Never Give Up (Slow Updates)

Pre-Mission Nerves

The residential wing, which was usually quiet and reserved, could be found echoing the voices of five girls through a dark doorway, but had light streaming out from underneath it. It was not an average five person room, as it was about twice as big. The reason for this size difference was that this was one of Serena's top agent rooms, and they had privileges that others didn't  have access to. This did not mean that normal agents were under appreciated, nor that they were not given enough. It simply meant that the harder you worked, the better you had it.

Inside, a dark skinned girl was speaking.

"I wish I could've been the one to go," Iris pouted, sitting on the top of a metal bunk bed with plain white bedding. "I would be totally awesome!" she exclaimed. She was about to say more, but a pillow hit her in the face. It fell away, revealing Iris and her anger. "Alright, who threw-" she began to say before another pillow was, yet again, hurled towards her face. A snicker could be heard from below.

"What's wrong? I thought you could take on anything!" May said as she burst out laughing on the bottom of another bunk. Iris just glared.

"I wish it could've been you," a small voice said. The two stopped glaring and laughing to look at the bottom of Iris's bunk. A certain blond haired girl sat there, petting a Dedenne as it happily rested on top of her lap. She didn't look nearly as happy as the Pokémon, though.

"Nervous?" Misty asked from above May. She jumped down to comfort Bonnie, and was soon joined by Dawn, who came from her own single bed, and sat on Bonnie's other side. "I get it. I was, too, before my first mission."

"Whatever, guys. You're lucky you get to even go on missions," May said longingly, and Iris nodded her head, causing her hair to bounce up and down.

"You two don't get it," Dawn said. "Bonnie," she continued a little more lovingly, "I know it sounds scary. I bet you were a lot more sure of yourself when you volunteered, huh?" Bonnie silently nodded. "I get it. Don't worry, I know you will be great out there. I'm sure you'll rescue them. After all, you have a week to prepare for it."

Bonnie was silent. She turned to Dawn and hugged her. No words were exchanged, but there was no need. Bonnie let go of Dawn and hugged Misty, too.

While all of this was happening inside, a certain girl was standing outside, and had been listening to the conversation within. Her hand was frozen in midair, about to knock on the door.

Serena relaxed her arm and let it fall to her side. She had been worried about Bonnie and how she would have reacted once she was in her room. She came to check on her, if she needed comfort. But Serena knew there was no need.

She unconsciously let a smile form on her lips, for it had been a long time since she had let a smile grace her young face.

She returned to her room. It was larger than the other rooms, but it was not so large that it was be unfair. A desk sat in the corner on the right, closest to the entrance, with a bathroom door on the wall next to it. On the left side was a treadmill, and furthest from the door, on the left, was a closet door. And on the far wall stood a bed, which was a queen size. All of these things were plainly colored, just like the rest of the base.

Too tired to change into anything more comfortable, Serena collapsed onto the bed, rolled onto her back, and fell asleep in less than a minute.