At the Academy

Interlude

A hard day of training had come and went, leaving Bailey completely crippled, incapable of moving at all. Ever since the news of the Academy Ace came out, the poor girl had been working herself to the bone, and barley eating or sleeping.

The change in her ways had gotten Xuli's attention. Bailey's attitude towards everyone had changed a great deal. She had started snapping at everyone within a three-foot radius of her; her plate was still full after meals; and her bed was often found empty at night.

It was two weeks before she saw Bailey away from the Booster. On that particular night she happened to be walking around the beach, letting the wind flow through her hair. Then she heard it.

Muffled sobs.

Xuli fell silent, letting the sound guide her to its owner. She was lead towards the corner of the beach where the blue of the sea faced the dark grey of the rocky cliffs. Only split by the faint gold of the sand.

The noise lead to a particular area on the beach, just below the cliffs, where the light of the moon was blocked. The waves washed against the sandy floor, which was bare, except for two people.

Bailey and Kyle.

Bailey sat on the right, holding her head in severe pain. Kyle sat next to her, holding her hand tightly and laying her down on his lap.

 She had obviously been going through a lot these past few days.

Xuli walked  towards the couple, her little feet quietly swishing on the sand. The others didn't seem to register her appearance, as they didn't move an inch.

She didn't like to see Bailey so sad, but she was none wiser. She heard a conversation start between the two:

- "It's gonna be okay...but the overworking isn't necessary. Why are you doing that?"

- "I-I dunno...I read through about other pilots who were no match for the Academy Ace, a-and Mum..."

- "It's nothing to worry about. We both know Clara would be proud of you.."

Xuli then remembered that Bailey's parents had died not too long ago, and she was still mourning over them, even though the news was almost recent.

She tried to walk closer, but her foot ended up hitting a stone. A small whimper of pain escaped her before she clapped her hand onto her mouth.

The noise made Kyle look up slightly, and turn his head round to see the little cadet behind him. He turned back to Bailey and whispered something into her ear. 

"Come here, Xuli," Kyle said, turning his head around to look at her, "we know you're here."

Caught, Xuli thought before walking towards the two. Kyle patted a spot next to him and Xuli sat down there.

She got a glimpse of Bailey. The older pilot lay on Kyle's lap, her eyes were red and puffy with crying. Her arms and legs were twigs, dark circles surrounded her eyes, and her wrists were blue and purple with bruises.

Evidence that she's been working strenuously for the last few days nonstop.

"Bailey..?" Xuli whispered.

"She can't hear you, Xuli. She's out like a light." Kyle whispered.

"W-who s-said..?" A weak voice said from Kyle's lap.

Bailey looked up from Kyle's lap, her purple eyes bloodshot and half-asleep. Her hair was a hip-length bundle of mess. She hoisted herself onto her twig-like arms and gave Xuli a weak smile.

"H-hey there, k-kiddo.." She mumbled.

Her appearance had changed completely with all those weeks.

"What are you doing?" Xuli asked, "You do realize that you've changed a lot since this Academy Ace thing was announced?"

Bailey's eyes shut for a while, and Xuli thought she had fallen asleep for a second, but her eyes jammed open.

"I-I know..." Bailey answered, "B-but the prize I'll get in the end...i-it'll be worth it..!"

"It's not worth it, B," Said Kyle, who appeared to be on Xuli's side, "You look like you're about to die by sunrise!"

"Kyle's not wrong," Xuli agreed, "You're seriously taking the toll on yourself."

Bailey sighed.

"Y-you don't understand..!" She whispered, "I-if I fail, I-I'll never forgive myself for it..! I-I want to make my parents proud..!"

The others didn't dare mention that her parents were dead. But before they could say anything, she stood up immediately and started to run off.

The silhouette of the young girl was getting farther and fainter every second, her screams echoing in the night air. Her hair swung over and over on her shoulders. Her steps were off-looking.

Suddenly, the silhouette seemed to fall over, and suddenly flop to the ground.

"Bailey!!" The duo shouted as they started running toward her.

Sure enough, Bailey had fainted on the way back to the JetPad, possibly trying to get the Booster to so she can train again despite her condition.

"This is bad." Xuli mumbled.

"Very," Kyle agreed, "I think we'd better lock her in her room until tomorrow. Maybe Ubercorn would know what to do then."

Xuli nodded, trying her best to keep a straight face.

Kyle carried Bailey off to her room in JetPad, making sure he wasn't heard. As Xuli watched on, he put Bailey in bed and tucked her up. He shut the door behind him, making sure it was securely locked before turning around.

"She's gonna be out for the next while," He explained to Xuli, who was standing in front of the door. She nodded quietly.

"Why does she work so hard if the Academy Ace is just a competition?" She asked, "I mean, it's no big deal, right?"

"I dunno, kiddo," Kyle admitted, "but the way she reacted so hard, and the way she overworked herself frequently. It makes you think her life depends on it."

As she went to bed that night, the thought infested Xuli. If the Academy Ace was such a big deal to make Bailey go this bananas, then it was probably the most important test in the Academy for a young pilot like Bailey.

She should...maybe she should..?

~*~

Xuli didn't blame Bailey the slightest for what she had done to herself, or how she had done the same thing several years later, although she did confirm that it was worth the effort, just like Bailey had pointed out.

She had also concluded that as long as she had good friends around to help her along the way, no harm will come to her as she always has a shoulder to lean on.

(A/N: What a journey, huh? So, what did you think about this story? What was your favorite part? Do you think I added enough Xyan?

Special thanks to Candy_Anderson and TheNeonBunny for their support for this story!

Over all, hope you enjoyed! Cya later!

~GSE ;) )