Treasure Town ~ Main Square

[NebulaDreams]

"Lucario are pretty strong, right? Your aura reading must've been incredibly resourceful in battle. You certainly seem the type to enjoy the sport, no?

"Yeah, I guess you could say I do." She tugged on an aura sensor. "I mean, when I'm in the fray, I enjoy it, and sometimes, you get one of those days where you're just itchin' for a fight. All Pokemon love a fight; it's in their blood, and that's kind of why our trainer system exists back home. But you know how fighting types are called fighting types, though? I'd like to think that's kind of bullshit. I don't really like the idea that bein' one type defines what I am. I'm not all just a big fight nut, otherwise, that'd be boring. Not knocking those that are proper into it, but that training lifestyle's just not for me."

She started tugging on those sensors. "I've lived through it. It gets depressing just existing for the sake of a fight, though. You forget who you are. Every fight starts to feel like the next one, and then the next one. I said I could eat about a hundred of these steamed buns, but I'd probably get really sick of 'em after the hundredth and one bun. And then those buns just keep coming, and coming, and it gets to the point where you go off them completely, but you can't stop yourself because your body keeps telling you they taste great even though your mind wants Arceus to take the wheel."

Oh, crap. Curio caught herself in the middle of another complicated and outlandish analogy. She already went off enough of a tangent before about a pair of worn out socks. "I went way off base there. But still, don't let your love of fighting or your instincts control your life."

If I had your aura abilities, it'd make my life so much easier. I won't have to worry about somemon attacking me out of nowhere, and I can avoid any quarrels at all."

"You've still got this--"she tapped her temple--"so that's what you need to avoid those quarrels. I don't mean being a smart alec, I just mean that there are plenty of ways to get out of a scrape without having to punch anyone's teeth in. I got a whole gang of Meowth to fuck off by bribing them with silvervine, and I didn't even harm a hair on their head." She sighed. "Another Riolu asked me the same thing once, and I'll tell you the same thing I told 'em: whatever my strengths are, they don't define yours."

 

[Adamhuarts]

You forget who you are. Every fight starts to feel like the next one, and then the next one. I said I could eat about a hundred of these steamed buns, but I'd probably get really sick of 'em after the hundredth and one bun. And then those buns just keep coming, and coming, and it gets to the point where you go off them completely, but you can't stop yourself because your body keeps telling you they taste great even though your mind wants Arceus to take the wheel."

Oh, crap. Curio caught herself in the middle of another complicated and outlandish analogy. She already went off enough of a tangent before about a pair of worn out socks. "I went way off base there. But still, don't let your love of fighting or your instincts control your life."

"I sure hope not. I'm not really a typical example of a Roselia myself. Others of my kind would strike back at the first sign of danger, meanwhile running away is always the first thing that comes to my mind. Can't even aim poison sting right," Cynthian said with a chuckle.

"You've still got this--"she tapped her temple--"so that's what you need to avoid those quarrels. I don't mean being a smart alec, I just mean that there are plenty of ways to get out of a scrape without having to punch anyone's teeth in. I got a whole gang of Meowth to fuck off by bribing them with silvervine, and I didn't even harm a hair on their head." She sighed. "Another Riolu asked me the same thing once, and I'll tell you the same thing I told 'em: whatever my strengths are, they don't define yours."

"My strengths huh..." Cynthian rested his head on his flower and watched the clouds drift by. "I hope I can find what they are soon, otherwise I'll fall behind the rest of you guys. I should ask Brisa for another spar again, but she hits really hard. I managed to win our last one, but it was a fluke. The next time, she'd see the sleep powder coming, and she'd be prepared for it."

Cynthian shuddered at the thought. "That reminds me, I heard you fought Starr days ago. I don't know if it was for my sake, but thanks for doing that regardless."

 

[NebulaDreams]

"I sure hope not. I'm not really a typical example of a Roselia myself. Others of my kind would strike back at the first sign of danger, meanwhile running away is always the first thing that comes to my mind. Can't even aim poison sting right," Cynthian said with a chuckle.

"I can't say the Roselia I knew was a typical case either. She studied botany or some shit like that. Typical for a plant, but not typical for a Pokemon."

"My strengths huh..." Cynthian rested his head on his flower and watched the clouds drift by. "I hope I can find what they are soon, otherwise I'll fall behind the rest of you guys. I should ask Brisa for another spar again, but she hits really hard. I managed to win our last one, but it was a fluke. The next time, she'd see the sleep powder coming, and she'd be prepared for it."

"See, sleep powder! That's one thing I can't do. I could steal a lot of things if I sent people to sleep."

Cynthian shuddered at the thought. "That reminds me, I heard you fought Starr days ago. I don't know if it was for my sake, but thanks for doing that regardless."

"You're welcome. Yeah, she just really rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, we should all aim to do our best, but tearing into your freakin' teammates isn't the way to do it."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"I can't say the Roselia I knew was a typical case either. She studied botany or some shit like that. Typical for a plant, but not typical for a Pokemon."

"Really? I studied botany too! Well, I won't call myself a grand expert, but I did attend a number of expeditions to retrieve tons of plant samples for Treasure Town's Research Center over the past few years. Those were the days," Cynthian said with a dreamy expression. "I've been lucky enough to retrieve at least a dozen previously unknown plant species, and a few of them were rose plants too."

"See, sleep powder! That's one thing I can't do. I could steal a lot of things if I sent people to sleep."

Cynthian burst into a small fit of laughter. "If I had Sleep Powder when I was a budew, I might've been able to survive the daycare. I'm grateful to Brisa because it's only because of our spar that I finally learned how to use the move. I don't enjoy fighting, but I can't deny its merits."

"You're welcome. Yeah, she just really rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, we should all aim to do our best, but tearing into your freakin' teammates isn't the way to do it."

"You're right. We wouldn't get anything done if we're at each other's throats," Cynthian said with a nod. "I never did anything to her, or even know anything about her, but she had to spit figurative fire at me. Some people are just like that. It takes many colors to fill a whole."

 

[NebulaDreams]

"Really? I studied botany too! Well, I won't call myself a grand expert, but I did attend a number of expeditions to retrieve tons of plant samples for Treasure Town's Research Center over the past few years. Those were the days," Cynthian said with a dreamy expression. "I've been lucky enough to retrieve at least a dozen previously unknown plant species, and a few of them were rose plants too."

"Ah, well that sounds interesting! So that's another talent of yours! I would talk more about it but I barely know squat about plants. And I dunno where that Roselia even went, so who knows where she is or what she's doing right now?"

"You're right. We wouldn't get anything done if we're at each other's throats," Cynthian said with a nod. "I never did anything to her, or even know anything about her, but she had to spit figurative fire at me. Some people are just like that. It takes many colors to fill a whole."

"Reminds me of the time I pissed off an Abra just for breathing the same air as him. No, literally, he told me he didn't want that wildling stench to invade his nasal cavities or whatever that means. And I was stuck with that asshole for nearly 5 years."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Ah, well that sounds interesting! So that's another talent of yours! I would talk more about it but I barely know squat about plants. And I dunno where that Roselia even went, so who knows where she is or what she's doing right now?"

"I wouldn't really call it a talent, but thanks," Cynthian said with flushed cheeks. "I hope the Roselia is okay though. If luck is on her side, I'm sure she must've found a way to achieve her dream as a botanist. I'd have liked to meet her if our worlds weren't separate. I'd love to meet more of my kind."

"Reminds me of the time I pissed off an Abra just for breathing the same air as him. No, literally, he told me he didn't want that wildling stench to invade his nasal cavities or whatever that means. And I was stuck with that asshole for nearly 5 years."

Cynthian chuckled. "Really? He sounds really conceited. The Abra I've met in a settlement before was rather talkative on the other hand, he'd ask so many questions about pretty much everything because they don't get much visitors in their village. I didn't mind it much as it gave me an excuse to talk about my interests."

 

[NebulaDreams]

"I wouldn't really call it a talent, but thanks," Cynthian said with flushed cheeks. "I hope the Roselia is okay though. If luck is on her side, I'm sure she must've found a way to achieve her dream as a botanist. I'd have liked to meet her if our worlds weren't separate. I'd love to meet more of my kind."

"Well, last time I saw her, she was alive, so I can say that at least."

Cynthian chuckled. "Really? He sounds really conceited. The Abra I've met in a settlement before was rather talkative on the other hand, he'd ask so many questions about pretty much everything because they don't get much visitors in their village. I didn't mind it much as it gave me an excuse to talk about my interests."

"Oh, I would've preferred literally any other kind of Abra than him. He still talked a lot, but he would not shut the fuck up about how smart he was and how dumb all us wildlings were, just because he could count to ten faster than any of us could when we were tots. And then it turned out he originally came from the wild as well."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Oh, I would've preferred literally any other kind of Abra than him. He still talked a lot, but he would not shut the fuck up about how smart he was and how dumb all us wildlings were, just because he could count to ten faster than any of us could when we were tots. And then it turned out he originally came from the wild as well."

"He was from the wild too? That must've been embarrassing. Tell me he grew a bit humble after that." Cynthian smiled and stuffed down the rest of his steamed bun.

"Hey, I just thought of something. When we both evolve, why don't we come back to a place like this and see who can eat the most steamed buns? I want to see if you really can stuff down a hundred."

 

[NebulaDreams]

"He was from the wild too? That must've been embarrassing. Tell me he grew a bit humble after that." Cynthian smiled and stuffed down the rest of his steamed bun.

"Well, he humbled at some point, yeah. He didn't do a complete 180, still a bit insufferable in places, but a part of him wanted to make it up to us for all the shit he said. After what he went through, I kind of understood why, but never mind."

"Hey, I just thought of something. When we both evolve, why don't we come back to a place like this and see who can eat the most steamed buns? I want to see if you really can stuff down a hundred."

"Hell yeah, I'd be down for that." Curio smiled, standing up from her seat. "So... should we get going then to whatever place they want us to be at? Or how about we make it a race? Last one there has to pay for all the steamed bun-- no, that doesn't work. Again, I'm sure Diyem's paying us here. Forget the race, then."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"You'd easily win in a race. I don't exactly have the most agile legs."Cynthian swung his short legs just to demonstrate, then he looked back up at Curio. "But you're right, we should head back now. I think most of them ought to be around the dojo."

Cynthian got down and hoisted his large backpack. His lips squirmed and his legs trembled, but he felt he could manage. Maybe. "Well, shall we?"

<><><><>

 

[Namohysip]

Roughly a week passed with relatively few events to deal with. Once again, Darkwhite stopped appearing after her strange appearance at the Guild, presumably off causing mischief in some other part of the world. After some calculated risks among God Squad and Wigglytuff’s Guild, they decided to put some weight on Darkwhite’s words and focused their efforts on searching for Team Spice within the Grass Continent only.

Nate and Dave’s efforts to inform the others of their thoughts about Balm and Cepa were met with cautious agreement, though it seemed that Balm was still too weak to say much, and he was too preoccupied with finding Thyme and Pepper to give much more. All he had divulged was that their world was fine, save for a few abnormalities that led to them investigating this world instead.

Balm and Cepa, after gaining their strength, decided to leave to speak with others that they might know in the Grass Continent, leaving for some hidden land. They returned with nothing, but said that Team Spice is not there—which made sense, as they had apparently traveled off the continent to check.

And then, one day, Maple called everyone to gather in Treasure Town’s main square at the top of noon.

She had three things on her. First, she held a bag that jangled loosely with several badges, at least thirty in total. Second, she held a few of those odd stones, likely the ones that had been brought back for analysis. And finally, she also had with her another bag that was much smaller, that sounded like they had several tiny, ceramic tiles inside.

And then, she spoke with a smile, though her eyes were still serious. “We found them.”

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma sighed. "I feel like there's a 'but' coming."

 

[Namohysip]

Maple nodded at Necrozma. “Traces of their path led us to Aegis Cave. There were several abnormalities within, suggesting that Team Spice, or perhaps something else, is waiting inside. This is particularly concerning as the normal inhabitants of that place—the Regi Legends, in addition to a civilization of Unown—are all missing. The Dungeon is completely empty. As such…” Maple raised the final bag and tossed it to the nearest member, in this case Dave, who caught it in one paw. He briefly marveled in half-interest, half-annoyance that he was able to catch it in that way at all. “…We have provided for you the necessary materials to traverse the Dungeon’s internal puzzles on its own.”

Within the bag were several small squares, each one with Unown runes on them in several letters. The selection was limited and exact, enough to spell out ICE, ROCK, and STEEL.

“Your mission is to go into this Dungeon and rescue Team Spice. We will remain behind as backup in case this threat is something that I can also damage, but considering the strange properties of the Dungeon when we first tried to enter, it may be safest for us to not go with you directly. Our powers were suppressed the moment we got near the halfway point, and we decided then to retreat.”

 

[Namohysip]

Maple’s eyes swept over the group. “We have the Waypoints set up, backup posted by the entrance, and everything else as ready as we can make them. When everyone is prepared, we will depart before evening. Also… we finished analyzing these strange stones we found, and while we couldn’t determine much… We were able to at least determine one thing. There seems to be an emptiness within these stones, energy wise, such that it seems to siphon energy away. However, it cannot seem to hold onto that energy; something else needs to be added to it… But we do not know much more beyond that.”

“An empty energy inside?” Owen asked. “Weird… No idea what would be able to go inside?”

“We don’t know if that’s even what it’s meant to do,” said Maple. “It was only an observation from our analyst in Destiny Village. He tends to come up with strange hypotheticals all the time.

“And lastly,” Maple held up one of the bags. “We have some gifts for you all. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the items later, but we have for you the latest iterations of Destiny Village’s Guild badges. You are now all provisional members of Arceus’ Guild. It has a holographic interface, group communication capabilities through voice as well as text, mutual geolocation between team members, and various other applications that have been built inside thanks to Destiny Village’s constant efforts to technological advancement.” Maple spoke as if it was recited from some sales pitch, but since it was free…

The Badges were passed around, golden in color and shining like they’d been all thoroughly polished. Lightweight for their size, and some of them were larger or smaller depending on the intended recipient. “Place them on your head and hold the center button to link them to your person,” Maple said. “From there, several commands become gesture- and thought-sensitive.”

Owen was quick to try it out, reminded of how TMs operated, and crossed his eyes upward when he heard a small beeping noise. He pulled it away and squinted, pressing the button again. Instantly, it projected a flickering, and then solid image of several objects and icons, none of them that Owen recognized, before it suddenly shifted to what appeared to be a form with several blank spaces.

“The first thing I would like you do to,” Maple said as several of the others found their way to the same page, “is fill out information for your identification profile. It has already determined your species—even yours, Necrozma, I made sure of that—but the rest can be done by you. For one, your name. Now, I know you all have names native to your land… but to be frank, Owen, and Dave are very strange names here, and they might unnerve or confuse locals. You should think of a local name to blend in.” Maple waved dismissively. “I would give you time for this, but right now that time is short. Focus instead on preparing for departure to Aegis Cave.”

"Names to blend in?" Owen repeated, frowning. "Like... um... Apple, or Honey, or..." Owen wondered. "Pasta?"

Maple tilted her head. "You catch on fast. How did you know those were native-sounding names?"

"Er, no reason..." Then, an idea flashed in his mind. "Oh! Then I'll put my native name as Tamato!"

 

[windskull]

Holographic interface? Geolocation? Nip understood few of these words. But he was pretty sure all he needed to know was that he needed to keep ahold of it. He got the idea though that he didn't really need to worry about it - at least, he hoped not - so he focused instead on following the same actions that Owen performed.

He yelped when the holographic image popped up, fumbling and nearly dropping the badge. That. That was not natural. Experimentally, he waved a paw through the projection before turning to glance at Soda. "You. Zoroark. Soda, right? Did you make this?" He gestured to the hologram. "What sort of illusion is this and what purpose does it serve?"

 

[Namohysip]

"What, just because it's not a real object you think I made it?" Soda scoffed. "Nah. I have no idea how it works. Pretty nifty, though, isn't it? Main purpose is to store information and communicate with others. It's got a few games on there, too, last I checked... I'm damn good at Pentris, you know. There's a whole world in that thing, in a way, all connected to others just like it around the world. We based the technology off of that gizmo over on the Water Continent used to map the world, some sort of database. Upscaled it, and here we are." He rolled his eyes. "Technology marches forward, I guess."

 

[windskull]

"Well, it behaves like a Zoroark's illusions," Nip replied, focusing his attention back on the projection. "Seems real, but it's not." He was alright with dropping the subject at that though, accepting the answer.

That just left him to figure out a names. Based on Owen's answer, he could at least infer that using a berry for a name would be acceptable. But which one should he choose? Orans were useful, but common. Same with sitrus. Cheri and aspear and chesto were all useful, as were those like leichi and apicot. But they were fairly common...

"...Eggant." His voice was muffled, one paw over his mouth as he thought. "Are eggant berries known around here? Do they... do they even exist in this world?"

 

[Virgil134]

After pressing the button of his badge, Cabot looked in awe at the images in front of him. This... wasn't magic? But this seemed exactly like the sort of stuff he'd heard humans were capable of! The rest of town didn't look more advanced than anything he'd seen in the Cradle, so if this was technology, then how was it possible for them to have this one thing that's so far advanced of everything else that it can be on par with human magic?

As he tried to make sense of things in his head, Cabot tried touching one of the blank spaces with his claw, which prompted the option to appear to fill in a name. Remembering what Maple said earlier, the Cranidos warily turned back towards Maple.

"Can we really not just use our own names? I like my name and it's not like we're spies or anything, right?"

 

[Torchic]

Cino fumbled around with his badge, at first he was overwhelmed with all of the choices and buttons, and the hologram! Oh god, the hologram. That took Cino by surprise. How much further advanced was this world from his? He had never seen something like this.

He explored most of the pictures that appeared, and every one did something different. One for example made the screen go away, and he could see through the device, somehow. There still were more icons to click on, but he didn't know what they meant. "This is so confusing... how can I make this go away?"

With a lot of trial and error, he managed to get back to the previous screen. When he got to the icon that said something like "chat", he was asked to input a name. Naturally, he used his own, after taking a bit with the keyboard, and after Maple said to use a name to blend in. An error popped up on his screen, saying something like 'the name contained an illegal character', whatever that meant.

He sighed and decided to use a name that was not his own. For some reason everyone was called after food, so he thought for a minute. What was his favourite? What did he used to eat back in his world?

He input Leberkäse. The same error popped up. "What?" He tried again, 'Leberkase'. This time, no error popped up.

 

[SparklingEspeon]

Food names... for a moment, Tricky did consider "Cake". Then, she disregarded that, because she had something better. She waved her paw up into the air.

"Well, then I'm Biscuit!"