Destiny Tower

[Adamhuarts]

As others began to disperse, Cynthian walked up next to Maple and stared up at Joule, still frozen in the sky.

Cynthian stayed quiet at first, and pondered over what to say to her. The invisible wall between him and Maple still made it hard to talk to her.

"You're strong, Maple. This whole situation is the hardest on you I imagine, but you don't even show that on your face," Cynthian said, followed by a nervous chuckle.

 

[Namohysip]

In response, the Smeargle flashed a little grin, and it looked at least slightly sincere. "...I have to," she replied, looking up at the great, dark ball in the sky. "After all..."

She was quiet, considering something. Then, perhaps taking a page from the team's incessant optimism, she said, "When we save him, Joule would be very upset if he saw me give in to despair."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian nodded quietly, and pondered something over while still staring at Joule.

"This is a weird place for me to be in. It's like a role reversal compared to when I was the one being controlled by Dark Matter and my mother had to stop me." Cynthian grimaced and lowered his gaze.

"My mother succeeded in bringing me back to my senses, otherwise I wouldn't be here right now. She died in the process and... it's something I'm still trying to get over even now." Cynthian ran his flowers across his face and sighed in exasperation.

"What I'm saying is that I hope more than anyone that neither of you have to go through that. It can be heroic to sacrifice yourself for someone, but you leave those still alive in pain and remorse. Having both parties still alive after the turmoil is much more pleasant. Even if both are hurt when everything is said and done, they can help each other heal."

 

[Namohysip]

Maple's gaze had abruptly snapped to Cynthian when he mentioned his mother. "Oh... So that is why you hated him." She said it softly, perhaps only to herself. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. For someone to lose their mother at such a young age... To them, a mother can be your whole world. One that Dark Matter took away." Her frown deepened, and she looked skyward again. "I suppose that makes us the same."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Do you think there are other dark matters out there like Diyem? Ones trying to right the wrongs they've committed? I sure hope so..." Cynthian asked, and then he sighed.

"You've suffered a lot already, but just like I still have my other Mum, you still have your God Squad. Soon, we'll add Joule to that list too. He may be a stranger to me, but I want us to save him, so you'll find some ease of mind, Maple."

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmhm..." Maple suppressed that laugh, even as she tilted her fur-hat down. "I see. Yes, I do have them, don't I?" She walked away from the tower. "I need to remember that more often."

Down the path, beyond Chip's lab, and toward Destiny Village she went. "Thank you, Cynthian," she said. "I'm going to prepare for saving Joule. I wish you luck with the same."

 

[IFBench]

Before anyone could leave the tower, Burhalla entered.

"I have an idea, though it'll require some luck," he said.

 

[Fusion]

Vix, rather than float away from the meeting, felt it was easier to melt and ooze away instead, something she hadn't done in a while. Anyone would have noticed the wax puddle carrying a bag trail off to... god knows where. It's not like she was being discreet.

 

[IFBench]

"I think we should fight Joule in a mystery dungeon, at least to start. Just before the dungeon winds are about to blow us all out of there, we use escape orbs to leave the dungeon as the winds blow Joule outside, which should hopefully stun him. Then we continue the fight outside, with an advantage now that Joule is stunned," Burhalla suggested.

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut sighed. This familiar hadn't been around long, had he? "It won't work, Owen Seven. Joule's neutralizing aura would make it impossible for us to escape, even with orbs. The aura's strong enough to cancel out Maple's portals." He pointed out a window. "There's a reason the city's time is being sped up instead of Joule being frozen in place."

He shook his head. "The Reverse World is a more feasible gamble... and would also grant us resistance to Blacklight attacks we'd never gain from some mystery dungeon."

Bahamut expected Owen Seven to have some sort of nasally retort, but he wouldn't hear it. There was a battle to prepare for, so he opted to leave the tower. He'd said his piece.

 

[Negrek]

<><><>​

Storming out of someplace wasn't very satisfying when your maximum speed was something like half a mile an hour. Rocky didn't even have to speed up to keep up with Nate, just take slightly longer strides. There was nothing for turning your fucking righteous fury to embarrassment like somebody strolling along beside while you were trying to go top speed. At least the tower was just up the hill.

And by the time they'd reached the doors, Rocky'd already forgotten that he was mad at Nate for being rude. "I can't believe we haven't been here since before I hatched!" he said. "It's so weird. It's like I remember being here before, except not really because I wasn't actually here!"

Nate wanted to say something sarcastic, but didn't have the breath. Fucking hill. Fortunately Rocky pushed the doors open without even thinking about it, and then they were both inside the big old white and gold room. Nate didn't even have to drag himself over to the glowy teleporter thing the way he had the last time. Rocky sauntered over while Nate was still getting his wind back and peered into the light. "Hello? Mr. Arceus? Are you home?"

 

[Namohysip]

The usual pause came in reply, until the central light of the room brightened. Once more, the Creator Pokemon materialized before them with his usual divine radiance, though there was something heavy about his eyes this time around.

"Nate," Arceus greeted. "Yo. And to you, Rocky."

 

[Negrek]

"Hi!" Rocky chirped. "Sorry we didn't come and see you sooner. The magic thing you did to block telepathy works really well. Did you see? I can still do it." He drew himself up, and familiar bands of golden light glowed around his core, their light murky through his shadowy chest. "Thanks a lot!"

Nate had finally dragged himself over to where the infernape was standing. "Yeah. He fucking loves the glowy stuff," he wheezed. After a moment he went on, "But that ain't really what we're here to talk about. From what I hear you got some kind of plan to deal with the big ball of death issue. What's up with that?"

 

[Namohysip]

Arceus nodded, though not after a noticeable pause. "Yes," he said. "I've been spending the past few days preparing for it. It's going to be very strenuous on me, but I will be able to take care of that attack and leave everyone safe. Because Joule is a Psychic, I've told as few people as possible about it... but those who know, know that it will work. It will buy you time."

 

[Negrek]

"Hmmm." Not quite what Nate had been expecting. He exchanged a glance with Rocky, who had stopped glowing, looking deflated. "That makes sense. So you think all this business with the Reverse World or whatever ain't gonna work?"

 

[Namohysip]

"The Reverse World's properties will invert whatever advantage Joule has into a disadvantage," Pop explained. "But even with that advantage, that is still an attack that can wipe an entire city. I... will have to take care of it myself. Then, when Joule is at a disadvantage, you would be able to battle him properly. It took him some time to charge the first attack; perhaps it will take him time to charge the second, too."

 

[Negrek]

"Right. So the problem is, even if we can smack some sense into the guy, that won't stop the attack he already charged up. That's where you come in. Am I hearing that right?"

 

[Namohysip]

Arceus nodded. "Yes. I will... be taking the blow for you. I have a technique that will divert the attack away from everything, but it still has to hit something."

 

[Negrek]

Nate nodded. "Yeah. Figured it was something like that." He sat back on his haunches and gave Arceus a crooked look. "You know, last time I was in here, you were saying something like how you couldn't send me home because everybody'd be all sad I was gone, people'd go all shadowy and unstable and shit, whatever whatever. Little tiny bit bullshit." He held up a hand with the fingers millimeters apart. "But you're kinda a lot more important than me. Can't imagine it's gonna do nobody any good to have you... out of commission, especially 'cause we most likely only got worse bullshit coming. So, can't say I'm the biggest fan of that idea. But I ain't gonna waste your time if you've figured out there ain't no other way. I know you got a lot of shit to do. So. You want to talk options, or is your mind made up on this one?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Only I can deflect an attack of this magnitude," Arceus said, though there was a glint in his eye at Nate's concern. "...But do not think I intend to sacrifice myself so readily. A little city-leveling attack isn't enough to get rid of me. I'm making plans and weighing my odds..." But then, his stare grew more intense. "...But the world comes first."