Some people have recovered from the rain, but the rain wasn't my problem. It was everything else..." Malov pulled him into a hug while Rand knelt beside them.

"Midnight... we won't let you hurt anymore. He's gone and we'll keep it like that." The Top Ranger smiled as he sniffled softly. "For now though... let's heal these scars... let's get you out of this form that bastard put you in and into the one you belong in."

~~~

It took time, but they eventually pulled past the cage. He rested through most of it thanks to Parchment. He woke up to Parchment gently speaking to him.

"Midnight?"

He blinked a little before he sat up. The pain that normally followed had vanished, so on instinct he touched his neck, feeling the smooth, healed skin. His torso had also healed, which made him pause. He didn't move before a hand touched his shoulder. He turned to Parchment as she smiled.

"Hey. You good?"

He nodded softly as his hand gently ran across his neck. It was the first time he had been able to feel the soft skin of his neck without the scars blocking it. He also felt a sense of freedom with it. Something was placed beside him as he paused.

"Good. Get changed and meet us downstairs. Food's ready." He paused as she went downstairs. His mind backed up a bit. Did he miss something? He shook it off before changing and heading down.

"Hey..." Pichu was nowhere in sight as Rednal smiled.

"Hey. Food's ready." Midnight was slow to react, but he eventually went over to the table.

"No poison?"

"Not yet." He blinked a little before the others joined him and Pichu hopped on his lap. He smiled a little before noticing bandages on the small mouse. Malov smiled.

"Pichu got jumped by some remainders of the Pinchers. Rand dealt with them though."

"So he says..." Parchment grumbled. Rand hissed softly.

"I did too!" Midnight let a giggle out upon their small argument. The sense of freedom really brought out his true side from his heart. Rednal passed out food before smiling. It had been far too long since the small kid had been seen in his real form. Midnight had latched onto the food that was resting there.

"Eat up, everyone. The Minister wants to see us afterwards." Midnight blinked before frowning.

"No!" Malov chuckled before he shoved a pancake in his mouth and he mumbled a muffled threat. Poor Parchment and Rand couldn't stop their laughter before Rednal frowned.

"It's rude to talk with your mouth full." He got glared at, but whatever.

~~~

Midnight was quiet as they entered the Minister's place. It was the first time he had been in there, but thankfully there was no way for a bad memory to form. They were led up by a small spirit while she was finishing something.

"Ah... welcome. Glad you all could make it..." They smiled as they joined her.

"So... What did you need?" She smiled before she glanced at Midnight.

"First of all, it looks like you made an incredible recovery." His face went red with embarrassment before he gave a big smile. "Second of all... some of you may know about the 9 Wings of Aidance." Midnight paused before Rand nodded.

"Yeah. They're the group that works directly under the Minister in Almia, right?" She nodded.

"Exactly. That's what I plan on doing here. Only... I have something much better. The 7 Winds of Openness." They paused before they smiled.

~~~

Midnight giggled as Parchment tackled him. They were looking into something and she had other plans.

"You the enemy?"

"No..." She loomed over him before smiling.

"Wrong answer." His giggled turned into laughing when she started tickling him. She stopped to let him breathe but then smiled. "Come on. Let's go tackle Rand." His smile had yet to vanish before giggled and raced after her.