" You think that's where the kidnapped trainers are? I want to see Bryce pay for what he did. Does Taylor know that Bryce is the one with the dragon? " Carly asked.

"I do, along with your sister and Taylor's friend, but it's only a guess. I can't be sure about it, and I don't want to get your or his hopes up for nothing," He said as an evil grin appeared on his face. "Oh don't worry about Bryce...I'll make sure that there's at least something there for you and Max to take apart. Angelus will probably maim or kill his dragon though." He told her that he contacted Taylor earlier about him most likely not being in town anymore as well as the one with the black dragon.

" I'm glad he knows. I hope my sister is still alive ." Carly said sadly.

"You think she is, right? Until you see a body, assume that she's alive." Alex said quickly. "If you give up hope then what is left for you to hang onto?" he asked.

" I dont want to lose hope. My parents already have. I'm sorry to be so pessimistic , I know she will fight as much as possible to stay alive ."

"Without hope there is only darkness," Alex quoted with a small smirk. "Now then, get some sleep. In the morning, we'll start heading out; that is, if you want to come," he said to the girl.

((I think Carly needs a picture/description if she's going to stay with Alex/Ark and Taylor, but the choice is up to you.))

(I'll place it in my first post.)

" I do want to come with you both. Thank you for understanding. " Carly said with a small smile.

(kk)

"Don't mention it," Ark said. "Now then, get some sleep," he mockingly ordered.

" Yes sir!" She joked back. Carly then got ready for bed and fell asleep. She knew morning would come soon.

Alex shook his head and chuckled lightly and stayed awake a little longer, thinking. He shook his head lightly once again to get rid of the negative thoughts before yawning and slowly falling asleep in the chair he was sitting in. Once he was asleep, Rikku went to grab another pillow and placed it behind Alex's head as Nita grabbed an extra blanket from the linen closet.

"It's nice to see him finally opening up to other trainers like himself," Nita said as Zero and Kit nodded, Rikku going back into her bishiball for the evening and Leglius staying in his, apparently working on something. "Do you think he's finally gotten over her?" The young female wizard asked.

"Maybe...but it's always hard to tell," Zero responded as he remembered his times with Iris. "I think Ark sees Taylor and Carly as his new family and we all know that he'll do anything to help his family out," the Irregular Hunter said, as the other Bishies nodded. "Now then, as the oldest Bishie here at the moment, I think you two should get some sleep. You'll need it," he said as both wizards nodded and went back into their Bishiballs.

Zero grinned as he watched the three humans sleep, keeping an eye out for anything that wasn't suppose to be in the area. Soon, the rays of morning sun started to drift upwards.

Taylor woke up soon after sunrise. Alex and Carly were still asleep , so he closed his eyes until they woke up.

Alex slowly woke up, feeling a blanket around him and smiled lightly. He didn't know which of his Bishies did it, but he knew it was one of them. He decided that no one needed to get up just yet and made himself more comfortable in the chair, knowing his body would hate him for it later.

Carly woke up and stretched lightly, surprised that the boys let her have one of the beds to herself. She then saw Alex sleeping on the chair and winced in sympathy. That probably isn't the best place to sleep... she thought to herself.

Taylor opened his eyes and slowly woke up. He hoped that today they would find some answers.

"Alright, trainer or not, it's time to get up," Nita said as Alex snuggled into the blanket after she nudged his shoulder.

"Five more minutes..." Alex mumbled out, missing the devious smirk appear on Nita's face. She uttered something in the Speech, causing the wood to grow very cold, very quickly. This, of course, made Alex jump out of the chair uttering a few words in Japanese, glaring at Nita.

"Nita, what if I told you I could find a Dairine who just started her Ordeal?" he asked, causing Nita to stop laughing.

"Not funny," she replied after a few minutes as Alex just looked at her with a serious look.

Taylor woke up when the others did. " I'm up. " He said with a yawn.

Carly sat up slowly and watched the scene between Alex and his bishies with curiosity, confused about the terms he was using.

After bluffing Nita with finding her sister, he noticed both Taylor and Carly staring at him. "Um...morning." he said slowly

" Morning. "Taylor said , he checked on Sora who had woken up . He let Sora out to stretch . " What do we have planned for today?" Taylor asked.

"I'm game for just about anything, but first, I think a shower and some breakfast would be a good idea," Alex said. What? It was impossible for him to think on an empty stomach, the sound always cutting into his thoughts.

Taylor and Carly agreed that a shower and breakfast sounded like a good idea. " Who goes first? " Taylor asked.

"I suggest that Carly should go first, then Max if she wants to, then any of my female Bishies, then us guys." Alex stated

" Alright. Sounds good to me." Carly said and went into the shower. After she was done Max went in . The bathroom was now free after Max finished.

Jean went in next, taking a quick shower. After she finished Nita went in and started taking a shower, to which Rikku joined her shortly afterwards, causing Alex to sigh and mumble how the girl really didn't understand that it didn't bother her anymore and was only mildly annoyed at it by now. Once the two got out, Alex took his own shower.

After Alex was done , Taylor let Sora go before him. After Sora was done, Taylor went in the shower. He wished he never trusted Bryce. He felt bad for Greg who had been set up. He finished up and went back into the hotel room.

(sorry about that, been busy cleaning all day. But on the upside: The house is clean and I have 911 ready on speed dial just in case my parents have a stroke/heart attack)

After the remaining Bishies took their respective showers, the trio headed down towards the lobby.

( No worries. I hope everything is alright )
Taylor and Sora went down with the others. He was ready for breakfast, knowing that today would be a busy one.