Chapter 16

"Are you okay?" Ace asked as he set her onto her feet.

"Ya I'm fine." She muttered catching her breath. "I should stop dropping in on people like that."

Ace laughed and took in her appearance for the first time. She looked a lot like Lexi but his age, maybe a year younger. She was a golden-tan color and had baby blue eyes that shone brightly with knowledge and adventure. She had blond hair that fell down the back of her head like a waterfall and her delicate ears were upright. She wore snug black jeans, a blue t-shirt and white runners. He caught himself staring at her and shook his head slightly.

"So, you do dat often?" he asked her, totally confused.

"No, not really. But I have a knack on dropping in on people unexpectedly." She shrugged and smiled at him.

"If ya don't mind me askin', what were you doing up dere?"

She looked up at the sign and ran some fingers through her hair. "Na I don't mind you asking. My dad owns this hotel and I got assigned to change the sign today. I work here part-time. It ain't easy work though." she sighed frustrated. "It probably would've been easier if some no-good punk hadn't pushed the ladder out from under me."

"Well I'm glad to have been around to help. By the way, my name's Ace Bunny, and you are?"  he asked her, holding out his hand.

"Diane. Diane Gunning." She replied taking his hand and shaking it. "Well, thanks for saving me Ace, but I gotta get back to work, unfortunately. Well, hope to see ya around."She gave him a warm smile and a wink before turning back and heading towards the hotel lobby.

Ace hesitated for a second before realizing what had just happened. He blinked twice before a big grin crossed his face and he set off back towards HQ, his heart warmer and his mind dancing in the clouds.

The next day Ace woke up early, and felt that something was different that morning. He didn't quite know why, but he liked the feeling. He got up and went to the kitchen to obtain his breakfast. Lexi was at the table talking to Siamese and ,what seemed to be their shyest new member, Tommy as they ate.

Rev leaned against the wall in one corner of the kitchen. Giving swift glances between his morning pick-me-up shake and the white bunny who stood as well at the other corner of the room. Kari did notice the glances but simply focused her own eyes on the ground, away from the red bird. Cody sat next to his mother sandwiched between her and his father. The young coyote-cat half breed was still in his pj's accompanied with his bandanna. Slam and Danger where not that far off in the mane room playing a video game. Lastly, Max was in the kitchen whipping up some food.

Ace thought that seeing the hair would of given him a flash of aggravation, but nothing like that came to the yellow hero. Lexi smiled as she saw him enter the room. She expected him to take the empty set at her side like he had done every morning sens the original six had joined, but she felt her hart droop as he walked past her a took the empty set next to Tech. Practically on the other side of the table.

“Morning Ace.” Lexi said gently. Ace didn't seem to hear her as the others also gave there 'good mornings'.

“Morning everyone.” Ace replied. After saying that Max came to the table, taking the empty set next to Lexi, and smiled at her. She smiled back before trying to return to the conversation with the other two Loonatics. Ace felt a serge of anger flow through him as he saw this, but suddenly his mind began to soar into thought. It's landing spot wasn't Max and Lexi, no, it wasn't even on a fellow team mate. It was of her. What was her name? It escaped him, but wait! It returned to him. Diane, Diane Gunning was it.

Els where in the kitchen one could see Rev slowly approaching Kari.

“Um,-hay-Kari.” Rev began nervously taping his fingers against his glass.

“Yes?” She replied.

“Oh-well-ya-see.-Um-I-was-wondering-if-,um,-Tech's-been-tellin'-us-about-a-meteor-shower-thats-coming-in-a-couple-of-days-and-I-was-wondering-if-you-would-wont-to-see-it-with-me.-No?-all-right.”

Kari stood there trying to process every thing, as he gave her no time to reply. Rev turned to walk away, but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

 “Rev wait.”  He looked at the hand on his shoulder to see as aqua green hand. He turned to reface her. “I'd love to go with you."

“Y-you, you would? Yay! Well-thanks-Kari.-I-guess-I'll-talk-to-you-later.” Rev started to walk back away, but jest tripped over his own foot.

Kari giggled before helping him back up. 

Chapter 20

Duck quaked himself into the middle of the main room that now harbored all the Loonatics, with the exception of there dear leader. Speaking of who, was vicariously trying to get through the midmorning crowds of Acmetroupalic.

 

“Guys!Guys!” Duck yelled getting all of there attention, “You'll never guess what.”

“What is it Duck?” Tech asked from his position next to Siamese. At this time Lexi looked out the window to see Ace racing towards HQ.

“It's Ace! He's got a girlfriend! Some hotel worker!” Duck blurted out with a wide grin on his face. Lexi went expressionless as she felt her heart being torn to peaces. She could feel warmth on her eye's but had nothing coming out, yet.

“Ace-got-a-girlfriend-who,-how,-whats-her-name-?” Rev asked before the front door hissed open to reveal a wheezing Ace, trying to catch his breath. The site of him was to much, Lexi speed off to her room. Seen by no one, except Max. As the mettle door closed behind her tears fell down her checks, and she slowly slide down the door to her knees.

She bared her face into her hands. She wasn't fully aware of why she was crying. Lexi prayed that no one would come or ask her why she ran off.

“Hum, well if, Ace, you don't want her. I'll take Diane.” Duck said with a ****y smile.

“DUCK!” Ace growled.

“Hay, Duck, if you want a date go ask Zadavia!” Shouted Kari.

"I DONT LIKE ZADAVIA!!!" Duck yelled.

"Sure you don't." Kari said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"So-Ace-who's-Diane? Are-you-really-going-out-with-her? How'd-you-meet-her? When-did-you-meet-her? When-do-we-get-to-meet-her? Does-she-even-know-your-a-Loonatic?" Rev asked the panting Ace who suddenly looked confused and embarrassed.

Ace was wondering what Rev had said before realizing he had said Diane's name. His confused expression turned into one of fury as he glared at Duck and started to advance on him. "You told them! I cant believe you! You are such a slimy, backstabbing, low-life..."

Tommy and Max grabbed his arms before he could get any closer to Duck. They struggled to keep the leader of the mallard, who was grinning to himself despite the fearful predicament he was in.

"Hey you said nothing about not telling anybody! And they would've found out anyway. Better sooner then later, right?" Duck asked, shrugging and still wearing that smug look on his face.

"When I get my hands on you, your gonna wish you were never born!" Ace growled, still trying to get at him.

Tech walked over and put a hand on the agitated bunny's shoulder. "Ace, calm yourself. He's right, we would've found out sooner or later. Its better now and from him, then on that pesky gossip show 'The Entertainer'."

Ace stopped struggling against Tommy and Max and looked up at Tech. "Ya but I bet with his big beak, its gonna be out in the open by tomorrow."

Kari nodded sadly. "Probably. But you still didn't answer Rev's questions. Tell us about her. And how come Duck knew but we didn't?"

"Because he followed me there." Ace said through gritted teeth. "And no Duck, she wouldn't go out with you if you were the last guy in Acmetroplis!" He sighed before straightening up and started answering Rev's questions. But he felt good to get it off his chest after.

Lexi was still in her room, not wanting to believe what she had heard. Someone else had found out how great a guy Ace was and had beaten her to the punch of getting him. But she still felt miserable. She didn't want to talk to anyone about it either, so she decided to get her mind off it.

She got up and headed towards the virtual trainer. After about 40 minutes, she felt really good. She had forgotten about the whole Ace thing, for now at least. She smiled as her score showed on the board. Her best one yet! Lexi grabbed a pink towel and wiped her face beforehearing a voice behind her.

"Hey."

PurpleGirly wrote:

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Oooooooooooooh!

Jelousy!  I wonder who's behind Lexi?!

Will Ace and Lexi get together, I have to know!!! (Sorry, hyper and sressed at the same time, Is that even possible!!!)

Anyway, I can't wait for the next chapter!

Ace and Diane (Sorry but...) Icky couple, Ace and Lexi are so much better!

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Chapter 21

Lexi jumped slightly at the sudden sound of Max's voice. She turned around to look at him, “Oh, hay Max. What's up?”

“He looked around the room and asked, “What where you doing?”

Lexi place her towel back with ones that had the colorers of the other loonatics, “Training, i guess this being your first full day as a Loonatics you don't know much about are virtual training room.”

Max, keeping his eye's to the floor, replied with a, “Well, guess not.”

“You want to try a team battle program?”

He looked up, his emerald eye's locking onto hers, “Huh?”

Lexi tossed him a staff. He caught it, but only just. She lightly giggled, “A team battle.”

She walked over to the rooms control box, and typed in some commands. The room changed into a battle ground. They trained together for a few hours before parting to there rooms.

The next few days pasted by quickly, up to the night of the Meteor shower. At the top of Loonatics HQ sat all the Loonatics on a balcony. Tech sat next to Siamese, sharing a blanket with her. In front of them on the ground was Cody and Anne, who he had asked to come and watch the shower with him. Rev and Kari where at the railing standing hand in hand. Slam, Duck, and Tommy where jest wandering around. Lexi stood with a little distance between her and the rest of the team. Max was doing the same. And Ace sat next to Diane, Unknown to them they where being watched by a set of eyes. Ace wrapped his arm around Diane.

Lexi looked away from Ace and his date, as she felt tears fall from her cheeks. Lexi had been able to hold them back almost the hole time sins she had learned about Ace and Diane, but now. Seeing them together, she didn't know if she'd be able to handle it.

'Why am I crying?' Lexi thought, 'Do I really care this much about Ace? Do I really want to be with him?”

“Lexi?”Max interrupted her thoughts. Lexi looked at him teary eyed then quickly hid her face from him, but he had seen the tears.

He looked at her in concern, “Are you crying?”

Max felt he knew a little to well why. It was obvious, and he was quit surprised that he seemed to be the only one to realize.

“Listen, Lex, I know I haven't been hear all that long. And this is probably non of my business,” he placed a hand on her shoulder, “but this is about Ace. Isn't it?”

Lexi looked at max, tears still in her eye's.

He put his other hand on her other shoulder, “Ace means means a lot you. Maybe more then you'd like to admit, and now you see him hear with Diane. Ignoring you.”

Max felt her shoulders drop as she let out a sigh. The tears seemed to start coming out faster, so he rubber shoulders comfortingly, “No, No. Don't cry Lex. You don't need to be sad. I'll comfort you.”

She looked up at him with a slight giggle, and a smile. Max reflected it. He looked at the necklaces she wore and placed the pendent in his hand.

“Y-you know, “He sounded slightly nerves, “it was suppose to be a jester of more then friend ship when I gave you this.”

Lexi slightly blushed, as the two of them stared at each other awkwardly. They grinned at each other and found themselves leaning into each other.

At that moment, jest by chance, Ace had taken a glans around at his friends, found his eye's locked onto Lexi and Max. For some reason he felt a flash of rage course through him.

I have to give credit for this chapter, all to Doggirl.

Chapter 22

He grit his teeth and forced himself to look back up at the sky, trying his hardest to not watch Lexi and Max. He felt angry and tense. He told himself over and over not to look at them, that they had a right to be together if they pleased. But something inside was set up in flames when he had seen them kiss. He then sighed. He was happy with Diane, he knew that. And he knew that she was happy with him. But there were some feelings that he just couldn't get out no matter what.

Diane felt him tense up. She glanced over at him and looked into his sapphire blue eyes. She could see sorrow, pain and anger in them but mostly confusion. She wondered what had bothered him so much. She got up and pulled on his hand, indicating him to follow her. He gave her a confused look but also got up and followed her to the other side of the balcony, away from the team.

"Wonder what they're up to." Duck said to Slam and Tommy. "Maybe I should find out."

"Duck! Cant you leave them alone? Its their lives not yours." Tommy told him sternly.

"Chill. It was just an idea." Duck muttered before resuming to look up into the sky.

"Ace, are you okay?" Diane asked softly.

Ace sighed. He didn't answer but a swift look in Lexi's direction told Diane all she needed to know.

"You have strong feelings for her don't you?" she questioned.

"Had." he muttered. "She's with Max now. Nothing I can do to stop it. Its her life. I can't control it."

Diane stared at him, concern and understanding filled her mind. She knew what she had to say, but was scared that her heart would break if he agreed. "You know," She whispered, "I might not be Lexi, but I do have feelings for you. If you want, maybe we should stop our relationship. I'd understand if you want to."

Ace glanced at her horrified. "No. I don't wanna stop our relationship Diane. I know I had strong feelings for Lexi and it might be awhile before they're gone, but I definitely wanna be with you. Please don't think otherwise." He held her hands in his and gazed into her eyes.

Diane smiled up at him. "Okay, but promise me that we can be open with each other. No more holding things inside. I might not be part of the team but I am here for you Ace. I always will be."

"I know." Ace grinned down at her before pulling her closer and both of them leaning in, faces just centimeters apart.

"Papa, when is the meteor shower going to start?" Cody asked, turning behind him to look at his parents.

"It should be starting anytime now." Tech replied when suddenly they heard Anne yelling.

"I see some! I see some!" she squealed, pointing to some lights that were zooming across the sky.

Cody turned around and watched with her, pointing out as many as he could and trying to count them.

Tech chuckled at the kids enthusiasm. He noticed Siamese staring at him happily. He turned to her. "What?"

She smiled even more. "I'm just happy that you and Cody are getting along so well." she answered. "I'm glad we're together again. I hope that we wont be separated again."

Tech looked down at her affectionately and put his arm around her shoulder. She sighed and leaned into him staring up at the stars. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

Rev and Kari watched the meteors shoot across the sky. They seemed to be in their own little world. It contained, them and the great blue heavens above. Kari felt Rev's hand grasp hers. She smiled as she looked up at the stars, her heart beating fast and her mind in a peaceful bliss. She put her head on his shoulder and they watched the shower like that, as one.

Chapter 23

Lexi and Max parted from there kiss and stared into each others eyes, two sets of emerald green. There eyes twinkled as they caught the light of the streaking stars in the sky.

Lexi looked up, “Well...It's beginning.”

Max looked at her and smiled, “Ya, it's starting.”

They took each others hand and looked up at the night sky. Lexi looked away for a moment to look at her friends. Her eyes getting stuck on Ace hold Diane. She drew her gaze away with a small pain in her heart.

“Max,” He looked at her as she looked at him, “you need to know that my feelings for Ace my stay in me fore a long time. Making a relationship between you and me very difficult. For all I know I my never get over Ace.

Max gently placed his hand under her chin, “Then I'll wait for 'never' to come. Right hear, by your side.”

Lexi smiled and kissed him for the second time that night. By now others, besides Ace, where taking interest in the two kissing bunnies.

"Looks like they're having fun." Siamese whispered, pointing over at Lexi and Max.

Tech glance over at them and shook his head, grinning. "Another couple on the team. We seem to be getting a lot of them. Wonder how Ace is gonna take it." He then looked over at Ace who was staring at Diane and the two were laughing at some joke.

Suddenly they heard another voice.

"Get a room!" Duck yelled at them.

That got everyone's attention and they all stared at the two bunnies who hurriedly separated and started to blush deeply.

“Aww-Duck-let-them-be.-So-what-if-theres-a-nether-couple-on-the-team. Theres-what-already-three!” Rev said.

Tech looked down at Cody and Anne giggling at the adults behaver. Tech saw that there tails had become intertwined.

“Um..Rev best make that 4 already” Tech said with a grinn as he pointed at the two children.

Cody jolted up as he soon became as red as his bandanna, “W-we, we're..”

Siamese lightly laughed, “It's okay Cody, you two just have fun and watch the shower.”

Cody sat back down, redder thin ever. Everyone settled back down and looked back up to the night sky. After a few minuets Ace got up and leaned next to the door, away from everyone els. His mined kept flip-flopping on him. Lexi looked over at him.

“I'll be right back Max.” She said.

“Oh, sure thing Lex.” He replied.

Lexi got up and started for Ace, half way she stopped and took a deep breath then finished her way to Ace. She knew what to do, she needed to tell and talk with him. Even though she didn't know what the out come would be.

"Hey." she greeted him.

He looked at her and smiled "Hey Lex, whats up?"

Despite the churning sensation in her stomach, she managed to say. "The meteors."

He chuckled before staring up at the sky. Lexi leaned on the balcony next to him, wondering how she should say what was on her mind. She wanted to be straight out with it but something held it back. She sighed, frustrated.

Hearing this, Ace turned to her. "You okay Lex?" he asked.

"Ace, we need to talk." she answered finally.

"Um....okay. What about?" he asked her confused. He knew the words 'we need to talk' usually meant trouble and he hoped it wouldn't break their friendship.

"Well...." she said slowly.

Chapter 25

Lexi laid in bed thinking. She had been up fore about 10 minuets now. Her mined kept replaying the night before. Manly the conversation with Ace she had, his words echoing though her mined. "Lex, you'll always be in my heart. No matter what happens. Even though we're not together, we still are. In our hearts and dreams, and maybe those dreams will come true someday."

Lexi sat up and looked at her night stand. There where a few framed photos on it. They where of her and the other original six. She picked up one of her and Ace. It had been taken when they had first become Loonatics and where first getting to know each other. She smiled at it, but thin frowned.

She flipped it over and took it out of the frame. Some how having it there made her feel guilty. Lexi replaced the photo of one that had been taken last night of Max and herself, and sat it back on the night stand. She slipped the photo of Ace and herself under her pillow, she didn't want to get rid of it she just didn't want it in plane site any more. She laid there for a few more minuets, holding her hand on her cheek where Ace had kissed her. With a sigh she got up and wondered out to the mane room. Every one was awake, either at the kitchen table or doing regular every morning stuff.

Outside in the main room, Cody and Rev were playing a game of chess with Kari on the sidelines watching.

Rev was in deep concentration, hoping that he would figure out how to beat the young Coyote at his own game. Finally, he moved a piece forward and sat back in his chair, smirking.

Cody studied the board for a few seconds before moving his queen and knocking over Rev's king, winning the match. He smirked at the roadrunner's astonished expression.

Kari smiled and pulled Cody's arm into the air. "And your winner is, Cody!!!"

Rev still looked down at the chess board in disbelievement. How could he have lost!? He snapped out of it and shook Cody's hand in a good sportsmanship manner. "Good match." He chuckled.

"Likewise." Cody replied.

Just then Lexi came into the room with Siamese. Cody jumped up and ran over to them. "Mama, Mama, I won the chess match!"

"Thats great honey!" Siamese exclaimed giving him a hug.

"Well done champ!" Lexi laughed ruffling his hair. He laughed when she did that to him.

"Rematch!" shouted Rev pointing at Cody. The young coyote smiled before rushing over replying, "Your on!"

They were interrupted by a couple of voices that were growing louder and louder by the second. Ace and Duck walked into the room arguing about something. They kept walking till they were out in another hallway. The other Loonatics could still hear them arguing.

"Your just afraid because you know that I'll beat you!"

"Ha! The day you beat me is the day that pigs fly!"

"Pinkster flew that day we met him!"

"Sorry to burst your bubble Doc, but he was on a hover-cycle! That doesn't really count as flying."

"Does so!"

"Does not!"

"Does so!"

"Does not!"

"Does so!"

"Will you quit shovin' me!"

"You stop shoving me!"

CRASH!!!

"Now look what you did!"

"Me?! It was all your fault, fuzz foot!"

"It was your fault, webbed feet!"

"Hair-ball!"

"Feather-head!"

"Dust-Bunny!"

"Feather duster!"

The voices grew farther away until the main room was in complete silence. The Loonatics looked at each other before the original 4 started laughing. Max, Tommy, Kari and Siamese looked at their teammates confused.

"I'm guessing that happens often?" Kari asked.

"Hahaha...ya.-In-fact,-it's-considered-not normal-if-they-don't!" Rev replied making the other 3 roar with laughter.

Little did they know that just on the other side of that door, the two figures in question were listening intently.

"Ha! We did it again!" Duck whispered triumphantly.

"Mission accomplished!" Ace muttered, smirking as the two high-fived each other and walked towards the kitchen.

Chapter 28

“Before this gets to complicated, I'm calling Zadavia.” Ace said getting up.

“But I don't want her to know!” Duck responded.

“Me nether.” Kari added.

“Sorry, but we all know we haft to.” Lexi said to them as Ace pressed the button that summoned Zadavias holographic image.

“Yes? What is the crises?” The hologram asked.

“Dem.” Ace replied pointing to Kari and Duck.

“So this Shadow Demon is your sister, Kari, and Duck your some how related to Duck All Mighty.” Lexi summarized, “How? Duck you said you were an orphan.”

“I guess background information would be best to begin with.” Kari started, “Duck and I grew up together. At The Acme Orphanage. We're both orphans. Sort of.”

They all looked at them in a small state of shock and confusion.

“Wait Wait. Sort of?” Ace asked, “How can you be sort of Orphans?”

“Well...” Kari though. How could they word this? It wasn't the easiest subject to discus, or in there case to explain. Even Duck opened his bill to say something, but nothing came out. Then, with a weak smile, Duck got an idea.

“Hold off a sec.” Duck held up his index fingers as he ran off to his room. The others waited in tens silents. Amazing how long a few minuets can be. Duck came back with a yellow folder. He flopped them onto the table in front of Ace.

“Maybe these files can help.” Duck said.

“Ya.” Are agreed recognizing the papers, “They'll explain everything. I hope.”

Ace picked them up and gave a swift look through them. Visiting recored laced with a document hear and there. Ace looked at the papers then back at the two. His look was quizzical. Apparently the papers didn't explain every thing.

Duck sighed, “Kari and I grew up together. In the same orphanage, like brother and sister.”

“No wonder you fight, allot.” Tech commented.

“Ya well,” Kari continued, “Duck and I got separated at seven.”

Ducks eyes seemed to glaze over, “That's when my father stepped in.”...

"Ha ha, you can't get me Kari!!!!" a young Duck yelled as he raced away from a 7 year old Kari.

"Just watch me!" She yelled as she gave chase to her best friend. The two kids ran farther away from their orphanage group and over to a grassy park. At the top of a small hill, Kari jumped and tackled Duck. The two laughed as they rolled down the hill and laid still in the lush green grass to catch their breath.

"That was fun!" Kari giggled.

"Lets play hide n seek!" Duck suggested.

"Alright. Not It!!!" Kari yelled before running off.

Duck laughed before closing his eyes and counting to ten. He reopened them and set off to find her. After 10 minutes of searching, he still hadn't found her. He set off up the hill to get a better view of his surroundings. At the top he still couldn't see her, or the orphanage group. Starting to panic, he ran down the side towards where they last were, calling her name feverishly "Kari? Kari! KARI!!! Where are you?!?!"

The young duck repetitively called her name, searching, when he heard a scream.

“Kari?” said young Dane as he spotted an older mallered holding Kari by her shirt

“No.” said the older duck. He dropped Kari and ran.......

“Next day Kari was taken by her sister.” Duck finished as Kari nodded in agreement

“We hadn't see each other since.” Kari and Duck exchanging sibling like grins.

“So you guys were best friends?” asked Ace.

“I guess so.” Kari half-laughed, “wouldn't of guessed it now.”

“Yup, we were in till Kari left. Then I saw pinkstuff and we became friends”

“that's how we're sort of orphans” Kari finished.

“so you guys were just left alone?” asked lexi

“Alone? What do you mean alone?” Duck asked in turn.

“You and Pinkster.”

Duck looked down “After Kari was adopted there was very few kids left in the orphanage. So in a way, Yes. Pinkstuff and I where alone.”

“But Duck, I don't get it, how did you know dat it was your father so long ago? And how do you know its him dis time?”Ace asked.

“Um... Well...”

Siamese712 wrote:

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Thanks guys.

Oh and Maei I'm Siamese to every one, I'm allright with Si too (pronounced Sigh). Forget the hole 712 gig.

 

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       Alrighty then, Siamese  

sPaDe-ThE-bUnNy wrote:

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wow Si you could be author of a Loonatics Unleashed story and the story you wrote is maybe about love and family.then again you're story is good keep up the good work!

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