Grass Continent ~ Treasure Town Beach

[Umbramatic]

"What we clearly need for them to be safe is MORE BUBBLES!" said Mithos, still a Dewwpider.

 

[Ambyssin]

"How old are you, exactly?" Necrozma's voice was flat as he looked at this mew. Stars above, it was an eerily similar sight to back home.

 

[Umbramatic]

"Uh, I'm like, a few dozen thousands of years old, but people say I'm physically and mentally fourteen. Bogus, I'm way more mature than that! They're just mean."

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma traced an "X" into the sand and pressed down on the middle of it.

 

[Namohysip]

Maple didn't answer Cynthian, focusing instead on helping Balm head up. She would have offered to use her portals to send Balm along, but something told her that he would have preferred to go there on foot. It seemed that with age came a stubborn sense of independence from that Sceptile, and she could sense it in the way he carried himself. The only exception was Cepa, who flew by his side, like she'd been there her whole life.

"I suppose that will be all," Maple said. "If any of yo want to accompany him, don't crowd around. I'm going to give this to Truffle." She raised the jar. "I hope to see you all later today so we can discuss what had happened, and perhaps devise a plan to locate Team Spice."

 

[Umbramatic]

"What's the X for? Is there treasure?" said Mithos, turning back into a Mew.

It was then he heard Maple. "Ooh, Team Spice? Is there also a Team Sugar? Do they compete in an epic battle royale of like, art trading or something?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"That Mew is scarily just like the one back home. Are they always like this in every universe?" Cynthian thought out loud.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Apparently the cosmos see mew as a punchline no matter where they dwell," Necrozma mused. He sighed and shook his head. "In any case, it sounds like you are going to this, erm, 'guild' place that Potluck mentioned to me?" Necrozma didn't really know what to make of it. Mainly because he knew nothing about the guild other than the fact that it existed. "I suppose... if a lot of folks want to go, I will stay back. Best not to overwhelm the locals. I can always get an update later."

 

[Virgil134]

"I hope to see you all later today so we can discuss what had happened, and perhaps devise a plan to locate Team Spice."

"Right, I'll be there. I was planning on visiting the guild later today anyway."

Cabot paused and mulled over Balm's earlier answer. So the charm was given by Dialga? Based on what little he knew about Dialga it sounded like he was some sort of god. Would that perhaps explain why Balm didn't get nearly as sick as Turf? If there was a god powerful enough to let you travel between different timelines, surely he could also protect you from some little slug... Though it did raise the question what Dialga was like. The Cranidos shook his head before approaching the Pokémon who'd brought up Dialga in the first place.

"Hey, Celeste?" Cabot began. "Do you remember when you brought Dialga the first day we got here? I had never heard of him before, but it sounds like he's pretty important around here. What sort of god is he exactly?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian pressed his flowers against his head and pursed his lips. "I... Think I'll just stay here and be filled in later too. All of this stuff is stressing me out already."

 

[Shiny Phantump]

"Hey, Celeste?" Cabot began. "Do you remember when you brought Dialga the first day we got here? I had never heard of him before, but it sounds like he's pretty important around here. What sort of god is he exactly?"

Celeste was taken back by the sudden question. He didn’t really remember mentioning them, and he certainly didn’t know much about them.

“Oh, hi. Dialga is a higher being. One of the most powerful, supposedly. They’re the embodiment of time itself, and... nobody knows much about them. Or, in my world we don’t. The idea of someone meeting Dialga is... unheard of where I’m from. Some of the weaker higher beings behave more like us mortals, but those as powerful as Dialga are incomprehensible to us. It’s better not to think of them as people, they’re more like forces of nature.

“However... They might be different here. Nobody would ever be able to talk to or beget gifts from the Dialga I’ve heard of.”

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma heard Celeste's comments about Dialga and felt whatever passed for a headache coming on. "I'm going to... excuse myself. There's something I feel I should practice if we're going to go out into the field again." He turned and floated off in the direction of town, heading for the dojo.

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian wondered what Necrozma was going to practice. Would it have something to do with the light ball? Maybe he'd practice some light tricks, though the thought of Necrozma doing that with his deadpan expression was funny to say the least.

Cynthian decided he'd go see what Necrozma is off to later on. For the time being, he'd just get some fresh air. Now that Treasure Town was back up and running to some capacity, a bit of window shopping couldn't hurt.

 

[Virgil134]

Celeste was taken back by the sudden question. He didn’t really remember mentioning them, and he certainly didn’t know much about them.

“Oh, hi. Dialga is a higher being. One of the most powerful, supposedly. They’re the embodiment of time itself, and... nobody knows much about them. Or, in my world we don’t. The idea of someone meeting Dialga is... unheard of where I’m from. Some of the weaker higher beings behave more like us mortals, but those as powerful as Dialga are incomprehensible to us. It’s better not to think of them as people, they’re more like forces of nature.

“However... They might be different here. Nobody would ever be able to talk to or beget gifts from the Dialga I’ve heard of.”

"So Dialga is not only a god that controls time, but also a very powerful one? I guess that would explain why he could create charms that allow Pokémon to travel to other timelines," Cabot mused. "Though, have you ever heard anything about Dialga's powers that could help against these slug creatures? I know you said you don't know Dialga very well, but I wonder if those charms are the reason why Balm didn't get as sick as Turf."

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Celeste nodded in the negative. “I’m afraid I can’t help you there. Dialga... isn’t in my area of expertise. Not that it makes much of a difference, anyways. Their own followers hardly know anything.”

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot tilted his head slightly at Celeste's answer.

"They don't? In my world everyone knows at least a decent amount about their own Protector."

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Celeste laughed. “Well, it’s hard to know much about someone who hasn’t been seen by mortal eyes in all of recorded history. Either way, hardly anyone follows Dialga because of that. Dialga gives nothing to their followers, doesn’t even acknowledge them. Weaker higher beings with lesser domains who interact with mortals end up with larger followings. Like wanderers following Latias and Latios, musicians following Meloetta, sailors following Lugia or scholars following Reshiram.”

 

[Negrek]

Nate blinked and wobbled while the jigglypuff essentially introduced him to the same fucking thing the charizard had told everybody. Well, if people didn't recognize him as one of that group, fucking good, honestly. He could almost have laughed at the jigglypuff's description of their quest, different worlds and godlike charizard and all, if he still didn't feel like shit. Of course everything going on around here was completely batshit; that's just how his life went.

The sceptile and fucking Celebi had already taken off, and pokémon were starting to drift away. Nate wasn't feeling terribly inclined to move anywhere just at the moment, but then some of the stragglers started talking religion of all fucking things, so it was definitely time to get off the damn beach.

"Thanks," Nate said again. "And good luck with all that, you know, slug bullshit and all." He started back towards Treasure Town, but the fatigue was back after just a few steps. There was no fucking way he was going to reach the dojo without passing out. Even crawling back onto one of the rocks sounded like way too much effort. Nate looked slowly up and down the beach, brain feeling as sluggish as all the rest of him. Somewhere to rest. Somewhere out of the way, where he wouldn't be bothered. Somewhere close.

Well, there were always those bushes up near the top of the beach, weren't there? They'd been good enough for those assholes. Putting one foot doggedly in front of the other, Nate made his slow way up the beach, ready to collapse in the first shady spot he found that looked halfway comfortable.

 

[Virgil134]

Celeste laughed. “Well, it’s hard to know much about someone who hasn’t been seen by mortal eyes in all of recorded history. Either way, hardly anyone follows Dialga because of that. Dialga gives nothing to their followers, doesn’t even acknowledge them. Weaker higher beings with lesser domains who interact with mortals end up with larger followings. Like wanderers following Latias and Latios, musicians following Meloetta, sailors following Lugia or scholars following Reshiram.”

Cabot blinked out of surprise at Celeste's mention of 'Lugia' and reflexively stepped forward to press him further.

"Wait, Lugia?! One exists in your world as well?!"

 

[Shiny Phantump]

“Yes, we have a Lugia. Not many care much about the domain of sea-storms, but sometimes you get a seafarer or something who cares enough to follow Lugia. They’re best known in costal towns.”