Marowak Dojo ~ Hidden Quarters

[Namohysip]

"That is what I meant," said Maple, forming another ball of light. "Life from no life. In a sense, are you not that different from Arceus and his curious origins? ...Well. I suppose there is a difference, in terms of the substance you came from." This ball of light was becoming a lot brighter. "Perhaps one day you can speak to him yourself. He may not be able to tell you much more... but at least you can see proof.

"Now, I want you to tell me if you can handle this," she said, offering another ball of light to Necrozma. This one felt weightier and hot. It practically stung, and while Maple was not bothered by its luminosity, the average Pokemon would struggle to stare directly at it. "Your body is weak now, but perhaps it can handle this... And if it can, perhaps it will brighten your crystals."

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma grasped the orb. His core immediately glowed brighter, but he wasn't fond of the heat spreading down his right arm. "This feels like... I'm clutching a slugma's body."

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmm..." Maple nodded. "It's a lot of energy. I don't think your body is ready to take it all in yet," she explained. "But that should be what you should work toward. Keep it. It will last, and I can make another if you need it. Once we get badges for you all, communication will be much easier."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Badges that... communicate?" It must've been some sort of technology in this world. "Right." He grasped the light orb with his other hand. Both arms trembled slightly, but light still funneled into his core.

"You're the 'supervisor' for your team, so to speak, and you're here working on the situation," Necrozma said. "What do you think about someone trying to supervise a team like yours or ours without actually being physically present?" He was trying to be as vague as possible to avoid divulging too much about Diyem, but the subject was nagging him like an itch a mortal couldn't scratch. If Diyem was strong enough to transport them across universes... why wasn't he supervising them in-person? Surely he'd be of far more use to the team here and not at his dreary home.

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmm..." Maple frowned, thoughtful. "Then I'm guessing that is the situation of your own supervisor."

I will end you. I will find a way to do it. This is against your better interests.

"If I had to guess," Maple said, "it might be because coming here could make your leader vulnerable. Some creatures are powerful, but are most powerful when within their own domains. Many Legends used to turn the Dungeons they inhabited into their domains, where they would be much stronger than usual. Alternatively, he might not be able to travel here as easily or as quickly as you can. You were given new bodies, were you not?" She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why do you ask? What were the circumstances of your arrival?"

No. No. No. No. No. Please.

 

[Ambyssin]

“We were struck by black lightning... from a charizard clearly hiding the true extent of his aura like you are.” Necrozma squeezed the light orb. “I can tell from your body language that you do not trust us. I wouldn’t either. However, I genuinely believe my teammates do not mean harm. They were all tricked into coming here. I followed because I do not want them to turn into innocent victims of an interdimensional threat.”

 

[Namohysip]

For some reason, Diyem was no longer replying, but he had left behind some kind of lingering, menacing aura to send down to Necrozma regardless. Something else must have caught his attention.

"I see," Maple said slowly, though she seemed skeptical all the same. "A Charizard... who is clearly hiding the powers he is capable of? Someone able to reach across dimensions..." Maple's arms crossed. "It doesn't all add up... but it sounds to me like you're describing a very powerful Voice of Life. And that would also explain why he cannot come here on his own; he is, perhaps, tied to the world he resides in."

 

[Ambyssin]

You have no one but yourself and your own dishonesty to blame, Necrozma telepathically sneered. Had he actually been there in person, perhaps he could've intervened against Necrozma. But as it stood, Necrozma intended to take full advantage of the countless light years separating them.

"Fascinating." He crossed his arms. "But I don't agree with your assessment. You told us that it was your world's Voice that summoned outside help to deal with threats. Yet we were not summoned here by your Voice." Necrozma tapped his claws against his forearms. "Not to mention the fact that, if he was a Voice, wouldn't he have sent us to meet with his counterpart? Instead, he dropped us on the outskirts of this town and left us to fend for ourselves.

"Again, I don't really care what happens to me. I'm worthless, after all. But the others... don't deserve to be in the dark as much they are." A beat. "Err, no pun intended."

 

[Namohysip]

"Hm." Maple nodded, though she gently pressed the ball in Necrozma's hold a little closer, easing the light in so he'd get used to it gradually, even if it was a push. "I don't think you're worthless," she said. "Far from it. You have sense to consider your circumstances. ...I'm suspicious of your leader as well. But right now, there's little we can do. You are able to fend off the threat that we couldn't, and that might be true in the future. I'm afraid we don't have a choice but to follow along cautiously until then."

 

[Ambyssin]

"... mmm. Perhaps he is either directly or indirectly responsible for what's plaguing this world." Necrozma concentrated on the light. His arms brightened, as did his core. "And rather than coming clean and owning up to his mistake, he sent us in to try and clean up his mess."

 

[Namohysip]

Maple said nothing, but she did nod. "That's also possible. But... I have not met your leader. I have no way of knowing what his motivations are."

A pause. Then, "...Can he hear you now?"

 

[Ambyssin]

"He has some sort of mental link with us and listens in on our words and thoughts." Necrozma squeezed the light orb again. "He does not appear to be listening at this moment. He got very upset that I told you this." His core brightened further. "For what it's worth, despite not being here, he's been spouting off about you and your team. Telling us not to trust any of you."

 

[Namohysip]

Maple smirked, though she tried to hide it. "Well, I suppose if that's the case, the feeling is mutual, now isn't it?" She toyed with the satchel around her bag. "...I can't expect you to trust me, and I imagine your leader expects the same. Perhaps we can open a dialogue some time... and see what everyone's true intentions are."

 

[Ambyssin]

"I think that would be for the best. Maybe you'll get him to be more honest about his role in all of this." Necrozma's shoulders sagged. After some silence passed, he looked around. "Say, is it just me, or does it seem awfully quiet in this building? Did everyone leave?"

 

[Namohysip]

Maple frowned. "Now that you mention it..."

Suddenly, a beeping sounded from her badge. She looked uneasily at Necrozma, then pulled it out. "Hello?"

"Mellow collapsed in the dojo," Truffle said through the badge. "Something happened at Sharpedo Bluff. I'm on my way there but you may be faster."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Sharpedo Bluff?" Necrozma looked at Maple. "How far away is that? Oh, wait, I suppose it doesn't matter with your wormh— I mean portals."

He was only very much salty.

 

[Namohysip]

If Maple noticed, she wasn't showing it in her expression. "I'll make one for you as well. Come. No time."

She carved a line through space and tore it open. The rift depicted the horizon that the stony Sharpedo eternally overlooked, and she passed through.

 

[Ambyssin]

Necrozma followed her through to the Bluff, unprepared for what awaited him.

 

[Namohysip]

<><><>​

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian did not leg go of Owen even once as he escorted him to the hidden quarters to try and catch his breath. Cynthian's head was spinning, and the world was crumbling beneath his feet.

Cynthian finally unwrapped his vines around Owen when they came by one of the hay beds, though not without a lot of hesitation and reluctance. He drew heavy breaths as he knelt forward, and tears dripped down onto the hay.

"I hate this. I don't like this one bit. I shouldn't have come here. I should've stayed at home away from this." Cynthian bit his lips hard and curled up. "I'm scared, Owen. I'm scared of where this is all going. I'm scared of what Diyem might actually be up to. I can't ever trust what he says."