Destiny Tower

[Namohysip]

"...That's a good point," Pop said, as if he hadn't quite considered letting Cola go out in public again under more intense supervision. "Hmm... well. All of God Squad is, technically, suspect, as is everyone within the Guild, just because those are the two who would be most likely to be in league with Giovanni and capable of sabotage as we'd seen. Chip, too, and perhaps even Silver..."

 

[Ambyssin]

Sighing, Bahamut coiled around Arceus. "Yes, it's unfortunate. I think my teammates are far more concerned about Maple and her team than they are the guild. Likely due to their powers, as useless as they have been in dealing with those corrupted by the blacklight."

It didn't occur to him that it was a poor choice of words until after he said it.

"Though it's those same powers and, perhaps, their lengthier experience that makes them all the more difficult to try and investigate," he continued. "None of them are equipped for anything like that. Owen is as readable as a billboard, for pity's sake." Bahamut shook his head. "Perhaps I'm playing devil's advocate, as usual. But, well, I have no connection to the rest of the team and my ties with the natives are superficial at best. If there's anyone who can pursue the matter in more detail, it's me. For better or for worse.

"Any ideas and you can pass them along to me. Or not. You're technically the boss."

 

[Namohysip]

An amused little glint flashed in Arceus' eyes, but he was taking the request seriously. "...It pains me to say it," he said, "but those to investigate are the highest sources of authority. Xerneas, I am certain is tampered with in some way, but I do not think we can approach him immediately. Anybody foreign to this land is also a risk--Shield, Silver, even Red, charming as he is, could be a risk, as well as God Squad, as mentioned. And finally, the highest authorities in Destiny Village... There is S'more, who is the Guildmaster. There is Poffin, Protein, Zinc, and Chip, who are the de-facto division leaders for Destiny's elites--enforcement, scouting, medical, and research respectively. And of course, my closest Legends... Dialga, Palkia, Giratina... Zekrom, Reshiram, and Kyurem... and Xerneas, Yveltal, and Bean. But some of them have not really interacted with us very much... and I can't imagine them being stealthy about any sabotage due to their size and aura.

Pop looked up. "That is everyone that I believe is suspect."

 

[Ambyssin]

Bahamut tapped his tail. "... tch. Should've brought a pad and pen."

From his bag, the ultra stone emitted a rimshot.

"Well, it's an exhaustive list, but I do think there are some outside factors to consider." He raised an upper wing. "Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina have been stuck together for a while. Giovanni would have to be playing the most absurd long con in the history of all realities to pull a stunt like that on a pawn of his. Likewise, Shield supposedly broke pokémon out of Giovanni's facility. Another absurd long con scenario."

He brought his upper wing-claws together. "Zygarde can be in multiple places at once, which could be of use to Giovanni. Likewise, there was the issue with the badges and I believe hearing mention that Reshiram and Zekrom supervised Chip in some capacity. Which would raise their suspicion."

Bahamut tilted his head down at Cola. "Well? Are you interested in pursuing the matter at all?" He levitated out his ultra stone. "The shade I worked with went inert. Seems my true nature frightened him into stasis. You can use this for cover if you want." Bahamut pocketed the stone. "It's your choice, I guess. I don't have a concrete plan. But I know the others will be mingling amongst themselves. With their friends or lovers or whatever. I'll just... keep working. Or go back to the Tree of Life and wallow with Eternatus."

The irony of it wasn't lost on Bahamut.

 

[Namohysip]

Cola looked up, then at Pop with a pleading look, if those red circles could display anything akin to that. But Pop could tell.

"...Very well," Pop said with a sigh. "Perhaps Cola can accompany you for the time being, but be careful. Keep him guarded. He tends to wander off, and there isn't really a way to contain him. Cola, be on your best behavior. If you feel unsafe, come right back to Destiny Tower."

"I will," said Cola, though it might have been a lie.

Pop knew, but he sighed and nodded at Bahamut anyway. "If he disturbs your meditation," he said, "you can bring him back."

Cola huffed and disappeared into Bahamut's bag. For now, he would accompany the dragon of light. Perhaps later, he'd wander off and stick with another.

"Thank you for the help," Pop said, dismissing Bahamut with a nod. "I will tell you and the rest of Team Spectrum as much as I learn."

<><><>​

 

[Adamhuarts]

Ever since they got back from the worldcore, Cynthian had been meaning to see how Buffet was. Someone had tipped her off about a thing he might be able to help her with, but whether he actually will be able to in his current condition was... She just needed to see.

So, Cynthian made her way up Destiny Tower where he presumably was and after getting in, she approached him.

"Hello Buffet. How have you been?" Cynthian asked politely.

 

[Namohysip]

It was one of the other floors, and Buffet was curled up in a little resting position in the corner of the room. He looked a little different, with slightly more orange scales and that flame on his tail was still there. Most curiously, Buffet's eyes had turned a striking blue.

"Oh, Cynthian!" he spun and greeted her with a bow. "So good to see you. Uhu--ah, sorry. Still shaking that... I'm staying in Destiny Tower to remain stable for now... but I've been managing."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"I'm glad to see you're faring mostly well. It's certainly better than losing your mind on a rampage, surely," Cynthian saidwwith a nervous laugh, then she lowered her eyes at him in sympathy.

"This is happening to you due to your connection to the Worldcore and Darkwhite's influence spreading to you as a result, I'm guessing. Don't know if you've heard yet, but we're going back there to rescue her in a few days." Cynthian thrusted her chest out and beamed a smile. "So, worry not. You should be back to your normal self very soon, Buffet!"

 

[Namohysip]

"Oh, dear, I certainly hope so. It's been so strange trying to sort through my thoughts..." He sighed. "Thank you. I won't be able to help you during the fight in the Worldcore, but... do try to save Sword and get her out of there. I think after that happens, things will go back to normal... Er, relatively speaking."

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian nodded affirmatively, then she fell into a contemplative silence for a bit and deliberated on her next words...

"Say, after we free Darkwhite and you go back to normal, do you think you could do me a favor?" Cynthian asked, and then she laid out the details before he answered.

"I heard that you can contact spirits from other worlds or something like that," Cynthian said, and then she took a deep breath and brushed her cheek. "I was thinking... Is it possible for you to help me meet my mother?" she asked, not specifying which of the two.

 

[Namohysip]

"Oh," said Buffet with a gentle nod. "I could certainly try to. It's not always easy, you know. It would depend on a lot of factors. Some worlds are less open than others, and some worlds don't keep track of where their inhabitants go after death, so they could be anywhere in the beyond. Not as easy to find quickly. So--I will do my best! When I'm... more able. But prepare for the possibility that I won't find anything immediately." He smiled encouragingly. "You can endure, I'm sure. You've done so for this long."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"How did you know I was talking about Mama Rosa?" Cynthian asked, her eyes widening a bit in shock. When she thought about it, it made sense that he knew... she had already told quite a few mon about it already.

Cynthian took a deep breath and shuddered. She brought a bouquet over her chest and felt her heart racing until it steadily calmed down. "Yes, you're right... I have been enduring all this time... She'd have wanted me to be patient I'm sure however," Cynthian said with a remorseful smile.

 

[Namohysip]

Buffet nodded. "I will do what I can, when I can." That was really all he could offer. It was quite a task... but thanks to matters of Blacklight, emotional easing for things like this had a higher priority than normal. This was well within Buffet's priorities.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Thank you, Buffet. I really appreciate this," Cynthian said with a respectful bow. Not wanting to overstay her welcome, she turned around to leave.

Though thoughts about Mama Rosa weighed heavy on her mind, Darkwhite still remained her immediate concern. No matter what happened, Cynthian resolved to herself that she'd do everything she can to save Darkwhite. Mama Rosa would have done the same to someone she held dear.

<><><><>

 

[Negrek]

Rocky didn't start to feel apprehensive until he was actually climbing the hill towards Destiny Tower. After only a quick stop at the shed to discuss things with Mudkip, he'd set off towards the tower, determined to finally talk to Pop and fix everything. Whatever Soda and Mudkip said, Pop was a good pokémon! Rocky was sure of it. And when he heard some of Rocky's great ideas, he'd be able to patch things up with Cola, no problem. Everybody would end up happy in the end.

Staring up at the tower, though, he was beginning to have doubts. What if Soda's veil made Pop suspicious? Or what if it did something else sneaky? Now that Soda was out of sight, Rocky wasn't feeling so good about him again. What if Pop really didn't care what Cola wanted to do?

No, that was dumb. Pop was nice, and he didn't want Cola to be unhappy. And Rocky would give him some ideas to fix things if he didn't know how already. This would go great! Rocky drew himself up tall, flames flaring and streaming brilliantly out behind him, then shoved open the big doors and slipped inside.

Standing in the funny gold light that Pop liked to appear from always made him feel a little silly, though. And everything inside here was so big. Rocky squinted up into the glare, suddenly hesitant. "Ummm, Pop? Are you home?"

 

[Namohysip]

I am.

The light took Rocky in a blink, and suddenly he was standing in a much higher floor--the very summit of Destiny Tower, where the wind blew coldly and the horizon was far, far, far away.

"Hello, Rocky," The god of gods glanced back and gave a friendly smile through his eyes. "It has been a while since we last spoke, hasn't it? How are you doing?"

 

[Negrek]

Rocky jumped when the light made him teleport--that hadn't happened before! He wanted to go over to the edge and look out over everything. Maybe he'd be able to see all the way to Treasure Town from up here!

Seeing Pop again turned his excitement straight to guilt, though. "Yeah," he said. "Sorry. I didn't come and see you even after you almost died. Mudkip didn't want me to." Now he wanted to go look over the edge because it would mean he wouldn't have to look at Pop. "I'm okay. And you are too, right? Are you back to normal now?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Well... the new normal, yes." Pop nodded with some hesitance. "Since I am not united with Cola yet, I suppose that is something I will simply have to get used to." He seemed concerned about something. "Have you... seen Cola around, by any chance?"

 

[Negrek]

"Yes, I saw Cola," Rocky said. "He wanted me to come talk to you. He got scared... Because of a joke you made about Joule. Like if you absorbed Cola, you'd be able to make good jokes?" Rocky prodded at the tower's flagstones with a toe. "Cola thought that was pretty scary, because he thought that meant you might want to absorb him anytime. And he didn't like that you were joking about taking him. He didn't think that was very funny."

 

[Namohysip]

"I know." Pop looked toward the horizon. "I am... having difficulties relating to Cola. It feels as though every time we grow closer, something else causes him to drift away and become... so paranoid of me. Unfortunately, I do not know what. Despite sharing the same soul, he seems to be closed off from me. It's... worrisome. I don't know who he speaks to that might be giving him those ideas..."