Announcements: for some reason ff formats chapters better when the title isn't the first thing on the document, so I guess I'll be writing something before the chapter begins lol. Also what is with ff putting advertisements throughout the body of eahc chapter now?

I actually do have news: I usually pants writing BUT I've managed to plan out the remaining chapters for this story and so I know exactly what will happen, what twists I'm going to put into play, and how long it will take me to complete this fic! Unless something changes, there will be 35 chapters in total. I'm going to try to write one a week, but I will update at least once every two weeks. I'm very inspired right now (and my plan is really pretty, written with different coloured pens) so I'm excited to keep this writing mojo going!

Also I'm gonna try and edit some of the earlier chapters now to make the story more cohesive but my main focus will still be on creating the new chapters.

Enjoy!

Chapter 15

Rising Tensions

The hand clutched in Misty's was tiny. Mahri trotted fast to keep pace with Misty, while still gazing around wide-eyed at everything they passed. Not that there was much to see in the mundane corridors decorated sparsely for practicality's sake, but every so often there was a potted plant or portrait of some famous slayer Misty couldn't quite name, the history lessons far from her mind.

After her ordeal at the castle, Mahri had recovered with surprising tenacity. She was physically healthy, and while she suffered with nightmares, Rudy stayed by her side to soothe her back to sleep when she woke. Misty visited her as often as her training schedule could afford, and Mahri was always sad to see Misty go.

Personally, Misty thought that Mahri didn't even need to stay in the infirmary anymore. But Rudy was adamant that Mahri remain under Nurse Joy's care. Misty supposed they had both just lost their parents, so she wouldn't begrudge them wanting to spend their time in the infirmary where they felt safe (and under the protection of Nurse Joy, a mother-like figure) - but she did feel that Mahri in particular was ready to leave the infirmary, or at least explore the base.

Nevertheless, Rudy had had no choice but to leave the infirmary when Grace announced a mandatory training session in Room 001 Section A. Mahri wasn't technically invited, but Rudy refused to leave her alone (professing it was for her benefit, of course). And Mahri seized the chance to explore outside of the infirmary, but kept her hand firmly in Misty's. She idolised the older girl who'd rescued her. Misty had to admit, it was kind of a nice feeling. Mahri awakened in her a protective instinct she hadn't known she possessed.

When they reached Room 001 Section A, most slayers were already there. Leaf and Dawn sat cross-legged in the center of the matted area while Red, Lucas, Black, and Brendan hovered in a group at the edge of the mats. Calem and Serena stood on the other side, both holding clipboards, muttering to each other.

Misty went to join the girls on the mats, Mahri bouncing happily along with her. Rudy hesitated, glancing between the girls and his friends, but eventually - after realising Mahri would be within eyesight at all times and she was safer with Misty than probably anyone else - he moved to join the boys.

Leaf and Dawn were talking about the ball when Misty plopped down next to them, Mahri in tow.

"We can't afford to lose focus," Leaf was saying, looking hard at Dawn. "No matter how pretty the dresses and magical the music."

"I know," Dawn replied, offended. She ruined it when she added, "But just one dance right at the beginning won't hurt. No-one will even be there yet, arriving early to balls just isn't done."

Misty chuckled as the girls acknowledged her with nods. But her good humour quickly vanished, despite her awareness of the eight-year-old's admiring gaze. "May's not here yet?" Misty asked, trying not to frown.

"You only just got here," Leaf pointed out.

"I had to persuade Rudy to let Mahri come with us," Misty explained.

Leaf and Dawn smiled encouragingly at the young girl.

"Are you joining our training session today?" Dawn asked sweetly.

Mahri murmured something shyly, smiling back while half-hiding behind Misty's arm.

"You might have to be my partner, if May doesn't show up," Misty joked, keeping her tone light but unable to stop a concerned glance over her shoulder at the door. It remained closed.

Mahri nodded eagerly. "I wanna learn how to fight vampires like you do!"

"I'm sure we can show you some tricks," Leaf offered.

The door opened then. They all turned, hoping to see May, but it was Grace who entered. She wore an unreadable expression, nodded briefly at Serena, and came to a stop at the edge of the mats.

"I'm sure you're all curious as to why I've called a mandatory group training session," Grace began, leaving no room for pleasantries. "I know you're all more than capable of sorting your own training out now with our specialised instructors, but I want to assess where exactly you are skill-wise. First you'll perform strength and speed tests, then you'll spar with the partners I assign for two minute rounds so we can gauge your combat skills. Serena and Calem will be making notes on your performances but try to forget they're there."

"Thanks, Mum," Serena muttered from the side.

Leaf and Dawn chuckled. Misty barely cracked a smile. Where's May? She can't keep being late. These meetings and training sessions will mean the difference between life and death one day…

"Any questions before we get started?" Grace asked briskly, ignoring her daughter.

Misty bit her lip. Grace hadn't seemed to notice May was missing. Or she doesn't care… which is unlike her. Misty stayed quiet, but Leaf raised her hand. Grace nodded at her.

"Exactly how intelligent are vampires?" Leaf asked. Her tone was casual, exactly the way she might ask what the weather was supposed to be like tomorrow.

Grace frowned. "No more intelligent than your average predator. You know that, Leaf."

"So… equal intelligence with a wolf, you'd say?"

Grace shrugged, her mouth a thin line. "Yes, if you like. Are you ready to start training now?" She raised her arms as if to clap, to signal the start of training.

But Leaf wasn't finished. "But then how can the Treaty be a sham?"

Grace's arms fell back to her sides. She gave Leaf a look brimming with irritation. "The Treaty isn't a sham," she said, keeping a thin lid on her annoyance.

Misty frowned. Grace had told them only a couple of days ago that the Treaty was just a front; they knew it and the vampires knew it. It was never real. Grace had said so herself. Misty wanted to challenge Grace on that, but she held herself back to let Leaf handle it. Leaf remained calmer than Misty could have been.

"You admitted it was a sham after the vampires kidnapped Mahri," Leaf reminded their commander.

Beside Misty, Mahri shrank into herself. Misty rubbed her arm comfortingly. Across the room, Rudy started as if to go to them, but Misty gave him a look that said, I've got this. He looked unhappy, but stayed where he was.

Grace shook her head. "I said no such thing. Emotions were running high that day. Whatever I said, I was trying to keep you all calm. I couldn't have you running blindly off to the castle without a plan, could I?"

Leaf tilted her head. She leaned back, bracing her palms against the mat. "Okay, whether the Treaty is a sham or not, we know vampires are more intelligent that you've always told us. They've spoken to us on multiple occasions, taunting us, letting us know they have some bigger plot going on. They bargained with us, accepting White as prisoner in Mahri's place. They're more intelligent than wolves."

What is Leaf doing? Misty couldn't work her out. She was the one who didn't want to let Grace know they'd found the secret SHC files on vampires. Why challenge Grace now?

Grace was clearly getting annoyed. She tapped her fingers against her arm, now folded tightly against her chest. "So they know how to parlay," she began coldly, slowly - working out what to say. "That doesn't equal intelligence, Leaf. I expected more from you than this. Trying to blame your own failings as a slayer on your enemy being too good? Grow up and get your stake back in the game. If vampires were intelligent, it would be common knowledge by now. We've been doing this for hundreds of years-"

"And yet we haven't wiped out the vampire species in all those hundreds of years," Leaf interrupted, her voice growing stronger. "Why is that? Humans hunt multiple endangered species of animals to extinction every year. If vampires are no more intelligent than mere animals, why haven't we-"

"Enough!" Grace shouted, her voice thunderous. The word echoed around the massive space, cowing Leaf and making everyone flinch away. Grace's eyes flashed, her anger no longer concealed with an attempt at normality. "Do you want to train, and stand a chance of protecting the innocent citizens of Kalos from vampires, or do you want to yap about conspiracy theories all day, wasting not just time but innocent lives?"

No-one dared argue with that.

Misty exchanged looks with Leaf and Dawn. Grace was acting extremely suspicious. She knows something, and she's trying to hide it.

After a training session during which they were all pushed harder than ever before, having had Grace yelling at them every other second to punch harder or run faster, the girls re-grouped in Misty's room, sweaty and tired. Misty had had to convince Rudy to take Mahri back to the infirmary alone first, which had been an argument she simply hadn't had the energy to deal with after Grace's ferocious attack. Misty's patience was now extremely thin.

"Where the hell is May?" Misty growled as soon as her bedroom door closed.

Leaf and Dawn collapsed on the floor, groaning with effort and making weak attempts to massage their aching muscles.

"I'm sure she's doing something important," Dawn said tiredly. "There are more important things to talk about. Did you hear what Grace said? She flat out denied everything that we know for a fact - and I'm not imagining her doing an about turn after saying herself the Treaty is a sham, right?"

"You're not imagining it," Leaf assured her.

"May should be here for this," Misty pointed out. Her temper wasn't really directed at May. She was scared about White being in the castle, and angry at the way Grace had shouted at Leaf's perfectly valid questions. But worrying about White would do no-one any good, and she couldn't exactly argue with Grace after the way Leaf had been shut down. So her anger bubbled up in the form of bitterness directed towards the absent May.

"We'll catch her up. She might even be training alone right now," Dawn offered, reluctant to pile onto the hate-May train.

Misty snorted. "Sure."

Leaf sighed. She ran a hand through sweat-dampened hair. "To circle back to what's really important here…" She waited until she was sure she had both Misty and Dawn's full attention before continuing. "Grace lied to us flat out. And she knows we know it. Which doesn't make sense. There's more to this than we know."

"So how do we find out?" Misty asked, making an effort to focus on the issue at hand. "We tried asking, that didn't work."

Leaf nodded. "I think I have to go to SHC and find the physical evidence for everything they're concealing from us. I think that will also shed light on Grace's caginess. I know there's a reason for it. She wouldn't just turn her back on us like that without a good reason." Leaf was grasping at straws. But no-one argued. None of them wanted to believe the woman who had raised them as her own daughters for all those years was lying to them without a good reason.

"Are you sure?" Dawn asked. "What if they catch you snooping around? Should we all go? But what about when Grace notices we're missing?"

"I'll go alone, you can both cover for me."

"Not alone," Misty interjected. A thoughtful frown pulled the corners of her face down. "It's too dangerous. Grace might be lying to us, but she's right about not letting us go anywhere by ourselves."

"But if one of you comes with me, how are we supposed to hide that from Grace? And the boys?"

Misty raised her eyebrows suggestively. Leaf started to shake her head before Misty got her idea out: "Take Red with you."

"If we can't trust Grace, how do we know we can trust Serena and Calem? And by extension, all TWAS slayers?" Leaf objected.

Dawn gave Leaf a gentle, playful shove. "We don't, but come on. Do you really think the boys are all lying to us too? They know as much as we do. What could Lucas and Red and the rest have to gain from keeping us in the dark? They want the same as us: to slay all vampires."

"I don't know…" Leaf chewed her lip thoughtfully.

A solemn look overcame Dawn's face. "We can't risk losing another friend," she murmured, almost too quietly to be heard.

Leaf swallowed. "Okay. I'll ask Red if he wants to come. What will you do while I'm gone?"

"We'll figure out a way to rescue White," Dawn determined. "Grace is lying about vampire intelligence so she's probably lying about the SHC slayer unit coming to save her. Right?" she asked Misty.

Misty nodded. "Yes. We'll plan a rescue mission. Low-key, without Grace knowing." She paused for a moment, looking carefully at each of her friend's faces. Frustration welled within her, anger at Grace and helplessness in the face of rescuing White. "So, it's decided? Leaf and Red will spy on SHC to find out what they can. And Dawn and I will enlist the boys to rescue White?"

Both girls nodded.

"What about May?" Dawn asked.

Misty glared past Dawn's head, focusing on a spot on her wall. "May's clearly got better things to do than save our friend or help find out what Grace is up to," she muttered.

Dawn and Leaf exchanged uneasy looks which didn't pass Misty by, but no-one said anything to that.

After a moment, Leaf climbed to her feet. "I'm going to find Red and make a plan," she announced briskly.

"Are you leaving tonight?" Dawn asked, alarmed. She got quickly to her feet and pulled Leaf into a hug before her friend could protest.

Leaf gasped for breath. "Not… tonight… tomorrow… morning…" she spluttered.

Dawn released her, smiling sheepishly. "Probably wise to get a full night's sleep first," she admitted, nodding.

Leaf smiled. "Don't worry, I won't leave without saying goodbye."

"Good." Misty hesitated, then pulled them both into a hug. "We're going to get through this," she whispered fiercely.

They all held each other tight, lingering in the embrace of their sisters.

When Leaf and Dawn had left, Misty took a quick shower and then changed into casual clothes. It was approaching evening and she knew an early night would benefit her, but her thoughts were stewing too hotly for her to be able to rest.

Not knowing where to go, she wandered up to the infirmary to check on Mahri.

When she got there, Nurse Joy was no-where in sight but Rudy was leaning on his sister's bed, glowering at the spindly plant in the corner.

"There you are," he said gruffly as Misty entered.

Mahri tugged on his sleeve. "Don't," she hissed at him.

Misty blinked. "What do you mean? I told you I was going to shower after training."

"And it took you forty minutes?" he asked snappishly. "You know I don't want Mahri to be alone after what happened!"

Misty felt her irritation come roaring back. "It's none of your business. And if you ask me, you're being way too overprotective. You know she's safe here. There's literally nowhere safer in the world than inside a slayer base! Besides, if you're with her, what exactly do you think will happen?"

Mahri looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Don't argue," she whimpered, tugging harder on her brother's sleeve.

"Well, I don't know what might happen, that's why I want you with us," he replied angrily.

You're insane, Misty wanted to yell at him. But she took a deep breath. "I'm going for a walk," she said coldly. Making an effort to leave things on a good note with Mahri, she added more softly, "I'll come and check on you before bed, okay?"

Mahri nodded sadly.

Rudy got up and started to walk over to Misty, as if he was going to argue more.

Misty didn't give him the chance. She whipped out the door and shut it firmly behind her.

"You're being selfish!" he yelled behind the closed door.

Misty wanted to growl back, but she reigned herself in for Mahri's sake and stormed out of base, not caring particularly who saw her raging. Not caring that only minutes before she had told Leaf not to go anywhere on her own.

She needed to get out and clear her head. Safety in numbers be damned. She was going for a walk, alone.

Author's Note: Thank you all for reading! Some exciting things will be happening very soon (which I know for a fact, because I have a PLAN now!) so I hope you stay tuned!

~ Jay