This is the LONGEST chapter I've ever done so far (about 2,200 words). This is another sad chapter, but don't worry the next few chapters won't make you cry (like I almost did while typing this one)!

Another successful battle against the Sky Pirates! Mao Mao parked the aerocycle into the garage and we all got off. Like he says, these fights are too easy! The Sky Pirates are SO gullible and all I have to do is throw a smoke bomb and they go bye bye! "That battle wasn't hard at all!" I remarked.

Mao Mao chuckled as we walked to the living room. "You got that right! Orangustank can never beat me, even as two people!" Badgerclops stretched his back out and yawned.

"Sometimes I feel bad for them you know? I shoot one net at them and they can't even get out of it!" he gloated.

Mao Mao added, "I know right? They're all a bunch of idiots." Suddenly, I feel a little sore in my wings and my vision goes blurry for a second. It's probably because I flew a lot in that battle and I got myself tired. "Badgerclops can you start making dinner? It's getting late."

"Sure thing," he agreed. Badgerclops went to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. I'm gonna go do something. Something is a good word to use when you just wanna . . . DO stuff.

"I'm going to the bedroom to draw," I told Mao Mao. 

He nodded as he sat down on the couch. I started to fly to the room, but every time I flapped my wings, I felt a pinch through my whole body. I didn't think of it that much since I was going to my bed anyways. My sketchbook and my pencil were already laying on the sheets, so I sat down on my bed and started to draw. Every now and then my vision would get blurry and I would feel really dizzy. 

Now I'm starting to worry. Did something happen while I fought the Sky Pirates? I tried to think about what happened as I was fighting Ramaraffe. Ratarang DID throw some sort of smoke bomb at me that had yellow smoke in it. Maybe the yellow smoke was suppose to harm me in some way? I started sweating and shaking a lot. "I'll just wait until I feel better! Yeah, that's it! Besides, I don't want Mao Mao and Badgerclops to be worried about me," I thought out loud. 

I got tired from drawing, but it hasn't even been that long! I decided to go to the kitchen to get myself a bottle of water. I jumped out of my bed when all of a sudden, I felt a deep and sharp pain in both of my wings. I fell to the ground and whimpered. "Guess it's walking for now," I whispered solemnly to myself. I walked all the way to the kitchen and saw Badgerclops preparing dinner. Badgerclops noticed me coming in.

"Whatcha need little dude?" he questioned.

"Just getting water," I answered. 

"Okay."

I leaped up to the handle of the fridge and I struggled to pry it open. My wings started to hurt again. "Owie!" I yelped as I let go of the handle.

"You okay Adorabat? Is there something wrong with your wings?" Badgerclops hinted.

Oh no! I thought. He's gonna find out I just know it! A light bulb turned on in my head. I got it! "I guess my wings are aching after fighting the Sky Pirates!" I lied. 

"Oh okay! Lemme get the water for you." Badgerclops opened the fridge and grabbed a water bottle. He twisted the cap open for me. 

"Thanks!" I grabbed the bottle and drank. 

"No problem! Let me know if you need anything else."

"Don't worry I'm fine!" I hate lying to my friends, but I have to. I don't want anyone, especially Mao Mao finding out what happened. I twisted the cap back on and felt pain again. I walked back to the bedroom. Out of nowhere, I go into a coughing fit and I cough into my wing. I looked at it and saw something super odd.

Black liquid is what I coughed out. BLACK! I wiped my wing with a tissue as I started to get anxious. Tears welled up in my eyes. It got harder to breath, I had an annoying headache, my body hurt so much that it hurt to walk, and my ears were twitching a lot. Okay that's it! I'm gonna tell Mao Mao! I know I'm gonna worry him, but I can't take it anymore! I ran to the living room as fast as I could, even with the unbearable state I'm in!

Mao Mao was sitting on the sofa, quietly cleaning his katana. I guess he was so focused that he didn't hear me coughing. "M-Mao M-Mao...?" I stuttered. He immediately turned around and got off the couch. He went over to me and knelt down.

"What's the matter?" He asked in a concerned voice.

"I-I...I d-don't...." My vision started to go black and my ears rang. I couldn't hear what Mao Mao was saying, but he looked extremely worried. As I lost my vision and fell backwards, the last thing I felt was something warm on my head and my back. I didn't mean to worry him . . . I really didn't . . . .

Mao Mao's POV: 

When I saw Adorabat's eyes roll, I quickly stuck out my hands to catch her. I lifted her up and cradled her. A million thoughts flooded my mind as I thought about what to do. How did this happen?! WHY did this happen?! Did she get hurt? Is she sick? Is she . . . gonna be ok?!

I know what I need to do first. "BADGERCLOPS! SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH ADORABAT!" I hollered. Badgerclops dashed into the living room right after I finished my sentence. His eye widened when he saw her in my arms, unable to respond. He stretched his robotic arm to the bathroom to get the med kit.

"Let me scan her to see if anything's going on inside her body," Badgerclops said sternly as his robotic arm came back with the kit, just in case he needed to patch up something. Since his eye was still open, he used it to check for any internal injuries. His expression changed from seriousness to uneasiness. 

"W-what is it?" I fretted. I thought back to the Sky Pirate battle. Did they do something to Adorabat?!

"There's . . . poison inside of her," Badgerclops confirmed as he set the med kit onto the arm of the couch. I shook my head in disbelief. They did harm her, I just know it!

"POISON?! HOW COULD THE SKY PIRATES BE SO HEARTLESS AND COLD?!" I exploded. I held the little deputy tighter.

"I'm on the same page with you Mao!" Badgerclops sighed in relief. "Thankfully, I can whip up a special antidote to get rid of the poison. Adorabat'll wake up eventually, but until the antidote is done, she's gonna have a whole lot of side effects," he explained.

"I'll lay her on the couch." I was praying in my mind that she would be okay, but Badgerclops stopped me.

"Actually, I think it's better if you hold her for now." He smiled brightly. I slowly looked down at Adorabat, still unconscious. The tears gathered in my eyes. I will never leave her side. 

Ever. 

"Okay," I sniffled, my voice cracking. Badgerclops rubbed my back and went to the kitchen to make the antidote. I dropped myself on the couch and gazed at Adorabat still in my arms. "You're gonna be okay my tiny deputy. I..." I faltered, "I mark my words."

5 minutes later... 

Adorabat's POV:

I opened my eyes slightly and my vision was massively blurry. I felt really comfortable, as if I was being held by a teddy bear. Was it a teddy bear?! No, I'm pretty sure it's not. I heard a muffled voice and I tried to figure out who it was. "Mao Mao . . . Badgerclops...?" I croaked.

"It's me Adorabat, Mao Mao," the soft voice said. The muffled voice was clear and it was Mao Mao! 

"W-why is my vision still blurry?" I quavered, scared out of my mind.

"It's alright my little deputy. You're just waking up; it'll go away soon." Right when he said that, my vision cleared. I finally saw Mao Mao's face. His eyes looked watery and he looked a little happy. I coughed and black liquid splattered on the sofa. 

"I-I'm so sorry!" I blurted out. "I ruined the furniture!"

"That doesn't matter right now. All that matters is that you're awake," he stated solemnly. Mao set me down on the sofa and went to the bathroom. He came back with a few towels and placed them all over the sofa while wiping the black spot. He also had a garbage can in case I threw up I guess.

"Where's Badgerclops?" I asked weakly.

"He's making medicine to get rid of the poison inside of you," he answered as he picked me up again. "Speaking of poison, I've been meaning to ask you—do you know how the Sky Pirates poisoned you in the first place?" Mao Mao was angry just thinking about it, I could tell.

I shook violently as I told him. "Ratarang threw some sort of smoke bomb at me that had yellow smoke in it!" His eyes widened in fury and he gritted his teeth.

"Why that little—I'll make sure I beat him to the ground the next time I see that roach," Mao Mao scowled. He gently rubbed my head as he cradled me. "Try to calm down okay? I know it's scary, but you're alive right?" 

"Yeah . . . I just didn't want to tell you or Badgerclops what was going on because I knew y'all were gonna get super worried about me! I didn't want to upset you guys!" I sobbed.

Mao Mao got out of his cradling position and hugged me. I hugged him back as I could feel myself vibrate. "I know how you feel, but you CAN'T keep secrets from us all the time Adorabat! Do you know how terrified I was just carrying you because you passed out?!" He held me out so I could look right at his face. "YOU NEED TO TELL US SOONER OR THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE HURT YOU COULD HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE!" he stormed.

Everything went silent. Tears were running down Mao Mao's furry cheeks from his bright green eyes, which were turning red on the edges. My heart swelled up badly. He's right. I should've told them sooner, I should've told them sooner, I should've told them sooner! I told Mao something I'd never thought I tell him. I wailed, "Maybe it would've been better if you and Badgerclops never came . . . I'd save you all the heartbreak." 

Mao Mao's POV:

I heard every single word and I instantly regretted what I said. Why did I scream? Why did I take out my anger on Adorabat instead of remaining calm? Ugh, I HATE myself for that! 

"N-no . . . don't say that! None of this is your fault okay?" I comforted her. I hugged her again, but gently. "I'm just a little stressed out that's all. You can hate me all you want alright?" The little deputy nodded.  I chuckled lightly, trying to cheer her up.

"I promise to never keep secrets from you or Badgerclops ever again Mao Mao!" she vowed while she was still buried in my chest. Adorabat nudged my arms with her leg and I let go of her. She stood on my lap and smiled slightly while wiping her face. 

"Good. Don't be an idiot like me when you grow up okay?" I mentioned. She giggled sweetly like she always does. 

"Okay I-" she covered her mouth and pointed at the garbage can. I immediately grabbed it and held it under her head. I looked away as she threw up in the can. I heard Badgerclops's footsteps head to the living room.

"I'm glad you're awake Adorabat! I was worried sick about you!" He chimed in. Adorabat wiped her mouth as she looked up at him.

"Thanks. Is the an...anti..dote finished?" she hesitated.

"Yup! Now you don't have to experience all those other symptoms." Badgerclops held a cup of purple liquid and fed it to Adorabat. 

"WOW! I feel so much better! Thanks Badgerclops!" she bubbled.

"Anything for you little dude," he grinned. He turned over to me. "Also, I heard you yelling earlier before. Were you crying man?" Badgerclops wiped the tears that were still going down my face. Agh, I forgot my sadness was still showing! 

"Yeah, so what?" I angrily admitted. A hero always gets back on his/her feet, especially from emotions! Badgerclops rolled his eye and smirked at me. 

"It's OKAY to cry Mao Mao. I still have my hormones from like, 500 years ago!" We all laughed at Badgerclops's attempt to be funny. You know, I feel better after all of this happened. You wanna know exactly why? 

We're all here for each other. No matter what crazy shenanigans the three of us are going through, it all strangely works out in the end. Also because I get to torture that no good, booger eating, skin peeling, tooth pulling, heart aching, pathetic crusty rat.