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Gyeig

Bug Catcher
Pronouns
he/him
Partners
  1. samurott

Review of Special Episode 2​


Time for a special episode. Just one chapter, but these are supposed to round off parts of the fic (IIRC), so might as well.

So starting off, this already fits in way better than the last special episode. The characters + events whose story is being told here directly gives context to what’s happening in the fic at that time, which is good - else we’re left wondering why a mute and feral Zoroark is a guardian. On top of that, the story of Ra, Step and their daughters is compelling, even if it does get lost a little amidst the mechanics and world of the fic. You get a feeling for why Star is such a divisive character in universe, and what it’s like being caught up in the middle of all this shit to begin with. Helps raise the stakes for Owen more.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t help but notice the prose in this chapter isn’t as good as the chapters before. It’s far more bland and workmanlike, in a way that doesn’t help sell the more off the wall shit that happens in this chapter. Things like the conflict between Ra and Star, and then Ra’s dead + subsequent passage into the afterlife would hit harder in my eyes with some extra colourful prose.

Aside from that though, I don’t have much more to say about this. It’s nice backstory to have before diving further into Enet - maybe some of Ra rubbed off on her. We’ll see. Thanks for the chapter.
 

Spiteful Murkrow

Busy Writing Stories I Want to Read
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Partners
  1. nidoran-f
  2. druddigon
  3. swellow
  4. lugia
  5. quilava-fobbie
  6. sneasel-kate
  7. heliolisk-fobbie
Heya, running a bit late, but I figured that I'd jump on that Review Tag that I called for:

Chapter 14

... Which surely only portends good things™️ with a title like that...
:copyber:


Owen had barely slept last night—nobody had answered his questions when he asked. They had said, brushed him off with 'what are you talking about?' like nothing had happened.

Maybe it was a lapse in memory. Sometimes evolution can change the mind slightly. Gahi is just confused. He’ll sort it out. Don’t worry, Owen. You evolved, too. Maybe you need to settle a bit?

There's a weird mix of verb tenses here in the opening paragraph. I think that the intent is that everything from the third sentence onward is stuff Owen is actively thinking in live-time, but if so, it probably makes sense to keep the formatting consistent with how his "inner thoughts" are rendered in prior chapters.

But Owen knew that hadn’t been some trick of the mind. It felt too… real to be a trick. But then—how could he know? If his mind thought it was real, but it wasn’t… he wouldn’t know. But then, why did he have that thought? Gahi did fly before. He was fast

I see that Nevren's memory deletion he uses on the villagers and presumably also Owen wears off eventually given that Owen's able to reconstruct past memories from prior "cycles" of his life or whatever's going on here. Though I can already tell that just keeping up with "yeah, you know too much" is a full-time job for him.

Days passed while Star went searching for more information about the Guardians. That left them with time to decompress. Willow had made herself a little mushroom village in her abode, where she happily conversed with her screaming, playful spirits. ADAM had spent his time obsessively polishing every corner of his abode until it was a smooth cube inside. Afterward, he had dedicated his time to “defragmenting,” whatever that meant. Valle… did his thing in the town square.

>defragmenting

... Do I want to know how badly messed up ADAM's hard drive or whatever storage medium he runs PoryOS off of has gotten in the span of almost five centuries? Like how is there anything left of it right now?
:copyka2:


The new normal was settling in. Every day, Anam would leave with Nevren to manage the Association. Rhys would leave with his students to take a mission or two after their usual meditation.

“I’m not crazy. Not crazy. Not…” Owen shook his head. “I know it happened. I—I can’t just make that up, can I?”

Owen, imagine reflexively assuming this considering what happened the last time you saw strange things and thought you were going crazy in this story.
:copyka:


“I’m sure you can’t, Owen,” Zena said. “But you have to admit, it’s a little strange, don’t you think?”

She was coiled up in the corner of her room, staring at a set of little marbles on the ground. Rhys had a bag of them in his room, and Owen knew the rules to a game they could play. He flicked one of two large marbles into the pile, knocking two out with precision. Zena, opposite to Owen, clumsily rolled her marble along her pink ribbon. It fell a few times, but a gentle, Mystic force kept it from hitting the ground.

Huh. I wouldn't have pegged an oarfish as being able to use those feelers to manipulate things, but I suppose that makes for better precision than nosing the marble.

Though that's the second "Char that's surprisingly good at marbles with a thing for an aquatic noodle" I've read in a PMD story thus far. Funny how coincidences between writers happen like that.

“Mom’s not telling me a thing. I tried pressing Dad, but he got so flustered that he exploded and hid in Mom’s Fire Realm or whatever.” He snorted and eyed the marble floating above Zena’s ribbon-eyebrow. “Is that thing you’re doing the same force you use to fly?”

“Hm? Oh, yes. It is.” Zena fired the marble into the circle, freeing four from the perimeter in one shot.

Owen: "... Wow, you're much better at this game with that aerokinesis thingy or whatever it is than with your feelers."
:bulbuhhh:

Zena: "Uh... thanks?"
:eltywtf:


“Good one,” Owen said. The four marbles floated to Zena’s side. “But, yeah. That’s pretty cool. Maybe if I…” Owen focused on his marble. It wobbled in his claws, floating above his hand. It fell right after. “That’s weird.”

“It is,” Zena said. “I think it’s the same force that keeps some Pokémon afloat. Mm, Castform, Claydol, off the top of my head…”

“Levitation powers?” Owen hummed in thought. “Yeah, I didn’t think about it that way.”

Oh, so this is literally the thing that makes Levitate work... I think. Though that makes me wonder if fishmons in this setting are also Flying Seafood Specials on land.

“Hmph. Star said it was ignoring gravity, but that doesn’t explain it all. We also choose which direction we want to float.”

“Ignoring gravity,” Owen repeated. He stared at the remaining marbles in the circle. There were just ten. But he saw a good angle, and he rolled the orb in. With one flick, the marble bounced against six of the smaller ones, pushing them all out.

“How did you do that?” Zena said.

Latent memories. It's an amnesiac Char protagonist thing. o<o

“Do what?” Owen asked, picking up the six that fell out of the ring. “It’s just a bunch of spheres. It’s easy to predict which way they’ll all go.”

“Yes, but,” she said, staring curiously “you predicted all of that?”

Oh right, Owen has an ability akin to Mythra's Foresight from XB2 / Shulk's future visions from XB1 if his portrayal in BLC2 was anything to go by. Guess that's the first depiction of it in this story here.

“Well, the last one was a little luck,” Owen admitted. “Your turn.”

Zena counted her marbles, then Owen’s. [ ]

I can’t win.”

“Huh?” Owen looked at his marbles, then at Zena’s. “Oh. You’re right. Even if you got ‘em all, I’d be two ahead…” He rubbed the back of his head, gripping his horn. “H-ha, sorry. Maybe I should’ve gone easier.”

IMO, it might've made sense to make a passing mention of Zena's disappointment or something like that to set the mood a bit more. Though smooth moves there, Owen.

Zena flushed. “You were going easy?”

“No!” Owen said quickly. “I was just—I mean—”

“Don’t go easy,” Zena growled.

Yeah, I can already tell that Owen's going to be faceplanting in front of his crush / probable future GF quite a bit in this story.
:lultias:


“Okay.” Owen lowered his head. “Well—why don’t you pick the next game?”

“Hmm…” Zena scanned the marbles. Owen helped to gather them into the small sack Rhys kept them in. She then eyed Owen. “I think I’m going to meditate. Would you care to join me?”

“Oh, sure. Um, can I meditate while reading something?”

Zena blinked. “I do not believe that is how meditation works.”

Zena: "Just saying, the entire point of meditation is to block out any sensory experience, Owen."
:eltyunamused:

Owen: "Hey, it's not as if others don't mention getting into zen-like states while doing stuff! Doesn't that count as medita-?"
Zena: "No."

“Well, I haven’t been able to read for a while.” Owen bumped the claws from each hand together. “I feel like my mind’s getting rusty.”

“Well, what do you read?” Zena asked.

“Books,” Owen said. “I usually like nonfiction. Or comics. Actually, I think I kinda like to read books in general…”

Ah yes, it's time for the first appearance of Druddigon Cube in this story. Even if you had a missed opportunity to lean into the weebness and make it alliterative as Crimgan Cube

“Books,” Zena repeated. “You’ve said that word before. But I’m not sure what they are.”

“Uhh—remember those weird, rectangle things in Anam’s office?”

“You mean the one that was encrusted with his… mucus?”

I'm now reminded of that one
:TailsEww:
"pages are stuck together" line from Borderlands, even if thankfully the thing doing that here's a bit less gross.

“Please don’t call it that.” Owen winced, nodding. “Those, yeah. Well, you can actually open them on one side. It’s filled with really, really thin sheets, called paper. And the paper has words on them. You can spend days reading one book, depending on how thick it is, and how small the letters are.”

“Goodness, that sounds like incredibly detailed craft. It must be expensive.”

Owen: "... No, I'm pretty sure that we just make them with printing presses nowadays. Assuming that Nevren and the rest of the tech geeks didn't cook up some sort of ink printer." ^^;

“Not really.” Owen replied. “We’ve got these things that can print them really easily. Nevren invented them with the help of some of the other Pokémon. You can make a bunch of copies of the same book really quickly—you could send it all across Kilo!”

Yeah, I knew it. Though I wonder if those fall closer to the scale of "printing press" or "modern electronic printer", since the setting technically has the means to support both, IIRC.

“Kilo,” Zena repeated, nodding. “The world, right?”

“Yeah. Wait, back then, you didn’t even have a name for the world?”

“No, we did,” Zena said. “But I don’t think it was Kilo. In fact, I don’t think Kilo Mountain was called that, either.”

Well then. Implying that something happened roughly five centuries ago to either prune large chunks of the broader world, or at the bare minimum cause a renaming.

“Oh. What was it called before?”

Zena paused, looking down. “I can’t remember. Perhaps I haven’t used it in so long, I forgot. Q… Qu… Hm. I’m not sure.” She sighed. “It’s not important. Names change all the time.

I'll take 'Genre Blind Statements' for $500, Alex. Since, yeah. I'm not convinced at all that this is anywhere near as unimportant as Zena makes it out to be. Though given that I already know that HoC has a thing for SI prefix naming, I'm guessing that this was once upon a time most likely a play on 'Quetta'.

Owen nodded. “Well, how about we get something to read, huh?”

He headed back to his home and slipped to his room, and then into a little alcove in the back where he kept his books. He had to buy special editions of them, printed on Rawst paper. “If we ever get you any books, Zena, I think we’ll need to find some books made of Passho paper.”

“Passho paper? Is that not a berry?”

I mean, given that Owen has a Rawst Leaf bed, wouldn't it be more likely that they're made from the leaves/stems/trunks of those plants? ^^;

“Yeah. It protects against water damage, so you can even read it underwater!”

Well, that definitely sounds handy. Even if I wonder how on earth the thing would absorb ink to begin with with properties like those.

“I’ve never heard of making something waterproof before,” Zena said. “Let me guess. This is another one of those Dungeon items, or perhaps one of those odd blessings by Anam?”

“Yeah. Blessed berries and seeds and scarves really enhance their power. I heard that one blessed Chesto Berry can let you pull an all nighter easily!” Owen pulled out a book that was bigger than his head. “Here! Let’s read this one together.”

Zena: "I'm sorry, but how is Anam able to do any of this again?"
:lucariwhat:

Owen: "... Probably Mystic Power?" ^^;
Zena: "Owen, I have Mystic Power and I can't change the properties of items like that!" .-.
Owen: "Maybe it's a thing you can do after you get more experienced? Since Anam is kinda a gigantic outlier among all of us in terms of the sorts of cool stuff he can do with his powers, so..."

Zena blinked, rising a few inches higher from her leisurely coil. “I’m reading with you?”

“I mean, this might be interesting to read, don’t you think?” He showed her the cover: Scarves and Seeds: Basic and Obscure Dungeon Equipment, Third Edition.

That sounds more like a way to never make it to a first date with Zena, just saying. Though I wonder if this leads into the scene that's depicted in the banner art that the forum versions of your story have.

Zena looked tired just hearing the title.

“Here, let’s go to the Scarves section, huh?” Owen said enthusiastically, walking to his bed. His flame was bright, lighting up Zena’s eyes. She followed. He opened the book to the middle and started pointing and reading out a few of the standard Scarves, all of their effects, where they were found, and even their rarity when found in the wild.

Yeah, getting some banner art vibes right about now.

Zena: "Um... Owen?"
:gardexhausted:

Owen: "Oh! Oh! We're getting to a good part! It's the Harmony Scarves section!"
:owengel:


Somehow, Zena became interested, coiling near Owen to read with him. The pages turned slower and slower; by the time they were reading about Pecha Scarves, Owen had paused for so long that Zena spent a good amount of time simply re-reading.

I'll admit, I didn't see that one coming. Though yeah, I can already tell that this is where the banner art between those two came from.

“Owen?” Zena asked, nudging his shoulder with one of her brows.

“Zena, am I crazy?”

Zena was quiet for a few seconds too long. “I certainly don’t think so,” she said. “Owen, it was just a lapse in memory, was it not? Gahi just evolved. It’s simply not possible for him to have flown around before, and the evolution has everyone slightly confused.”

Narrator: "It was not just a lapse in memory."

“It feels so real, though,” Owen said. “I… I don’t get it. I know he—”

“Owen,” Zena said softly, “don’t get so worked up over it. Okay?”

On the one hand, this feels like terrible advice for the sort of story this is, but... yeah. Given the track record of how things are going thus far, I can already tell that Owen will find the truth out about those lingering memories one way or another before long.

The Charmeleon hesitated, but then turned the page. “Okay,” he relented. “Thanks. I guess I’m just getting worked up over nothing. Lapse of memory from evolving. That makes sense. I guess the brain changes a little when you evolve, so maybe that’s why.”

Zena nodded. And so, they resumed their reading.

“So, I’m not crazy?”

“No, Owen. You’re just fine.”

Narrator:
Image


“This one here is the Spire of Trials,” Star said. “Fighting Guardian Manny lives here—he’s pretty cool. We go way back. I’d go there, definitely.”

She pointed at the map they had brought in to Hot Spot’s main square. The Spire of Trials was that odd, narrow triangle on the map to the east, just below Nightshade Forest.

Hmm, I guess the Sunshine Highlands is also a good one, that’s the Flying Guardian, Cara.” She pointed to the far west, where white hills dominated the landscape. “Uhh… Oh! And why don’t we also try Forrest, the Ground Guardian in the Endless Expanse?”

She headed southwest, to an odd, gray-colored portion of the map that looked like a place the artist forgot to finish.

Oh boy, she's back again. Though this paragraph was dense enough with stuff going on in it that it could be three or four paragraphs without missing a beat.

The group agreed and started shuffling around to divide up their numbers. With three new Guardians, they could have a full team for everyone and then some. After the fiasco that was Alex’s fighting abilities, he quietly retired to be replaced by someone else.

“I shall not go,” said Valle.

No surprises there since he's busy sticking around as a living statue.

“Let me guess,” Star said, crossing her arms. “This place is your new mountain, and you’re gonna keep watch of any abnormal movements here instead? One with the stone?”

“Yes.”

Yeah, I figured. Though it's making me curious as to if there's anything that could get Valle to come along even if it involved dragging him kicking and screaming.

Star sighed, rubbing her paws between her eyes. “Okay, okay. So, who else is going, then? We’ve got Anam, James, Zena and… ADAM, yeah, that’s pretty balanced… that seems like a pretty solid group, right?”

Zena glanced at Owen again, but didn’t protest.

Oh, so he is starting to grow on her. That's certainly fast, though it makes me wonder if this is really the first time these two have met each other before.

“And then there’s Rhys, and his three students… Okay, group two.”

“Wait, hang on,” Owen immediately protested. “Why can’t the whole Team Alloy go together this time, huh? We’re all evolved! That’s gotta be strong enough, right?”

I mean, considering what the chapter title is, I'm not sure you want to be that confident going into things, Owen.
:fearfullaugh~1:


“Owen, that’s not even close to strong enough on your own.” Star motioned to Rhys, who was avoiding their eyes.

“I understand your desire to work as your proper Heart quartet,” Rhys said. “However, I can’t in good conscience send you four out alone. I must accompany them.”

[ ]

“But… but I’m never allowed to just go on a mission with them.” Owen’s tail dimmed. “Why not? Is it really that unsafe for me to just go out for a little while?”

Maybe it's just a stylistic difference as an author on my end, but part of me feels like it would've made sense to show a bit more of Owen's disappointment to Rhys' insistence of "no, you're not coming with the gang".

Rhys nodded firmly. “The Hunters could take you at a single unlucky moment. We can’t afford for a Guardian to be alone without any elites keeping them safe.”

Owen wanted to protest. But he didn’t find an opening; compared to the Elite Hearts, he was just backup.

Yeeeeah, I can already tell that this is going to feel weird and "why did I ever think that?" down the road.

“Sorry, Owen. When you’re ready, but not now.” Star then turned to look at the rest of the group. “Who’s left? Willow, Owen, and Amia—oh, hey, Alex, you can come with us again!"

[ ]

"…Owen?”

“H-huh?” Owen straightened his spine.

“Owen, are you… okay?”

“Y-yeah,” Owen replied weakly.

I think that we're missing a step here for what makes Owen stand out so much, since I didn't really get a vibe that Owen was that visibly disappointed / upset due to the lack of description. Expanding out the pause in Star's line feels like the easiest and most natural way to slot that information in.

The group shuffled uncomfortably. Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi were a bit unfocused, too. It had been quite a few days since their odd lapse of memory, but it obviously lingered in all of Team Alloy’s heads. Everyone knew it, but most didn’t want to acknowledge it.

“Hey… don’t sweat it, alright?” Star said softly. “It’ll be okay. How about we just get to fighting, huh? Fighting is always fun! Right?

Are we just forgetting how Willow almost gooshed Owen and his parents last chapter? Since I don't know if anyone would call that a fun experience.
:copyber:


Willow: "I would! Or at least up until the part where I got all tangled up, anyways..." ^^;

This lifted their spirits slightly. “Y-yeah, I guess so.” Demitri smiled. “Yeah… um—which one do you think would be the best fight? Of those three?”

“Well, Forrest will probably give you a lot of obstacles to go through. And I’m pretty sure Manny will be the same. Cara’s more of a run-and-hide ‘mon, so… maybe Anam should do that one, since he’s the most outwardly friendly of us, y’know? And isn’t on fire.” She nodded at Amia.

My money's on Manny given that I know that he apparently gets mentioned a decent number of times for the later parts of the story, but I suppose we'll see.

“Oh, okay,” Anam said. “So, we’ll handle Cara. What about Forrest?”

“Ground, right?” Gahi said. “I can avoid all those attacks now that I’m flying. Levitate’s a pretty nifty move fer all those techniques. I say we do that one.”

“But Rhys is weak to Ground,” Demitri said. The Fraxure worriedly glanced at his teacher.

“I will survive,” the Lucario said.

Rhys: "Demitri, I literally can arbitrarily float in the air like something straight out of Druddigon Cube since I'm Mystic, remember?"
:lucariwhat:

Demitri: "... Doesn't that wear you out or anything? What if you get caught off guar-?"
Rhys: "Demitri. I'll be fine."

[ ]

“Guess that leaves us with Manny,” Amia sighed. “I’m not much of a fighter, but… I will try.”

“Excuse me?” Owen mumbled, recalling the time she melted the ground for Zena’s new lake.

“And I will, too!” Willow said, hopping onto Owen’s head. “You! Carry me when we go. Understood? You are my servant for the day.”

This might work a bit better with something to more explicitly transition the focus back to Amia there. Though oh boy, Willow's coming along for the ride too, huh? I'm sure that no negative consequences will come from this at all.
:copyka2:


“E-excuse me?” Owen said again.

[ ]

“Now, Willow, at least ask permission,” Amia said.

Willow growled. “You don’t mind if you are my riding-Pokémon, do you, Charmeleon?”

Ditto here, especially if you want to play up Amia's
:gardexhausted:
-ness dealing with Willow's more childish antics right now.

[ ]

“I—I guess I will,” Owen said, looking away.

“Cool.” Star clapped her paws in a soundless plap. “Then let’s split up. If you guys run into any trouble, use those communicators like before. It might be useful!”

Part of me wonders if there's more thought process behind what Owen was saying here, and if so, if more should've been shown of it.

“Of course,” Amia said, looking around. “Owen! Let’s go. Willow, won’t you lead Owen with us to Kilo Village?”

“Of course! Servant, you will move!”

[ ]

“Okay…”

Same deal here, especially if Owen's internally having a "... I had to skip being with Zena for this?!
:WHY:
" reaction right about now.

Owen: "Yeah, I can already tell that I'm going to hate being in this group." >_>;

Amia giggled. “Oh, be a good sport, Owen. I’m sure Willow is just playing.”

“I sure hope so.” Owen looked up in an attempt to see the Joltik. He felt her balanced on the top of his horn.

She is totally not just playing. And even if she was, considering what Willow defined as 'playing' last chapter, I'm not sure that's remotely reassuring, Amia.
:copyber:


“See you guys!” Demitri waved a tiny arm at the other teams.

“Be careful!” Anam called back. They all vanished, set to rescue the three Guardians.

Owen: "Dear gods, I hope that our end of things is fast-forwarded..."
:mewtwofacepalm:


The rocks of Sunshine Highlands glimmered like cut diamonds. There was no escape from the sunlight here, and the further along the highlands they went, the rockier it became. Everything was either white or prismatic; turning to the left risked seeing a rapid rainbow of colors, and turning to the right risked a whiteness that would rival the sun.

So... opals and marble everywhere? Or am I getting the wrong aesthetic from this description?

“I hope she’s okay,” Anam said, looking around through squinted eyes. “Cara, right? The Flying Guardian…”

“I guess that means she’s got quite the… hrm.” James said. “Well, perhaps her tendencies will be to flee rather than to battle.”

“Yeah,” Anam said. “But I’ll take the lead, if that’s how it’s gonna be.” He squinted, holding his slimy arm over his eyes. “It’s so bright!”

Should've brought some Black Glasses with you for the trip, Anam. That'd probably help with the blinding light right now.

“Indeed,” James replied. “Part of the hazard here is how the rocks reflect the sunlight. We should have come here later in the day.”

Eventually, Anam had to cover his eyes completely. “I can’t see…”

Skill issue. Since just saying, if you can cook up a printer, it shouldn't be that hard to come up with protective eyewear for situations like these.

“It’s… quite difficult, yes,” Zena admitted. She’d been slithering blind for quite a while, and had a splotch of slime on her neck and face from bumping into Anam so much. James kept his head down, using his natural hood to protect against most of the sunlight.

“We must advance,” ADAM said. “My light sensors have been shut down due to overload. However, my other senses indicate that there is a Mystic aura further ahead, and is currently hiding. Would you like to continue? Options: Yes, cancel.”

I was going to ask why ADAM didn't do "Yes/Cancel", or "Y/N" if getting more computer-y, but then I realized that you can't exactly speak a slash in dialogue so this is a good enough approximation of ADAM speaking out the equivalent of a terminal prompt.

“Yes,” Anam said. “I guess… I guess we should keep going. How much longer?”

“We are approximately 98% to the hiding spot.”

“Oh, that’s close!” Anam said. “So, we should be finished soon?”

I just realized, but how on earth are they going to fight this Guardian in this state? Since nobody here other than ADAM has senses that we know of that would prepare them for fighting blind. .-.

... Unless Mystic Power also has a workaround for that. I suppose we'll find out shortly.

“We are approximately 98% to the hiding spot.”

“Um… yeah, so…”

“S-stop right there!” a shaky voice called out.

Anam stopped and tried to look ahead. He saw a flash of something flying toward them. Zena narrowly dodged the blast, but the strong gusts of wind left small cuts on her back. “Ah—ngh—that’s not very friendly.”

I mean, the speaker sounds kinda terrified right now, so... yeah. Kinda hard to be friendly when you're actively frightened, Anam.

Anam squinted and saw a bird flying high in the—no, that wasn’t a bird. It had wings, yes, but… it also had arms. And—something about the wings didn’t quite fit, either. What was wrong with…

Anam saw flashes of brown when the light didn’t fight against him, and he realized that this fuzzy Pokémon was a Lopunny, its ears transformed into sky-blue, feathery wings. She flew through the air with an agility that Anam could only dream of. She was also extraordinarily large—perhaps twice the size of a normal Lopunny.

So... she's an Alpha Lopunny? And I wonder what's the rhyme or reason behind which guardians got visible mutations / tweaks to their base forms and which ones didn't. Since Zena, Amia, and Anam all look superficially normal, but almost every Guardian other than ADAM has been noticeably "off-spec" one way or another.

“There! That’s definitely the Flying Guardian!” Anam pointed.

“Wh-what do you want with me?!” Cara yelled back. “I don’t want to fight! Please, leave me alone!”

[ ]

“We aren’t here to fight!”

“How can I know that?! You already came here once before! You—your kind—!”

It might make sense to lean into the sensory disorientation a bit harder, also helps for breaking up the dialogue a bit more than what's there. Also, that underlined bit...

Image


“I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Anam said.

“Cara! Whoever came here before, we aren’t them!” James outstretched his wings. “This is our first time here! Look!” He vanished into the ground in a black fog, and then reappeared. “Anam is the Ghost Guardian, and I am his spirit, yes? Did Star not tell you about us?”

:sceptikarp:


... Not sure if I believe this one, but even if Anam and James aren't lying... yeah, Star totally kept Cara in the dark, I can already tell.

Cara stopped her flying, but it was still too hard to see. “Wh-what do you mean?” She stopped flying away, and instead looked down at them. The way the sun was positioned, she was directly in front of it. “The Ghost Guardian, yes, I… I think Star mentioned you before. Yes. O-oh, I’m sorry. Hold on.”

The lights of the crystalline field dimmed enough for them to see. They still sparkled white, but it wasn’t blinding. Was she somehow controlling the intensity of the light?

Cara:
Image

"... Though I suppose that makes it a bit more probable that you're really not here to hurt me, since boy did you come woefully unprepared if you did."

Zena sighed. “Thank goodness.”

“Yeah! I could barely open my eyes!” Anam said. “That’s not fair, you know, fighting your opponents when they can’t even see!”


Cara: "Yes, and that's the point since I didn't want to fight." :|

“My visual sensors were completely shut down,” ADAM said.

Cara beat her wings-ears a few more times. “I’m—I’m so sorry,” she said, slowly descending. “I didn’t mean—”

Anam suddenly went blind to a white flash of light. An instant later, the boom of thunder deafened him, leaving nothing but a loud ringing in his ears. Zena and the others shut their eyes again. ADAM blared an alert signal, but nobody heard it. The ringing faded. Anam tried to open his eyes, but everything hurt when he did, and he shut it again. Something heavy thumped dully a few feet ahead of him. He smelled something burning.

Oh, well that's a good sign right now. /s

Anam felt James grab his arm and tug him back; he fell down and heard another thunderous explosion. If he wasn’t so slimy, his body might have caught on fire. Anam knew not to open his eyes for a while, but when he finally did, through his blurry vision, he saw something black a few paces ahead. There was something glowing in this blackness. A pale, whitish light. It reminded him of the clouds that the bird Pokémon flew above.

Heavy paws walked toward the black thing and the glowing orb. A tiny, gray creature floated toward it next, wrapping it in some sort of cloth. The light vanished. A forceful, invisible blast blew the blackness away like dust. And finally, Anam’s vision—as well as the others’—returned. Standing before them was Espurr Rim—and some… other creature.

Oh, so we are going to have Hunter problems during this Guardian collection arc after all. I was starting to wonder from how much they'd been absence for all the hoopla that there was about them being a danger.
:FearfulMeowth:


Long, black fur along its head, chest, and rear; short, blue fur everywhere else. Bits of yellow in the ears and behind its forelegs, and a four-pointed star at the end of its black tail. But there was something different, too, from how Anam was familiar with the Luxray species. It was bulkier, with intense, sharp eyes and a slightly more elongated muzzle. Its fur stood even more on-end than usual, constantly sparkling with electricity, more like a Jolteon’s fur style. Every so often, they saw black flashes—some kind of dark light, if he had to describe it—accompany this electricity. Its tail was long, and whip-like, like a Raichu.

Oh, hello mutant Luxray thingy.

Anam couldn’t move. He just realized what had happened. That Luxray was the one who attacked—and the Flying Guardian, Cara, was—

Rim vanished with the strange Luxray, taking the Flying Orb with her.

Well. I see that's where the chapter title came from, though I suppose I should heavily take the under on us ever seeing Cara again on this side of the Spirit World, huh?

The Endless Expanse was named as such because, upon entering the field, it was hard to determine where the horizon was. It was a great flatland that had a perpetual, thin layer of water over a field of salt. The water perfectly reflected the sky, blending into the horizon an eternity ahead of them. Every step that Rhys, Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi took into this flatland sent small ripples ahead of them, disturbing the salt on the ground.

Oh, so it's basically the Uyuni Salt Flats:

Image


Will have to keep that one in mind for location design at some point, since that seems like a trippy place to be in.

Gahi’s wings beat rapidly, making the most, but smallest, ripples. Demitri walked beside Mispy, and their steps, with Rhys’, made the most impact. There was no Dungeon here. Instead, the challenge of finding the Ground Guardian came from actually locating him in the completely uniform mirror. It was too large for Mispy to detect a Mystic aura for the whole area, and the same went for Rhys.

Oh, so their strategy for finding this guy is like that one gif from Jurassic Park with the shaking cup of water, huh?

Gahi flew ahead multiple times to get a better visual of the fields for any abnormalities. Each time, he returned with no news, and they advanced forward to continue their scan. Around noon, Mispy started to complain about food, and Rhys sighed and dug through his bag for their rations. Rhys winced when he realized that he also had brought some of the food he planned to use for later.

“GROSS!” Demitri shouted. “What is that?!”

“It’s—it’s leftovers,” Rhys said, holding out what appeared to be a purple lump of… something. “I wasn’t going to throw it away. That would be wasteful.”

Ah yes, Grimy Food. Hope you all brought a Cleanse Orb before putting that in your mouths.

“I think it’s moving!” Demitri said.

Mispy glared as if the purple food had insulted her.

... On second thought, maybe that's not just Grimy Food there. Since... yeah, I think a Cleanse Orb would be a bit inadequate for handling that.
:FearfulMeowth:


“I didn’t intend for it to be for you,” Rhys said, holding the grimy-looking food in his paws. “This will be my meal, then. It’s not as bad as you make it out to be. You may have these instead,” he said, offering Mispy two large apples. Demitri and Gahi took one each, but they stared at Rhys. “What?”

“You’re gonna eat that?” Demitri said.

Rhys: "I mean, I am a Steel-type and immune to poisoning, so..." ^^;
Demitri: "That doesn't mean that you need to put that into your mouth!"
:squirpuke~1:


“Of course,” Rhys said. He then opened his mouth and—to their horror—he downed the purple lump in one gulp. They watched the lump descend into his chest. He cleared his throat. “It’s not very difficult if you know the proper way to eat it.”

“I thought you didn’t need to eat,” Demitri said.

If I’m performing some strenuous effort, I do,” Rhys said, looking ahead. “These past few days have been taxing, particularly after you decided to take on that high-ranking mission into the Southern Abyssal Forest.”

Can't tell if that's an artifact of Rhys being a lesser Mystic or else if that's a limitation all Mystics have when sufficiently overtaxing themselves.

Team Alloy:
:VonVomit~1:

Rhys: "Yeah, yeah, you don't see me judging you for your tastes. And look, it's to help you here." >_>;

“Bah, scariest thing about that place is the rumors, nothing else,” Gahi said. “Okay, I’m gonna fly ahead and scan fer more weirdness, see if we can spot the Guardian, eh?” He flew ahead, having finished his apple.

>doing this in a giant, featureless salt plain where your only guide for relative location is whatever you can see in the distance plus whatever's reflected from the sky

Image


Mispy finished her two by the time Demitri had finished half of his. She wrapped a few vines around his body and pulled him onto her back, where she happily carried him across the salt flats.

Yeah, I knew it. Though I wonder if you knew about the Uyuni Salt Flats specifically when designing this place, or if it's based on something more general.

Gahi flew back prematurely, and his zigzag in the air suggested he actually found something.

“Let’s hurry,” Rhys said.

Gahi descended to their level. Once they all caught up, Rhys stopped, eyes wide.

There were claw marks in the ground that Gahi flew above. The ground was filled with huge fissures from some Pokémon’s attack. There was also a pit left behind in the ground where the Guardian of the Ground Orb likely once was. Some of the pits were still filling, slowly, with water, suggesting that the clash was recent. But for a battle with a Guardian, the struggle didn’t seem to be very intense, all things considered. Even their clash with Valle, while underwhelming on a relative scale, left quite a bit of damage.

Oh, so we're just having all the fails at recovering Guardians this chapter, huh? I suppose it was only natural that the gang's luck would run out, but I wasn't expecting the bad news to heap up this rapidly.

“What is all this…” Demitri said, looking at the ground. The Fraxure couldn’t help but admire his reflection, picking at a smudge on his left tusk.

“Good thing I can fly,” Gahi muttered, looking at his reflection.

“I don’t… sense anything,” Mispy said. The Bayleef had her eyes closed, worriedly scanning for any sort of Mystic aura. If the clash was here, surely the Ground Guardian would be here, too.

Bold of you to assume that there's still a Ground Guardian left, Mispy.

“But it looks like something just got here. There,” Demitri said, pointing at a particularly huge gash in the ground where water was still pouring inside. It was deep, but the bottom was clearly visible and the water level was slowly rising.

They saw something lying in the flat ahead. “What’s that?” Mispy said.

“Let’s look,” Rhys said, running forward. Gahi was the only one able to keep up.

Whelp, I suppose that this is the point where we find out whether or not Kilo still has a Ground Guardian or not.

It seemed to be a small tree lying on the ground, cut near the base of the trunk. “What’s a tree doing here?” Gahi asked. “There ain’t a tree er a plant here fer… I mean, where’d it even come from?”

“This is a Torterra’s tree,” Rhys said gravely. “It grows on their back, Gahi. But for it to be severed like this…”

That... doesn't sound positive for how much longer this 'mon's going to be around.
:copyka2:


The water was covering most of it, but he saw heavy footsteps and multiple, converging imprints of other, attacking Pokémon. Rhys walked along and followed the path. He saw a particularly large pit in the ground—and at the bottom, he saw the victim. “Ngh.” Rhys squeezed his paws, forming little flashes of cyan aura.

We’re too late.”

Gahi, Demitri, and Mispy followed Rhys. “What d’you mean?” Demitri asked.

The current of the water and swirling salt obscured the corpse at the bottom of the pit. Demitri flinched once he realized what he was looking at, covering his mouth in shock. Gahi’s wings fluttered slower, looking for something to do with his legs. Anything but stare at something so morbid. Mispy frowned, pensive, wondering if he died quickly, or if…

Yeah, I knew it. Though I suppose that explains why this guy was called 'Forrest' since that's some punny wordplay there. And that confirms that Cara is just flatly dead from that last scene where Rim showed up.

Rhys fired a few weak Aura Spheres at the ground; salt and sand burst and shifted into the flooded pit, burying the bottom completely. Rhys closed his eyes and lowered his head for a few seconds, waiting for the body to be buried completely.

Then, he said, “It seems that the Hunters have arrived here shortly before we did. Unfortunately, they extracted the Ground Orb.”

“Forrest…” Mispy couldn’t tear her eyes away from the pit. On her back, Demitri trembled, suppressing a few sniffles.

Team Alloy was there when the Guardians started out, weren't they? Since while I was expecting Team Alloy to be shaken, I wasn't expecting them to apparently be able to reflexively namedrop this guy as if they're familiar.

“We… we could’ve saved him,” Demitri said. “If we just got to him a day earlier…”

“A day earlier,” Rhys repeated. “I have my doubts. The Hunters… Could they have been tracking our movements? After we rescued the first three, could they be trying to predict our trajectories, just based on which Waypoints we take?”

Oh, so there are dangers to leaning on the in-setting fast travel too liberally. I hadn't considered that, but it does make sense, especially if there's some way of monitoring them.

But Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi were too dejected—and perhaps, too inexperienced—to strategize in the middle of Forrest’s unmarked grave. Without really suggesting it outright, they all stood there in a respectful silence until the pit completely filled with salt and water.

I’m sorry for your suffering,” Rhys said to the ground, head bowed in respect. Then, after another handful of silent breaths, he addressed Team Alloy. “There’s nothing we can do here. Let’s return home and report to the others.”

Well that's a very particular "rest in peace" message. I wonder if there's a story behind that, since something about that phrasing makes me feel as if there's a story behind how it came to be.

“Should we use our Communicator?” Demitri asked.

“No,” Rhys said. “We shouldn’t lower anybody’s morale. We’re already going as fast as we can; they won’t be able to go any faster than they already are.”

inb4 Anam and his party wind up calling them and promptly nuke their already lousy moods further.

“Okay,” Demitri said. “If that’s the case, let’s just… I mean, yeah. Let’s go back.”

They didn’t want to admit it, but Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi were all still itching for a battle. But in the solemn atmosphere of this lifeless salt flat, there was nothing to fight anyway.

Rhys dug through his bag, searching for their Badge. He dug a bit more. And then more.

“Rhys?” Gahi said.

Rhys looked up. “Where are our Badges?”

Well. Looks like there might be something to fight in that salt flat after all. Since it wouldn't be impossible for someone to sneak up on the gang and pull that off...
:uhhh:


“Oooh… this place is a bit creepy,” Amia said, hugging herself. There was very little light in this mountain’s cave; only by her flames and Owen’s tail could they see the path. The spire itself wasn’t much to look at from outside. It merely appeared to be a giant spike in the ground, perfectly conical with an entrance on the southern side. Internally, it was a great, winding spiral of polished rock.

“I certainly didn’t expect the Spire of Trials to be some sort of literal, ascending spiral inside,” Alex said. “Just where are we going?”

I take it that Manny's a fan of meditation from the described surroundings. Since this feels very "martial artist chilling in the mountains to git gud" in vibe.

“From the outside it looked pretty big. Just a giant spike sticking out of the ground. So maybe we’re heading near the top?” Owen said.

“That’s likely it,” Alex agreed.

[ ]

“Well, I don’t like it!” Willow said, stomping on Owen’s head with her tiny feet. “Owen! You’re going to turn around immediately!”

“I—I can’t just turn around! We’re already inside!”

Another spot that IMO would benefit from taking some time to describe the characters' reactions a bit more, in this case, Willow's reaction.

“Then make it prettier! I need fresh air for my fur! And good smells, too! And light! Make it brighter!”

[ ]

“Mom, help!”

“Willow, dear, why don’t I help make it brighter with my fire?” Amia offered. “I usually do blue light, but would you prefer something like green, or red?”

Same shtick here, especially for selling the sense that Owen's getting a bit at the end of his rope.

Owen: "Please tell me that 'make it brighter' is also going to involve setting her on fire..." >_>;

“Ooo! Make it green!” Willow said, hopping on Owen. “Green reminds me of the fields!”

“Green it is.” Amia smiled and created a small fire bubble in front of them to light the way. This, it seemed, pleased Willow enough to keep her from complaining the rest of the way.

Ah yes, just casually conjuring hitodamas as a glorified flashlight. Though I wonder if these are based off the Lava Bubble / Ember enemies from TTYD, since they came in exactly these three color variations in that game.

They walked quickly, but slow enough that they didn’t trip on anything. By the time they were a quarter of the way up the spire—going in a sort of inward spiral—they suddenly turned to the right and saw a large chamber. Echoes of explosions and shouts and roars radiated from the opposite side. Owen had to concentrate to get a better sense for what the sounds were—it was… something else. Who was that? Those roars didn’t sound normal. They were intense. Too intense for a normal Pokémon.

Mutants. They're from mutants, Owen.

The chamber was at least a hundred of Owen’s Charmeleon paces across. The walls looked like they had been buffered a thousand times over many centuries to get that perfect smoothness, and the same could be said for the floor. But there were imperfections. Cracks and faults, like battling had taken place there before. Still, the arena was empty. They could easily advance. The team of four stepped into the chamber and made it a quarter of the way across.

“Ha HAAA!”

After being so quiet to hear the others, the shout made Owen double over in panic, clutching his chest. Alex made the exact same gesture as Owen. Was it possible to die of shock? Perhaps not as a Mystic.

Well, that's a sign that Manny's probably not dead? Possibly. Maybe.

A spirit rose from the rocks in the center of the arena-like chamber. The Feraligatr pumped his fists in the air. His scaly arms were thicker than Owen’s body, and the same could be said for the bulk of just about every other part of him.

“I am the First Guardian Spirit, Feraligatr Azu!” he shouted. “I am one of three that you must defeat in order to see the Fighting Guardian, the greatest and strongest fighter of the Dungeon!”

I see that Manny must be on the more experienced side as a Guardian if his conjured spirits are capable of throwing down with normal Pokémon like Anam's can.

His voice boomed through the air—Owen wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear him for much longer.

“You, a team of four!” said the Fighting Guardian Spirit. “What a perfect number! There are three of us in all, three Guardian Spirits! As the first… you are to give to me your weakest fighter, and we shall battle! If you lose… then that will be it! And you must turn away!”

Owen: "... Oh my gods, I just realized, we're going to have to make Willow handle the last of these fights from typing advantages."
:mewtwofacepalm:


“W-weakest?” Alex said.

“Wait,” Owen said, tilting his head, “doesn’t that mean you’re the weakest of the three Fighting Spirits?”

“I—eh—” For a fraction of a second, his enthusiasm wavered. “No! I am the most powerful spirit that Manny can summon solid. I am at the perfect strength level.”

Dunno how much of this is being pre-planned by Owen and how much he's blundering into on the spot, but that's definitely a handy way of sidestepping a bunch of challenge fights.

Owen crossed his arms, frowning. “So there are even stronger spirits inside Manny? You’re even weaker than what you said the first time.”

With even more confidence and volume than before, Azu grinned and bellowed, “I am the third in line of the strongest spirits Guardian Manny can summon! I am truly formidable! And so—you shall NOT get to the higher levels without beating me!”

“B-but I’m not that good of a f-fighter, you see…” Alex admitted. “I—I wouldn’t want to…”

Amia: "Alex-ay! Ix-nay e-thay eakness-way alk-tay!" O_O;

“We don’t want to fight Manny. We want to talk to him!” Amia said. “And… what’s that fighting I hear from the rooms above us? It’s coming from ahead.”

“Manny is dealing with a number of guests at the moment. To be another, you must get past me!”

... I like how this guy is just completely unconcerned about what's most likely yet another Hunter ambush in favor of gatekeeping Owen and his party. Talk about having your priorities straight.
:copyka:


“So, they all got past you, too?” Owen asked. “How many times did you already get beaten?”

“My little Charmeleon!” Azu thumped his tail on the ground with a laugh. A few rocks flew in the air, and a few cracks formed on the ground with each scaly thud. “You say such INCREDIBLE things!”

So... I take it that Owen's getting sucked into this fight in place of Alex, huh?

“I—I think what Owen means,” Amia said, “is… if we don’t want to fight Manny, that means we’ll only be doing three battles. So why don’t we start with the second weakest in our group? And then the second strongest, and then the strongest.”

“Ha! Then very well. Which of you is the second weakest?”

“I think that’s Willow,” Owen said without thinking.

Amia:
Image


Willow exploded with electricity atop his head, screeching and biting his horn. She tore off a few scales in the process.

“Y-yow! Ow! No, NO, bad Joltik—” Owen tried to grab her, but she was too fast. She hopped off of him and landed on the ground, skittering around the rocks.

“You’re the weakest! You, you!” Willow screeched and hissed like a feral Glameow. “You have a clever mind but in raw power, you’re NOTHING to me!”

Owen: "Ow! Ow! Ow! Mom! Seriously, how are you just okay with this right now?!"
:grohno~1:

Amia: "Look, Owen. It's for the good of the mission. Just bear with it a little longer."
:gardexhausted:


“But Willow, you’re smaller than my feet!”

Willow sent another volley of thunderbolts at Owen. The Charmeleon hopped in some sort of frantic dance, going from foot to foot on the cold, polished floor. Amia, sighing, rummaged through their bag for an Oran Berry. Willow prepared a great, shining ball of lunar energy above her head—but Owen quickly said, “O-okay, okay! I’ll—I’ll fight first! I’ll fight!”

Smart Charmeleon, there. Even if it took him a while to come to the less painful conclusion. ^^;

The Fairy Guardian let the charging Moonblast dissipate. “That’s better.

Owen sighed. “Why aren’t you bigger, anyway?” he asked. “Can’t you evolve?”

“I look cuter as a Joltik,” Willow said, raising her tiny body upward. “And going forward and backward in evolution is easy for a Mystic. It’s not in one direction with a little divine power!

Aaaaaand there's our explanation for why Owen remembers him and Team Alloy being fully evolved in the past. Or at least I'm pretty sure that's the implication.

“O-oh, okay.”

[ ]

“Stall no longer, challengers!” the Feraligatr said, thumping his tail one last time. “Approach me, witty Charmeleon! I shall show you the superior power of muscle!”

[ ]

“Good luck, Owen.” Amia smiled apologetically, giving him an Oran Berry to fight in top form.

These feel like more parts where dropping in a bit of description to center the proverbial attention on these characters would be in order.

“O-okay,” he said. “I… I’ll do my best!”

With a puffed-out chest and a blazing, red tail, the Charmeleon was ready. But then, during the walk toward the Fighting-Type Feraligatr, feeling the sheer power that radiated from him—despite his bluster, and despite the silly disposition of this spirit… he knew. He knew when he was standing face-to-belly with the behemoth of a spirit. Seeing every detail of his disturbingly chiseled body, his toughened scales, and his impeccable jawline…

Owen didn’t stand a chance.

Owen: "... Crap."
:ohnowen:

Azu: "What's that, witty Charmeleon? Do I hear an offer to forfeit?"
:AlviseDetermined:

Alright, made it to the end, and I suppose I should start summing things up with an old friend of mine for my reviews:

Image


And how. I'll admit, I was kinda caught off-guard by how hard and fast the Hunters became a problem for the roundup of the elemental Guardians in this story, but it did a good job at shaking the emerging status quo up in the story. I might have been getting a bit tinfoil at times, but there seemed to be a decent amount of foreshadowing for where things will wind up going later in the story, which was fun to see, even if I wonder just how quickly that'll become relevant since... yeah, this story is still throwing curveballs on short notice like it's been doing for the past 15 or so chapters up to this point.

For criticisms, I noticed that there were a few spots where there were certain moments where you could kinda piece together what had happened in terms of character reactions or moods that would've been more expressive explicitly showing them off a bit more. There were also a couple of places where I didn't see eye-to-eye on paragraph formatting, but those are all pretty easy tweaks to make if so inclined.

The bigger meta issue that I saw is that part of me wonders if while the "Too Late" was very apt for a chapter title, if the individual losses of the Flying and Ground Guardians would've each had more individual impact were they in distinct chapters from each other. e.x. smash cutting with Cara's death as the end of one chapter, and having Forrest's death in the next since it'd also double as a revelation of what exactly happened to Cara. Even if I'm not really sure what I'd suggest as an extension of the second chapter in that case since it'd otherwise be really short.

Though even what's there seems decently put together, especially since this is ultimately still early on in the story and a stepping stone onto much bigger things in Kilo. Hope the feedback was helpful and fun to read @Namohysip . And until next time! ^^
 
Chapter 174 - Overseer Evaluation

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Thanks, all, for your reviews! I responded to you elsewhere, but they're appreciated as always.

Chapter 174 – Overseer Evaluation

Ho-Oh was a lot bigger in person.

And imposing. Compared to Lugia, compared to any other Legend he’d met in Kilo, Ho-Oh radiated an aura of someone who… was far more than a Pokémon.

The metal sphere at the top of Citadark Isle was entirely hollow and decrepit. Constant wind and storms wore away at the structure, which had once been some mechanical marvel based on what Owen’s Perceive told him.

The center of the sphere had a distortion. A tiny, concentrated Dungeon that would be their ticket home.

Ho-Oh stood near that entrance, staring them down.

“I’m glad you’re here, Owen and Zena. And you are…”

The Charmander greeted politely, “Mu!”

Oh, good. At least Mu listened to that much. But the way she slouched again, that was probably the most politeness they’d get from her. What happened to that innocent vanilla bean in Alola?

Zena was already guarded. “How do you know our names?” she said. “And… you… you spoke our language. That wasn’t feral.”

Owen blinked. He hadn’t even realized. “What? Ho-Oh can talk?”

Ho-Oh shook his head. “I’m borrowing this body. Ho-Oh and I communicated in a dream and I explained things to him. After realizing the gravity of the situation, as a part of this reality’s pantheon, he allowed me to borrow his body. He is listening from within for the time being.”

“What?” Zena whispered. “What does that mean?”

“Then you’re an Overseer,” Owen concluded.

“The spirit of one, projected into a Legend’s body. But yes.” His expression grew firmer. “…Now, Owen, I’m here because I do not want you reentering Kilo until I perform a brief… evaluation.”

Owen’s tail flame popped. “Like a battle? Against a Legend…’s body?”

Ho-Oh nodded. “Yes. But it is only after we talk about the nature of the fight,” he said. “Owen… do you know why we’re aware of who you are and the world you’re from?”

He could guess a few things… but it was slowly occurring to Owen that what he said might become incriminating somehow. He didn’t know the extent of this person’s authority.

“Your countenance tells me you have more than zero idea,” Ho-Oh said.

Owen hardened his expression. Zena, meanwhile, shifted uncomfortably and looked around to find other things to pay attention to. This great sphere left little to stare at.

Outside, it was beginning to show signs of an overcast afternoon. The winds whistled through cracked and eroded sheets of metal that made up the sphere. A distant rumble reminded them that this was technically an active volcano.

“What do Overseers do?” Owen asked. “Patrol Ultra Space? We were talking to people in Alola about that.”

“Beyond that,” Ho-Oh stated.

“Beyond… Ultra Space?”

“Yes. In your language, I believe the closest word for where I am from would be… the Overworld. In your feral language, I think another term could be the Sky Past All Skies.”

For some reason, the latter made more sense to him. “Beyond everything? What’s… out there?”

“Everything else,” Ho-Oh stated. “And Overseers, of course, are people who watch all worlds to make sure no one world is in danger of plunging others into turmoil. If there is a risk of danger spreading beyond their local network, we step in. Usually with the cooperation of the local gods… I believe you know them as ‘Mew Star’ and ‘Arceus Barky.’”

Mu snorted. “His official name’s Barky.” She turned a page while lounging on Zena’s back.

“Cooperating with them…”

“Yes. The first Overseer we sent to you was Hecto. He acted under the guise of Star's emissary to investigate a... small risk. You see, Star and Barky are very new gods. This is their first world. Templated, even, for ease of creation. But something went unexpectedly wrong and Barky was unable to contact Star. He reached out to the Overseers to investigate; Hecto was who they sent.

“Afterward, we lost Hecto’s signal, so the situation was escalated. The one you know as Valle was sent next, but by the time he’d arrived, great damage was already done. A dark power sent shockwaves from the material world into the divine through Star… and Barky, seeing Star in that state, went into a brief, uncontrolled rage. This led to the destruction of the island you see here, today.”

Ho-Oh gestured around him.

“This island, formerly known as Quartz Isle, was erased from this world’s history. The souls within were rendered ‘missing’ forever, destroyed. That appears to be how this world reacts to… a Lockout. Even if they wished to restore them… the gods would not be able to. When a soul is destroyed in a universe, it cannot return to that same world. The fabric of its reality will not acknowledge it.

“…Or so we thought.”

“Wait—” Owen raised a hand. “But I’m here now.”

“Yes. And I have determined that you are the same soul that had been Locked Out,” Ho-Oh said. “Or, theoretically so. This means you were never destroyed at all like most of the others there, who had to be reincarnated into the world you know as Kilo.”

“E-excuse me,” Zena said, raising a ribbon. “I’m… confused. I don’t know what this ‘soul Lockout’ has to do with… anything here.”

“Of course. My apologies.” Ho-Oh bowed. “Who sent you three to this realm?”

“Necrozma sent Zena and I over,” Owen said.

“Mu came on her own,” Zena added, turning so Mu was in Ho-Oh’s view.

“Yo, bird up.”

Ho-Oh blinked, stoic as ever. “Yes. Bird up. I’m a bird today,” Ho-Oh replied. He then faced Owen and Zena again. “Necrozma might have sent you here as a mercy, though I wonder if it was to make you lost entirely after the same dark force possessed him. But instead, he proved that you were somehow spared from Lockout. Perhaps your proximity to Mew Star at the time of destruction shielded you enough from the blast. There could be others who were similarly spared… and that may have contributed to your latent talents in Kilo.

“Do you know of others with abnormal talent?”

“Abnormal talent…” Owen hummed. “I guess it’d… be the ones who climbed Destiny Tower in the first generation. You know, all the people who were directly reincarnated. I always thought it was because Star and Barky, you know, rigged the ascent so we’d have an easier time. Since we saved them and all that. But… Are you saying there was more to it?”

“I can’t say. It could have been both,” Ho-Oh said. “But… thank you. That may be important information to us.”

“Are you investigating something?” Zena asked.

“Yes. We are specifically trying to determine how dangerous Kilo’s existence has become. So far, two Overseers have lost contact with the Overworld upon entering this network. Each lost Overseer has led to an escalation of this network’s threat level.”

Threat level?” Zena repeated. “Yes, it’s a big threat level—Dark Matter is the reason for all of this happening. Can you help?”

Ho-Oh didn’t reply immediately. He instead turned to Owen. No words were exchanged. Owen knew what would have been said. At this point in the world’s fall… an Overseer’s “help” was not what they wanted.

“We’re going to take care of it internally,” Owen said. “I just finished researching an answer here. I’m confident it will work.”

“Our records show,” Ho-Oh said with a sudden, distant coldness to his voice, “that you have done this before… Usurper Owen.”

“…Usurper… Owen?” Zena echoed. “Because of… how he tried to save Kilo?”

“Usurper is the title, translated, to give an individual such as Owen. It can only be applied to a mundane, ordinary mortal in the context of their reality. Someone with no divine instincts, training, or formal knowledge of the process of creating and maintaining a world. Then, this person, a Usurper, must gain those powers such that it rivals the gods in question, and then undermine the will of that world’s creator.”

The explanation left Owen feeling colder. An Overseer—this authority above the gods—was classifying him as an outlaw. He could sense the weight behind the term, even if it was merely a translation from some unknown language.

“And what happens if the gods are wrong?” Owen asked. “Am I still a Usurper?”

“Yes.” Ho-Oh nodded. “It is merely a descriptor. It can mean several things in context and we consider all of them. But you, Owen… When you undermined the power of the gods, who did you instead side with?”

Owen could sense Zena tensing. She was already preparing for a fight. He didn’t want that. Not against an Overseer.

“I didn’t want Kilo to be destroyed. It’s my home. If the Overseers’ answer to problems is to just… destroy our homes, all these lives that we made for ourselves, I…”

“You’ll oppose the decision,” Ho-Oh completed. “We know. And we understand your perspective. It is a common one. But… you sided with Dark Matter, the entity that is now spreading its influence into other worlds. We need information on what you know about this entity. Our knowledge of how it manifests in this world is limited.”

“I don’t… I don’t have time for that,” Owen said. “I’m sorry. I need to go back to save Kilo. I know that time is flowing differently here, but I’ve already been gone for so long. A whole explanation could take… a lot of time, you know?”

“Seconds are precious there,” Zena said. “A Usurper even more dangerous than Owen could hope to be is already harnessing Shadows for evil. Owen may have made mistakes in the past, but he always did what he did to help people. Alexander, this new Usurper, just wants power for power’s sake!”

“Are you sure of this?” Ho-Oh asked.

The foul look Zena gave Ho-Oh… Owen only saw the Overseer flinch thanks to his Perceive.

“Yes,” Zena said, her voice suppressed and even. “I’m positive. Objectively, he has only caused suffering to keep others down and has absorbed spirits to bolster his power. Owen may reflect powers, but he also tries to empower others when he can. We just spent the last few moons researching ways for mortals to defend against Shadows without us.”

“I see.” Ho-Oh nodded. “We understand your rush. But this will not take long if you consent to our procedure.”

“How long will it take?” Owen asked.

“On this planet’s timekeeping system, it should be done within the hour.”

“Oh.” Owen did some quick mental math. “Well… I guess they can afford to wait thirty seconds or so…”

“Raise your head and concentrate. Act as if you are… opening your mind to someone trying to communicate with you telepathically,” Ho-Oh said. “My colleague is waiting for you to reach out to him. Have you done this before with a deity?”

“Yeah, I talk with Barky that way, kinda,” Owen said. “I’ll try that.”

Owen tilted his head upward. It was a little awkward to do it when there was a decrepit metal sphere in the way of the sky, but that was all in the mind. The connection would work all the same.

Hello? Owen called, expanding his aura like unfurling ethereal wings. He peeled the layers back, searching for something with a sixth sense.

Suddenly, he felt like he was falling.

<><><>​

“Oof!”

And he landed in a very familiar forest an instant later, flat on his back. Gracelessly, he grunted and rolled until he was on all fours.

“Oh, not again,” he grunted. “I’ve had enough mental walkabouts for at least… ten lifetimes at this point…”

A canine Zygarde stood at the edge of the glade behind Owen. Compared to the one Owen knew, this one was thinner and… smiling. And not the creepy smile Hecto did when failing to look friendly, either. A genuine smile.

That alone meant this was a different Zygarde.

“Hey,” Owen greeted. “Are you, uh… the Overseer?”

“Yes!” Zygarde replied cheerfully, entering a sitting position. “I’m happy to meet you, Owen! I’ve read a lot about you in the reports. I know you very well, ah—Usurper may be an intimidating title, but it has a lot of good meanings, too!”

Something about this disturbed him more than most things he’d encountered the last year or so.

“Y… yeah…”

“Hm? Is something wrong? Oh, don’t worry!” Zygarde hopped to his feet. “I’m just here to get information. I promise, none of this will hurt, or harm you in any way! I can’t do that! You’ll shunt me right out!”

“I will?”

“Well, he will.” Zygarde flicked his head to the right.

In the shadows was another dim orange flame. Owen flinched. Wishkeeper? Here? But he was… in him, now. He was Wishkeeper.

“Mental guardian, sort of a representation of your inner psyche. Happens during spirit invasions. No need to worry! I’ll be right out, Mister Guardian!” Zygarde called in a singsong voice. “Oh! Where are my manners? I don’t think I’ve introduced myself. I won’t be here long, but you can call me Bean!”

“B… Bean.”

“Bean!” Bean nodded. “Because my tiny Cell form looks like a bean! And because my real name is hard to pronounce. That’s a translation-friendly name I was told about.”

“Okay. …Is my name weird to you?”

“Ah! I’ve studied this side of the Overworld’s language well enough. It’s not strange at all! But mm, if you ever wanted a name like mine… go for Tamato!”

“Huh. I like those.”

Bean giggled and turned around. “In any case, I hope you don’t mind if I put my paw on a few of these trees. I think they’re abstractions your mind is forming for your thoughts and memories. If you cooperate, this will be a lot faster!”

“S-sure, uh, what do you need?”

“I’d like you to think about everything you know about Shadows.”

“Okay, I can do that…”

And as Owen focused, one of the trees further into the clearing glowed brighter. Zygarde thanked him and trotted over to it, placing a paw at the base of the trunk. The light expanded into Zygarde’s body, whose hexagons flickered rapidly. Owen didn’t sense anything bad happening… He glanced at ‘Wishkeeper.’ He was watching like a silent sentinel, nodding at Owen. He, too, sensed nothing wrong.

“Okay.” Bean pulled his paw back. “Thank you! Now, do you mind doing the same for Radiance?”

The process continued, tree after tree. About Radiance, Dark Matter, Kilo, his time as Wishkeeper, Valle…

“So,” Owen said as they walked, “how often do you do these… memory dives?”

“Ohh… Not too often. I’ve usually been a scout, but I did fieldwork, mostly. Working remotely isn’t my strong suit. I hope this isn’t too slow for you!”

“No, uh, it’s fine. It doesn’t feel like a lot of time is passing…” Owen wasn’t sure how he knew that. Maybe it was some kind of… internal clock in his body or brain? The longer he spent thinking about it, the more he felt a headache coming on. He refocused on something simpler.

“How good are you at fighting?” Owen asked.

“Oh, not the best. I do like a good spar now and then, though. My colleague, the one inhabiting Ho-Oh? Not part of the same… culture.”

“Yeah, I kinda had that feeling.”

“He is trying, though. You know, you should suggest a quick spar with him!”

“How come?”

“It might help him understand you more. He doesn’t realize that Pokémon bond by fighting.”

“Bond by fighting… right…”

Michael mentioned something similar. And that bond, the flow of power, was the basis of the purification circle, too…

“Just one last tree, if that’s okay with you,” Bean said.

“Sure, what is it?”

“Could you think about the Voice of Life?”

“I’ve heard that one before… Right. Hang on.”

Another tree glowed like a torch down a long cave. The lack of birdsong or wind started to unnerve Owen. Did that mean his mind had no wind, either? What did that mean? Or was it because he was holding his breath, nervous?

Why trees, anyway? He was a Charizard! At least have a volcano, or a cool cave, or something… Maybe the Grass Core messed with his mindscape.

As they got closer, the tree’s appearance came into view. And this… was the strangest tree Owen had ever seen.

A tree was an exaggeration. It was like he was seeing the idea of a tree. Hollow, transparent, flat. When Owen turned, the tree turned as if to always face him, like an ethereal cutout that tilted to the angle of his view. It wasn’t there, yet it was supposed to be.

“Interesting…” Bean placed a paw on the idea of the tree, but it passed right through. “The only tree that’s not here.”

“Uhh—what’s… that mean? Am I forgetting it?”

“Oh, you can’t forget things in this state,” Bean replied. “This forest holds all your spirit’s experiences. I’m sure if you walked far enough, you might even find past lives! …If this world has reincarnation, at least. I don’t know that one.”

“Y-you know, Overseers have a bad habit of dropping… really existential things at random,” Owen said. “Don’t you think it’s a little weird to say crazy things like it’s normal?”

“Don’t you do that all the time?”

“What?”

“Hm?”

“…Well… anyway,” Owen said slowly, “what’s with this tree? Are you getting memories from it?”

“That’s just it,” said Bean. “This tree? It represents some segment of your memory that’s cut off. And if I had to check…” Bean scanned the environment around him, hexagons flickering. “This is the last one left. It must be frustrating… I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Owen said. “I… have a guess where it is. So, I can’t recover these memories at all?”

“Not until you find that final spirit fragment. How interesting, though! This reality must be able to do that…”

“Do what?”

“Well, a soul doesn’t forget, and it is immutable. You cannot split or combine them permanently. But within a reality… well, then it would be subject to that reality’s rules. And here, it seems you can temporarily… split it. And therefore, utterly keep some memories totally inaccessible, even here!”

“We’ve had that happen a lot lately,” Owen said.

“Right, right. The Legend halves, yes?”

These Overseers were a little too thorough with their research. Owen wondered if they had a log on his favorite foods, too.

“Well!” Bean grinned. “I hope you find that final fragment of yours. I think I have everything that I need. Thank you so much for your cooperation.”

“I’m, uh, I’m not in trouble, right?”

“Oh, even if you were, we wouldn’t be able to extract you like this!” Bean nodded. “A soul can only exist in one reality at a time. You’re missing a piece! You’re anchored.”

“…That… didn’t answer my question.”

Bean smiled again. “You aren’t, Owen. You didn’t intentionally cause any of this and you aren’t capable of it, either. We don’t try to take people away unless they’re at that level. But… your friend, Dark Matter—”

“He’s going to be better,” Owen assured him quickly. “He’s been working with us to stop his other fragments.”

“Ahh, yes!” Even after getting those memories, Bean sounded surprised when he spoke of it. “Dark Matter, an ally…”

Owen nodded again. “I gave him a tiny piece of light or something. He can change. And… if I can, I’m going to complete that.”

“I see…” Bean seemed contemplative. “Well… That is a surprise, Owen. We’ll watch to see how this goes.”

“What happens if… it fails?” Owen asked.

Bean was fading away as if withdrawing to some other, upper plane.

“The world will be destroyed,” Bean said apologetically. “Now that it’s spreading into this world… we can’t risk much more. We hope, for your world’s sake, your plan works, Owen. There are no more chances.”

Bean seemed… grave. And then he was gone, leaving Owen alone with his mental guardian.

“No more chances,” he repeated. “This… this is it, then. Now or never…”

A great light enveloped the forest. Owen’s body felt weightless. He took a sharp breath… and felt himself wake up.

<><><>​

The thunder was getting closer when Owen awoke on his back, resting his head against Zena. Mu was reading a book and Ho-Oh had gone to meditate near the Dungeon’s rippling edge.

“I’m awake,” Owen murmured. “How long was I out?”

“Not too long,” Zena said. “About… half a kilo?”

“Oh, that’s not bad…”

“Good. You’re awake.” Ho-Oh nodded. “Well, it seems my colleague got what he needed as an update on this world. It seems that the decision is to leave things to you. And if you fail, we will step in to help.”

“And by help,” Owen said, “you mean you’ll destroy the world entirely.”

Zena flinched.

“Wow, that’s metal,” Mu hummed.

“I’m sorry,” Ho-Oh said. “But I believe now you know the consequences of faltering. Not only will Kilo be in danger, but this whole other world and all connected worlds will be in equal danger of falling to the Voidlands. You recognize that if you fail, the only safe option is to eradicate everything and halt the spread. Correct?”

Owen could sense Zena’s defiance surging in her tense body. But she said nothing. Owen wanted to defy it, too. But… what power did he have against someone who spoke so calmly about it?

“Do you not know how to fix it any other way?” Owen asked.

“Not without risk. And we already took that risk with Hecto and Valle. We are… done with risks, should you fail, Usurper.”

“That… title,” Owen said. “If I succeed, what will you try to do with me next?”

“You are observant,” Ho-Oh said, nodding. “But you don’t need to worry. If you properly hand over that power to skilled individuals to rework the reality, all will be well. You can return to your world and everything will return to normal.”

Owen nodded uneasily. “Okay,” he said. “Well… then I need to follow one last thing that Bean asked me.”

“And that is?”

“Can we fight?”

That disrupted Zena’s tense stance. “Owen,” Zena said, somewhere between befuddled and exasperated. “You can’t possibly—”

“No, no,” Owen said, “That’s what Bean said I should propose! To bond!”

“But with an Overseer?” Zena asked. “He apparently isn’t even a Pokémon, you know.”

“He’s one now.” Mu turned a page. “So that’s something.”

Ho-Oh shook his head. “Fine. If Bean asked that… I’ll humor it. But only…” He raised a wing but then glared at it like it was missing something. “…One strike. From each of us.”

“Uh, I’m out,” Mu said, rolling while still reading her book. “I’m, like, still a minor, or something.”

The three adults squinted at Mu, then looked back at one another.

“You’re aware,” Ho-Oh said, “that I’m a Legendary in this body, yes? I’m not aware of my strength as it stands. I could incinerate you where you stand.”

“I think I’ll be able to handle that much,” Owen said. “Zena?”

“Yes. We’ve… dealt with the gods before. We have the durability for it. Even if we’re weaker in this part of reality, I think it will be fine for one strike.”

“Just one, huh…” Owen’s wings drooped. “Not going to be a whole lot we can get through with that, but…”

“We’ll have to put everything we have into one strike, then,” Zena stated to Owen.

“Mm, exactly,” Owen agreed.

Ho-Oh tiredly fluffed up his feathers. “Right. Well, I have not battled in a very long time.”

“Do you… know how to attack?” Owen asked.

“I’m a bird. So, I’d peck at you.”

The hollow metal sphere around them groaned with another gust of wind. Zena gave Owen an incredulous look.

“He’s not trolling,” Mu stated, turning another page.

“You—” Zena squinted. “You don’t know how to use Ho-Oh’s moves, but you took on his body? What happens if you’re attacked?”

“I’m a scout, not a fighter,” Ho-Oh muttered. “Hold on. Let me consult with him.” He closed his eyes.

As Ho-Oh remained still, standing upright yet seemingly unconscious, Owen turned his attention to Mu.

“So, was that cringe?” he asked.

“Supergod Overseer dude borrowing a body he doesn’t even know how to use?” Mu said. “Yeah, kinda.”

Owen nodded. Good. He was learning.

“I believe I learned enough to channel one move for this,” Ho-Oh said, opening his eyes. “Are we ready?”

The energy in the air changed. Mu closed her book and hopped to her feet, lightly jogging several paces away. Zena shifted and tensed her muscles, entering a defensive stance with her feather-fan tail in front of her. Owen crouched and unfurled his wings, readying a shield. It gave himself away, sure, but he doubted Ho-Oh was experienced enough to sense that. It was just one strike anyway.

“Charmander,” said Ho-Oh, “could you call the match’s start?”

“Oh, uh, sure.” Mu looked between the three of them. “Ready… go!”

Zena feinted and slithered to the right, distancing herself from Owen. She hid her head behind her tail, looking defensive, when in reality she was charging a Hydro Pump to strike at Ho-Oh’s flank.

Owen kicked forward, uplifting years of dried ocean salt mixed with rust from the ground. He spiraled to Ho-Oh, who deemed Owen to be the greater threat and opened his beak. His wings lit up with divine fire, spiraling around a sphere of heat in the middle of his mouth.

This attack… Owen wasn’t familiar with it. But he knew enough about the elements to copy it all the same.

When Ho-Oh fired, so did Zena, a cascade of water splitting across Ho-Oh from the side, drenching his feathers and knocking several out of their place. The Sacred Fire hit Owen’s swiftly conjured barrier, crawling around it and threatening to burn him even through that. This divine strength couldn’t be blocked by a mere Protect.

Owen landed harshly on the ground, salt crunching beneath his feet, water from Zena’s attack rippling in deep puddles. The fire sizzled in the water and boiled it into steam, obscuring Ho-Oh’s vision. Owen could tell by the way he was squinting.

But Owen held the advantage there. He seized that power, grasped at the threads of aura left behind in the blast, and curled it around his fingers like weaving a string or knitting a quilt. From his chest, he pumped Radiant energy into his claws, then combined it with Shadows.

That same sphere appeared in Owen’s palm, but now it swirled with a vortex of bubbling black and white embers. He hurled it forward like a softball, striking square in Ho-Oh’s chest where the energy exploded into a flurry of fire. Zena’s residual water bubbled off of him in a plume of scorching steam, cutting through his elemental resistances. That did real damage… even against this divine being.

Ho-Oh shrieked in surprise as the vapor dissipated. The dome creaked again, unbothered by their struggle but complaining about the impending storm.

And when Ho-Oh inspected his feathers again and as Zena lowered her guard, the Overseer bird finally chuckled.

“Now, what was that?” he said.

His gaze was… friendlier.

“Huh?” Owen asked.

“Just then. Did you… use some sort of telepathy?”

“No? I don’t know if I can do that to non-Mystics,” Owen said. “Especially not here… Everything’s weaker.”

“What do you mean?” Zena asked. “Do you mean… the feelings through battle, or something?”

“Is that how it feels?” Ho-Oh asked.

Now that Owen thought about it… he only sensed that kind of thing strongly in this world. In Kilo, it wasn’t as present…

“Yeah,” Owen said. “It’s a special property of this world. Pokémon communicate through battle. It’s like a conversation where you can’t hide your true feelings. Like… how I know you’re curious what I’ll do with this.”

“I see… I try to be stoic. I’d almost call it unprofessional.” Ho-Oh said. “But, if we’re being so transparent… I felt something curious from you two. Milotic… From you, defiance, fiery and desperate. You really wanted to hurt me, didn’t you?”

Zena flinched. “I… wanted to defend my world. And make sure I could prove it. If I couldn’t hurt you…”

“…Then how could you hurt Dark Matter,” Ho-Oh completed. “Yes. Your duty is in strength to save a world out of time.”

“I was born there,” Zena said. “Most souls there were. We deserve to defend our home, don’t we?”

“Well said.” Ho-Oh nodded. “And, Owen…”

“You felt…?”

“It’s what I didn’t feel,” Ho-Oh said. “You gave me a blast of energy that used both Shadow and Radiance. Darkness and light. Negative and positive, overflowing in both. In other worlds where we have seen this kind of interaction, it’s been given many names. Nihil, Blacklight… But personally? I would call it Chaos. Two energies not meant to coexist, swirling in a dangerous vortex ready to explode. Shadows pull up all of your doubts and negative emotions while suppressing anything that would have calmed you; Radiance forces your thoughts outward, turning you impulsive and erratic.

“Yet from you, I felt none of that. You have harnessed the power completely… and it does not corrode you.”

“I’ve had… practice,” Owen said. “I’m just a Charizard. But I had time to train with it, even when I didn’t realize it. I’ve been… exposed to that for so long that it’s become normal.”

“Yes. And yet…” Ho-Oh paced. “I sensed guilt. Self-reflection. Excitement… You do love your battles. But most of all…” Ho-Oh’s expression brightened so subtly that even Owen’s Perceive narrowly missed it. “That light in your eyes… it’s just hope, isn’t it? Mundane, simple hope that I felt… even in the face of so many adversaries back home. You’re returning with an answer and a dream.”

“And the sooner the better,” Owen said with a nod. “I hope it’s… enough. I want to fix this. Not just because I broke it, but because Kilo deserves better.”

Ho-Oh nodded. “Then face this Dungeon and pass into Kilo,” he said. “Consider it your final test before you can turn that hope into action.”

Mu jogged over to Owen and hopped onto his tail. Owen flicked his tail, flinging Mu up to his shoulder with practiced ease.

“Goodbye,” Ho-Oh said. “Should you fail, rest assured that your plague will not spread to other worlds. We’ll cut Kilo from its other neighboring worlds and find a way to destroy it.”

“Oh, sure, yeah. No big deal,” Owen muttered. “Just kill us all if we fail…” He understood why. But the Overseers’ perspective was… too insensitive for him to accept at face value. He had no choice but to save the world. Any other outcome was death or worse.

Zena led the charge to the Dungeon distortion in the center of the dome.

Ho-Oh continued. “But should you succeed… Well. Kilo’s fate is not sealed just yet. Good luck, Usurpers.”

His expression became firmer just as Owen walked through the Dungeon’s barrier.

“And I am not cringe.”

With those inspiring words to remember him by, Owen marched through the barrier with Zena by his side and Mu on his shoulder. He was leaving behind his original home, possibly for good this time. And he was returning to the one he’d truly spent most of his life in.

He wondered if his mother would approve of all this. His necklace felt just a little warmer. Somehow, in some way, Owen sensed that he was walking in the right direction.

<><><>​

“They’ve returned,” Barky announced.

CRASH!

Anam jumped in surprise, his slime dribbling all over his work station.

Demitri, behind one of the desks in their makeshift strategy room in Kilo Village, accidentally split the table in two. Hakk, Mispy, Jerry, and Star happened to be in the room with Anam; everyone else was out doing fieldwork with the stabilized zones in anticipation of Alexander's reawakening.

Demitri tried to push the splintered pieces of wood back together. It wasn’t working. “S-sorry. You startled me…”

“That table was elementally reinforced,” Hakk whispered. “How’d you split it like a toothpick?”

“Barky’s voice is super intense…”

“Wait, what did he say?” Star asked, lounging in a bubble of psychic energy while poring over documents of Dungeon findings. “Barky! Who’s back?”

“Owen, Zena, and Mu,” Barky said. “Gather everyone. I’m currently figuring out where he is… I need to return to Destiny Tower to get communications running.”

“Yo, wait up!” Star said, disappearing and reappearing on Barky’s back.

“What’re we planning on this end?” Jerry said, standing up straighter. “We don’t even have a tenth of Kilo back to normal. How can we even get Owen here?”

Skitter, skitter… Willow zipped into the building. “Nate says Owen’s back!”

“Yes. We know,” Barky said. “…Wait, why does Nate know already? Can he sense his life force, too?”

“How should I know?!” Willow growled. “What, you want me to ask that, too?”

“…Yes, actually. I feel as though Nate is keeping something from us when we can’t afford any variable to be left unknown.”

“Oh.” Anam shifted nervously. “…Um, I’ll go with you, Willow.” Anam had a feeling that Willow wouldn’t be very good at getting the information that was important…

“Get Diyem if you need help,” Barky dismissed. “We need to do our part to secure Owen.”

“O-oh.” Anam played with his feelers. “Okay.”

“Now then, Jerry…” Barky addressed the Aerodactyl again. “We’ve been coordinating with Owen on just where he’d enter. I can sense his presence and we’ll work from there,” Barky explained. “It should be another Dungeon near a powerful aura.”

“…Couldn’t that be Ghrelle?” Jerry said.

Barky closed his eyes. “I’ll let you know if it is through Willow. But I’m hoping not. Star?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“Good luck!” Anam called. “I’ll, um, I’ll see Nate!”

And yet, not one empty street later, Anam stopped and waved at an incoming, gigantic leviathan made of darkness and eyes.

“Hey, Nate!” Anam called cheerily. “Thanks for letting us know about Owen!”

I’m going to head to Zero Isle Spiral.

“Huh? How come?”

I… need to meet Owen there.

Anam tilted his head. “So… Owen, Zena, and Mu turned up in Aramé’s place?”

The leviathan’s great five heads nodded.

“Um… okay. But, that reminds me, um, if it’s not too much… why do you need to meet him? Barky said, um… you know, that you know more than you say, so…”

Oh. I thought nobody noticed. I’m sorry.

Anam tittered but didn’t press more. If he did, he might upset Nate…

Okay, Nate said. Since we’re already so close… I’ll talk about it. But first, let me show you something…

Nate extended one of his heads forward. Anam leaned in, curious, as a golden mote of light flowed through that blackened body.

Anam gasped. “But that’s…!”

<><><>​

Warm, tropical air mixed with salty ocean scents. Sunlight bathed Owen, Zena, and Mu with liberating energy. It felt like an oppressive force had finally been lifted.

Owen deduced this was them returning to their proper domain, where they could use their full strength uninhibited. This was unmistakably Kilo.

But it was also still a Dungeon. Tall corridors made of seashells and stone mixed unnaturally with wood and grass sprawled in all directions. A mysterious force kept Owen and Zena from flying too high above them. Thankfully, there weren’t hostile, feral Pokémon, or even wraiths to bother them.

The walls of the Dungeon glowed a gentle cyan.

“This energy,” Zena said. “Is this a Mystic Dungeon?”

“We’ve never been in one with this kind of climate, though,” Owen said. “Unless…”

“We never entered the Dragon Dungeon,” Zena said. “Could this be it?”

“The Dragon Guardian, Aramé. And the final Divine Dragon…”

Mu leaned back while atop Zena’s head, grasping Zena’s horn to keep from falling completely over. “Well, that means we can go through easily, right?”

“Yeah. Let’s find the distortions. We have to go through it to get out.”

It was only a short walk. A few turns led them to one distortion, then another, and soon they found an empty chamber that had fewer strange walls. A stable zone.

Owen sighed. “Finally,” he said. Just as he passed through the stable zone, Zena and Mu disappeared from his Perceive. This was normal; his Perceive couldn’t go past distortions.

The problem was when they didn’t follow at all.

“Zena?” Owen said dumbly, realizing his voice wouldn’t carry through. He knew not to pass through again—that could send him to a random part of the Dungeon again. “What’s…”

He focused harder on his Perceive. Nothing, no living creature other than himself. He tried to ignore how much faster his heart was beating. After spending so many months with Zena and Mu in relative peace, the two suddenly being gone was shaking him.

No. He had to stay calm. He had to trust that Aramé was still an ally. Barky didn’t warn them about anything like this, after all. And he’d surely know after that Ghrelle incident.

His Perceive instead caught a note in the middle of the chamber, recently written and fresh.

“Please leave your horns in the basket before passing through. They are not allowed for this final test. Replacements have been crafted for you.”

Nearby was a basket with two horns that looked a lot like Owen’s, though he could tell they were made of clay.

It was a trap, but a telegraphed one. Whatever test he was going to take couldn’t be seen through his Perceive. Some kind of illusion, maybe? That in itself was a hint…

Owen sighed. If he disobeyed, he would probably be attacked. Could he defend himself?

No, that wasn’t what he had to be concerned about. Zena… Mu…

Barky, Owen thought gently in prayer, I’m here and in the Dragon Dungeon. Zero Isle Spiral. Aramé is asking me to remove my horns and proceed through her test.

I’m going to follow through with it. If you think I should fight back, if you think this is a trap… give me a sign.


Even across dimensions and within a Dungeon, Owen knew Barky would hear him. That mysterious connection the gods left behind was enough.

And for a while, Owen waited patiently. He watched the skies. He felt for tremors. He checked for glows.

Nothing came.

Maybe he should have asked for a sign if he should proceed. But… admittedly, he did not know if disturbances could go through. So instead, he called one last time. I’m going forward. If you didn’t want me to go, I couldn’t hear you. Send rescue if I’m going into a trap. Wish me luck.

Barky could have sent him word back, right? Or… was that cut off here? Aramé was strong. Supposedly the strongest Guardian.

He wondered why Aramé never fought alongside them.

The clay horns fit surprisingly well and felt cozy in their sockets. He left his true horns behind and hoped they would be returned. If not, Nevren had said they’d regrow after a few days…

But he couldn’t afford a few days anymore, could he?

Logically, this was a bad idea. Aramé could be a traitor, somehow. But his instincts told him it would work out. He knew Aramé from the past, vague memories of Wishkeeper informing him that Aramé meant well.

So, he put his faith and trust in her as he walked through the distortion.

The colors swirled, the labyrinth returned around him… and a strange light shone on the far side of the hall.

Owen’s arms tensed, ready for a Protect—but he’d been too slow. The light became a beam before he could react, slamming into his forehead.

“Aghh—”

He shambled forward a few steps and leaned against the wall. “What… what was that?” he huffed, trying to see more than a few feet in front of him. Darkness crept at the edges of his vision…

And he passed out.

<><><>​

Salty air. Tropical warmth. He remembered those. He remembered going on a mission for… something. He had to get back home to Hot Spot.

Right. He remembered that. Gods, he remembered a lot of that. And he knew he was prone to losing his memories. The pang of annoyance that followed informed him he lost them again.

“Alright,” he muttered, groggily standing up. “I fell for… a trap… Hello?” He squinted, rubbing his throbbing forehead. He took several more breaths and did a body check. Tail, blazing. Wings, a little stiff but fine. Arms, legs, doing well. Belly, a little overweight. He looked a little like a normal Charizard again.

Fine enough. Grunting, he got to his feet and stomped down the hall.

It was a labyrinth, a Dungeon, so there was a way forward somewhere inside.

Not five seconds later, he heard the sound of a small Pokémon sniffling. His nature took over. Someone needed help!

“Hello?” he called again.

The sniffling stopped.

“It’s alright. I’m here to help. I mean, I didn’t know you were here, but…” He walked down the nearest twisted corridor.

Just around the corner, in a small room, was a Charmander with his back turned to him. On Charmander’s back was the mark of Necrozma, a little birthmark like a vertically stretched star.

“Oh, hello,” he said gently.

Charmander, startled, sprang to his feet and took on a defensive stance.

“I-it’s okay, it’s okay!” He raised his hands and folded his wings back. “Are you… are you okay? What’s your name?”

The Charmander kept his guard up a while longer. Then, seeming to lose his will, he plopped onto his rear again, head down. “Owen,” he said quietly.

“Owen…” He didn’t know that name. “My name’s Charizard. Just Charizard. May I sit by you?”

“Sure…”

Charizard gingerly approached and took care not to shake the ground when he took a seat.

“Okay, Owen,” Charizard said gently. “What’s bothering you?”
 
Chapter 175 - Reflection

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Chapter 175 – Reflection

Charizard let Owen talk as much as he wanted. He babbled on about his friends and family, how none of it was real. Something about it felt so familiar to Charizard—he knew, for sure, that he would be able to help him. A lot of Owen’s struggles felt so familiar to him.

Owen told Charizard how he’d been lied to by everyone he knew. That his memories, everything he was, had been constructed by them so he’d fit into a certain role, and be none the wiser.

He spoke in excruciating detail about the supposed crimes he’d committed. Murders, really, of an innocent family. How he was supposed to be a weapon, and then he was erased so he could be some loyal soldier instead.

At that point, Charizard felt like it was a little too familiar.

“Owen, that was your name, right?” Charizard asked.

“Mhm.” The Charmander nodded. “At least I have that. My name hasn’t changed…”

“Right… You know, Owen, I don’t remember having a name for myself, but—” Charizard nodded. “You know, I wonder if Owen used to be my name.”

“Huh?”

“We’re too similar. Almost like…”

Their eyes lit up as if they had come to the same conclusion.

Charizard exclaimed, “We’re from different times!”

“Yeah! You’re… me! from the future!” Owen beamed. “But… But that can’t be right. I read all about this in the comics. Wouldn’t this cause a huge paradox?”

“Yeah, I don’t remember meeting me at this time… and I don’t remember my name being Owen, either…” Charizard crossed his arms.

Owen mimicked the pose. “…Were we split? How come you’re here, anyway?”

“I was… coming here to… do something. I think I had to return home to report on… some research. But… I can’t remember what that research was…”

“Maybe it’s a Dungeon trick. Right?”

“Oh, so you know you’re in a Dungeon?”

“I—” Owen flinched. “I… I do… but that’s not right. I thought… I was in Hot Spot…”

“Hmm…”

Owen shifted uncomfortably. “W-well… it’s…”

“It’s alright,” Charizard said. “We have to get through this Dungeon, right? I entered it to take a test. Maybe… you’re part of that.”

But there was a haunted look in Owen’s eyes. Charizard tilted his head. “You okay?”

“I… I don’t know,” he said. “I—sorry. Can I just… follow you for now?” he asked. “I need to think…”

Lacking his Perceive was making this part tricky. As far as he could tell, Owen was real. Yet he had a name, and Charizard had no memory of that whatsoever.

“Come on,” Charizard said, holding out his hand and crouching down. “Hop on my shoulder. It’s probably a long walk.”

“Oh—thanks.” Owen hopped on, tittering nervously. “I never got to ride on a Charizard before… They’re rare in Kilo, you know?”

Charizard marched along, leaving a mark in the stone in case he ever got turned around so he didn’t retread old ground.

“You won’t be alone forever,” Charizard said, resuming their conversation from earlier. “It’s going to be hard to trust your family again after this. But I think… you’ll see that they did a lot of it to protect you.”

“Does that make it okay?” Owen asked.

Charizard sighed. “Normally… no. But because of what you are… I think… I can’t blame them for what they did. It was a necessary evil to make sure I could heal. They didn’t know how to fix me.”

Owen’s shoulders sagged. “…I don’t… I don’t know what I’m supposed to be mad at. Or… if I’m supposed to be mad. Or if it’s just how things are… I don’t… I don’t understand…”

Charizard reached up and gently patted Owen on the shoulder. “Work through it. But don’t take it out on people. I think… what helped me was when I framed it a little differently. Instead of thinking about who to blame and who to be mad at… I instead thought about how I should treat others who were involved. And what I should be careful about next time. Is there anyone you want to avoid forever now?”

Owen looked down. “…I… I don’t think so. I don’t want to push anyone away. I’m just…” He shook his head. Owen didn’t know how to articulate himself. Charizard remembered the feeling. And when he was like this, Owen had been desperate to lean on someone to trust again. The smallest hint of forgiveness, of a path forward… Had Owen fallen for the wrong person, there was a chance he’d’ve fallen into the same torment again.

“If you don’t want to leave any of them,” Charizard said, “it means you think they had your interests in mind. But you don’t want a repeat, right? So… what will you do differently so they can’t do that to you again?”

“I’ll… I’m gonna ask why they do the things they do,” Owen said. “And if they don’t give a reason, or… if I think they’re lying…”

“Don’t trust them,” Charizard completed. “That’s a good start. I think it worked out for me. But I’m still learning, too.”

“Even now? But you’re…”

“I’m big now, yeah,” Charizard said. “It’s going to be a while before you can… be confident people aren’t always lying to you. Or if they only lie sometimes. But… sometimes, you have to think about why they might lie. And if they have no reason…” He shrugged. “Trust them.”

“So, use… logic to figure out if they could lie?”

“And make sure they can prove it if you think they might,” Charizard said. “But… don’t get paranoid. You can’t be alone, either.”

Owen rested his chin atop Charizard’s head. “This sounds impossible. How am I supposed to catch all of that?”

“You won’t,” Charizard said. “But I think… we aren’t surrounded by evil liars. Not everyone wants to use us for our power. It’s going to be okay, Owen.”

Owen seemed unconvinced, his little claws tense against the top of Charizard’s head.

“Yeah,” Owen finally whispered. “I hope so. But what do we do now?”

“Let’s keep going,” Charizard said. “You have my name. I have your future. Maybe we’re supposed to go together?”

“M-maybe…” Owen winced. “But… but I took your name. What if… what if you’re supposed to take it back?”

“No,” Charizard said firmly. “I won’t do that. Right now… you need that name more than I do.”

“I do?”

Charizard nodded., nearly tossing Owen off his head before catching him. “You’re me at my lowest. When I was… lost. The only thing I could trust was my name. So… even if I found a way to take it from you, I don’t want to do that. Not until you can stand on something else. Sound fair?”

“Okay…”

In their silence, Charizard wondered what this test was supposed to be and if he’d done it correctly. Nothing special happened between himself and Owen, despite surely them being the same person. He felt real. Yet without his true horns, he had no way to tell if that, too, was some elaborate trick.

As he walked to the next layer of the Spiral, Charizard had nothing but hope that he did the right thing.

<><><>​

Milotic gently guided a sphere of water down the corridors of the Dragon Guardian’s domain. Within the sphere was a starstruck Feebas named Zena who watched in awe at every graceful gesture Milotic made to guide the sphere forward.

It was more comfortable for Zena that way.

“I really get to be as pretty as you?” Zena asked.

“Yes,” Milotic said with a light chuckle. “And you find a beautiful, strong Charizard, and court him.”

“A Charizard?” Zena said with a grimace. “But then I’ll go somewhere all fiery and dry…”

“It’s not so bad,” Milotic said with a small laugh. Being around a little Feebas… She felt herself straightening her stance and talking with a more formal cadence. Maybe it was an instinct to encourage her to evolve one day.

“Sorry,” said Zena. “Guess it wasn’t… who I was expecting.”

Milotic smiled warmly, thinking back to what Zena’s fantasies must have been. But just as they advanced, she stopped what she was about to ask. Someone was slithering up ahead and she felt an intense aura of power. Another Guardian?

The glow in this part of the Spiral was stronger. The tree roots that intertwined with the dirt of the labyrinth walls radiated an indigo sheen. When Milotic ran her ribbons along them, she felt the ethereal flames of a Dragon singe her like a bowl left on the fire.

And then, a second Milotic slithered into view of the first. Her gaze was fierce, searching for something to attack. Whatever grace Milotic had, this frenzied one did not, and they locked eyes.

“You,” she hissed.

“M-me?” Milotic said.

“Where is my name?”

Without realizing it, Milotic slithered in front of Zena. The Feebas, in response, hid behind Milotic’s tail fan along with her bubble.

“Who are you?”

“I also don’t have a name,” Milotic said. “So… we’re both Milotic. That will get… complicated.”

The angry one stared back, looking more and more agitated.

A thought crossed Milotic’s mind. This one’s name was ‘Fury.’ Or… how she thought of her.

Fury slithered until she was only three feet away from Milotic. “You… you’re me, aren’t you?” she said. “Who, then? What… what part of the Dungeon’s test are you?”

“…I don’t know,” Milotic said carefully. It was unnerving to see someone just like her look so…

“Was it Star?” Fury asked. “Was it any of the gods? Is this another test of theirs, toying with us to prove what they were given by chance?”

And then Milotic understood who Fury was. To see it out in front of her in full display, all those inner thoughts and bitterness…

It was… embarrassing. But she agreed, in a small way, with how she felt. In the past, she would have agreed so much more.

“It is,” Milotic said. Zena nervously shifted in her water bubble. “We need to figure out what it is, but right now, I don’t think we should try to weaken one another. We should—”

“No!” Fury cried. “No more. No more games, no more tests. We… tear it all down! Do you understand me?”

Milotic hardened her expression. “Now is not the time to fight the wrong gods. We can deal with them and their unjust actions later. But we need to fight Dark Matter now. Do you remember?”

“They’re all Dark Matter,” Fury hissed.

“…It’s not that complicated,” Milotic said. “Please, just work with us here, and—”

“You’re with them,” she suddenly said.

“What?”

“You’re…” She coiled up. “You’re just another god now. You’re with them!”

Milotic was losing her patience. This ball of resentment wasn’t learning.

“Fine,” she said. “Wallow here. I have things to do. Come, Zena.”

“O-okay.” The Feebas nervously pushed her water bubble with Milotic.

Fury stared icy daggers at them. “I won’t… I won’t let that happen,” Fury whispered. Her body glowed, a pulse of light rippling up to her neck. Mist formed in her mouth, coalescing into a glowing ball of water.

Fury unleashed her Hydro Pump square at Zena’s back. Zena squeaked in surprise and closed her eyes.

A wall of water erupted from the ground behind Milotic, deflecting the Hydro Pump effortlessly. Once the wall dissipated, the water rained down in a heavy storm.

Fury yelled something at her; Milotic couldn’t hear it over the downpour. Water flowed down Fury’s cheeks and ribbons, but it wasn’t enough to wash away her anger.

Milotic waved her tail in the sky and conjured her training techniques while in Alola, where water was abundant. Three spirals appeared above Fury, each glowing with a similar watery sphere. Without any thunder, three columns of water shook the earth and drowned out Fury’s scream.

The downpour was brief. The sun returned as the rain lightened. The wind, though, was still too shy to return.

All that remained was a small crater filled with water. Mist obscured most of it, but a little ball of cyan energy floated just above the water’s rippling surface. It was the last remnant of Fury, the fragment of her spirit filled with the pain inflicted upon her by the gods.

Reluctantly, she cupped the orb in her ribbons and searched for where her bag might have gone. The downpour had loosened it from her body; she found it on her midsection and awkwardly pulled it back up.

“Rest for now,” Milotic said, unsure if Fury would hear her. She placed the little spirit orb in the bag and slithered on.

“Milotic?” Zena asked, her ball of water larger from the rain. “Am… I going to be like that one day?”

Milotic sighed. Being someone’s future… What a strange burden.

“It will get better,” Milotic said. “Come. I think there are still more tests to do.”

“Okay…”

They left the waterlogged corridors behind and passed through another distortion.

<><><>​

“Now,” Charizard said slowly, “will you behave?”

A crazed Charizard was trapped inside a golden Protect bubble, pressing his face against the edge of the barrier to get as close to Charizard as possible.

“Your neck is expossssed,” he hissed back.

The feral one—whose name occurred to Charizard as Wrath—clawed uselessly at the shield. Owen hid behind Charizard’s left leg.

“It’s because we aren’t enemies,” Charizard said. “Calm down! You don’t even have Perceive—look at your horns!”

“I can smell it,” Wrath hissed. “I see how weak you’ve become!”

Just capturing him had been an ordeal. Talking to him…

“Is that what I used to be?” Owen squeaked. “I r-remember… I used to evolve and go crazy… Was I like that?!”

“No,” Charizard said. “Not exactly like that. I… I know what he is. But… you realize you can’t win against me, right? I’ll always be on my guard if this is how you behave.”

“You’re afraid to kill,” Wrath said. “What is your answer… when you face someone who will not answer to peace?”

Wrath’s eyes darted to Charizard’s chest, then his neck, then his belly, randomly. All weak points he could strike. Wrath was hungry for any blood and battle.

It was his Battleheart at its worst, corrupted and twisted by Nevren’s experiments. His ‘kill mode’ given conscience. That small piece of him that tempted him every time his Perceive wandered to the weak points of his friends around him.

Charizard’s concentration lapsed. Wrath smashed through the Protect and beat his wings, flying back.

“Hey!” Charizard shouted.

Wrath flew down the hall.

“Wait! Get back here!” He flew after him and followed, kicking up dirt and sand from the Spiral’s coast that had gotten caught in the distortion’s twisted dimensions.

Just around it was a ripple into the next segment. Owen had gone too fast to halt his momentum—once he passed through, he put up a shield on reflex.

Nothing attacked. Wrath must have gone to a different segment.

He forgot Owen.

Charizard gasped and spun around—but the ripple was gone. He’d already entered the next section.

“No…” Charizard sighed. “He… he’ll catch up. We’ll meet at the end. I gave him a pep talk, right?”

Nobody answered him.

“Oh… I’m talking to myself again…”

Sighing, Charizard spun on his heel and crossed his arms. He swayed with the momentum of his tail.

On one hand, he could wait and listen for people passing through the same section. On the other, they could have already passed by or—worse yet—be in a parallel path of the Dungeon’s twisted space.

Staying was too risky. He had to advance. There was no time for setbacks.

Most of this section was a forward movement with only a few short corners to turn. Mentally, Charizard tried to keep a map of the section and marked a few spots on the wall in case he passed by them a second time.

But, to his surprise, he never had to. It was a straight, albeit winding, shot.

It was starting to unnerve him.

For about a minute, he continued his advance. Then, suddenly, he swung his head back. He shouted, “Hey, there you are!” and ran to someone who wasn’t there.

And panic set in. Charizard did not mean to do any of that. He was no longer in control of his body.

“Yes,” Charizard said. “I thought you’d gone ahead. I waited a while for you. Are you alright?”

Nobody answered. Charizard tried to move any part of his body. Nothing worked. His muscles didn’t respond in the slightest. It wasn’t like trying to push against a wall. His arms, his body, refused to acknowledge his mind’s wishes. His body was not his own.

“Right,” Charizard said. “No, sorry. He’s probably still ahead. Stay on my shoulder again, alright? Keep close.”

He reached down for something. He balanced nothing on his shoulder. He turned around and slowly walked onward.

This was a nightmare. He couldn’t control anything. He was a helpless passenger as someone else moved his body and talked to people who didn’t exist.

“He’s… someone I don’t ever want to be again,” Charizard said. “But I need to keep that power in mind. It’s… useful.”

He turned his head away and clenched his jaw.

“Sorry. I know,” he said. “It’s not your fault.”

Charizard tried to puzzle out what part of the test this was, what cruel joke Aramé played for him. When he couldn’t move his body, what could he do? Use his mind?

Up ahead, the hallway led into a cave lit by glowing crystals, just as bright as a full moon. A great expanse of brown rocks and patches of sand and grass dotted a chamber about fifty feet across. On his right, there was a tall mirror from the cave’s floor to ceiling, making the whole room look twice its size.

“Whoa,” Charizard said. “I’ve never seen a mirror this big before. Have you?”

“No,” Charizard heard another voice—muffled, on the other side of the mirror.

He saw himself and his eyes widened. He wasn’t sure if that was his motion this time—he’d have done the same. His reflection had Owen on his shoulder, even though he did not.

Owen pressed against his reflection’s cheek. “Why am I not there?” he squeaked. “Am… am I not real after all?!”

Charizard approached the mirror at the same time as his reflection.

“No, that can’t be it,” Charizard said. “It must be some kind of… trick mirror, or something. Or an illusion. Without my Perceive, there’s no way to tell…”

Both Charizard tapped a claw on the mirror.

“Solid,” they both said. “Huh, a bit of an echo, too.”

“Well, it’s a cave.” Owen reached for the wall but his little arms were too short.

They both smiled and leaned closer to the wall.

Owen rapped his knuckle against the mirror.

It sounded different. To Charizard, it sounded like it was coming from the other side. Because it was.

This wasn’t a mirror. It was a glass wall. And he…

He was the test.

“Hmm,” both Charizard said. “That didn’t sound right.”

“I thought so, too,” Owen said, tapping again. “Doesn’t it sound like there’s nothing behind the wall?”

Charizard tapped the wall again.

“It’s different when I do it.”

Charizard already knew the answer. Or… No. Was he Charizard? Or was he Reflection?

He was… Reflection.

“Hmm,” Reflection said in tandem with Charizard. “I don’t know for sure, but…”

Owen suddenly punched Charizard in the face. Reflection felt nothing, but flinched with him.

“Ow! What was that for?” They rubbed their faces. “Good arm… Didn’t know I had that as a Charmander…”

“His cheek didn’t move!” Owen declared.

“What?”

Owen pulled at Charizard’s cheek, stretching his lips.

“Hey!” Charizard slurred. “What are… you…”

Reflection’s face hadn’t distorted at all. Owen let go.

“It’s… not a reflection,” Charizard said, pressing the mirror. “Okay, you can stop now. We solved the puzzle! Why don’t you… I don’t know, be your own person, now?”

Reflection wasn’t freed. He could cry, but his eyes wouldn’t respond.

“Maybe we have to break the mirror,” Owen said. “Um, wall. It’s just glass, right?”

“Felt like it,” Charizard confirmed. “I don’t think it’s reinforced, either. I don’t sense any aura in it. Mundane glass.”

“I wonder if it’s made of the sand in the area,” Owen mused absently.

“Well, let’s test it out!” Charizard said. “Er… wait. If we both smash into it at the same time, what happens? Would it… not break? Or collapse?”

“Umm…” Owen tilted his head.

They paced around, puzzling about the answer. Reflection could only do so uselessly. He didn’t know what an answer was. Even if he did, how would he convey that to them? He was at their mercy. He was the test to solve.

“Oh!” Owen perked up. “Throw me at it!”

“Oh!” Charizard nodded as hope welled in Reflection’s heart. “Great idea!”

They took a few steps back. Owen crossed his arms, readying a Protect. He shaped it like a cone, trying to give it a sharp point at the end. Then, with the winds and a strong wingbeat, Charizard threw Owen as hard as he could at the glass. Reflection mirrored the motion, feeling no weight behind it, and somehow didn’t stagger as he followed Charizard’s exact movements.

CRASH!

Deafening cracks echoed across the crystal walls. Shards of glass bounced off the ground in a cacophony of skull-rattling noise. Owen kept his Protect up until the last of the glass fell around him. He winced at the sudden obstacle around him before getting an idea. He recast Protect, this time on his feet, and stepped back to Charizard.

Reflection still couldn’t move without Charizard.

“Hmm… Well, he’s real…” Charizard crossed his arms and blew some glass shards away, creating a cyclone. Reflection managed the same until the glass was a thick line that split the room in half.

“Okay… Parallel work…” Charizard and Reflection then worked together to push most of it left and right, creating a proper path between them with the winds. The remainder wasn’t much against their scaly feet, though Owen hopped on Charizard’s shoulder for safety.

Face to face, Charizard and Reflection held their hands up and reached forward.

“I think even the glass wasn’t perfectly symmetrical,” Charizard said. “So maybe this isn’t a perfect reflection, either. I’m right-handed. That means…”

Charizard held up his right hand. Reflection, therefore, held up his left.

Their palms slammed into each other. They pressed as hard as they could… at equal strength.

“Ugh!” Charizard stepped back. “Okay. So, he’s left-handed.”

“Well, he’s a reflection… I guess that makes sense.” Owen tittered. “Um… So, that wasn’t a true mirror, so that wasn’t bad luck, right?”

“That’s a human-origin superstition,” Charizard said. “Besides, Star said luck doesn’t exist.”

Owen circled around Reflection thoughtfully. “Still,” he said, “there has to be some way to free him. Maybe once you get him out of this area, he’ll be free from its curse or something?”

“Maybe,” Charizard said. “But if that’s the case… we’d need a way to get him to move with us into the next hall.”

Owen looked down at Reflection’s side of the room. “There’s another hall right there, though. Can’t we go through normally?”

He ran to the other exit where the cave opened again, but suddenly skidded to the spot when the crystals on Reflection’s side—and only Reflection’s side—lit up. They spontaneously burst, scorching the ground with dragon energy.

“Gah!”

Anything that stood in the burning path would be obliterated… There were even little craters where the crystals had exploded.

Meanwhile, on Charizard’s side, a message made of light appeared on the ground.

Owen shakily distanced himself from that side and approached the message. “Light the crystals to match the pattern.”

A pause.

“I think we were supposed to read this first.”

Charizard rolled his eyes. “Well, we found another solution. We need to get our reflection on this side. I think I know how. You could move me but not him, right? But you can move him, too?”

“Oh, yeah.” Owen ran to Reflection and pulled on his wing. It, of course, moved, while Charizard’s did not. When Owen let go, the wing organically returned to Charizard’s position again.

“…Owen, can you make a Protect barrier so he’ll back into it?”

“Sure.”

After quickly erecting a barrier, Charizard stepped back. Reflection’s back pressed against the barrier painfully, but he couldn’t move more. His legs continued the motions to walk, pushing dirt and leaving marks on the ground.

“Okay, drop the barrier!” Charizard called.

When he did… nothing changed.

“Yes!” Charizard’s eyes lit up. He triumphantly walked forward again. Reflection mirrored the motion—and, for the first time, he was on the ‘other side’ of the room, their new center displaced far enough into the other room. “Now we have a straight shot into the next section!”

“Perfect!” Owen said, hopping onto Charizard’s neck. “Let’s hope he’s free once we’re out of this section…”

Reflection hoped so, too. His heart was hammering in his chest…

Wait. But that didn’t happen before. Was Charizard also anxious?

“Yeah. It’ll be just fine,” Charizard said. “Let’s go!”

They left the crystal “mirror” room behind. One step at a time, until the rippling distortion was a step in front of them.

After one moment’s hesitation, they walked through.

And Reflection screamed, crumpling to the ground, flailing his arms and legs in complete hysteria.

“Whoa!” Charizard yelped, rushing to his side. “Hey, hey! Are you hurt? Do you need to go back—”

“NO!” Reflection cried. He scrambled away from where the distortion had been.

“O-okay! Okay, okay, breathe, calm!” Charizard said. “It’s not like you go backward in a Dungeon like this anyway…”

Owen hid behind Charizard. Reflection moved his wings, pressed them against his back, and then unfurled them. All his. All his own. He could move. He was free.

“You can move,” Charizard whispered. “It’s okay, buddy. Wow… Uh… Owen? Let’s rest here a while, okay? We—”

Reflection lunged for Charizard, squeezing him in a tight hug. “Thank you,” he shakily repeated, over and over.

“Come on,” Owen said gently. “We can rest here. Yeah?” He looked at Charizard with pleading eyes.

“Yeah. We… can rest for now. But let’s listen for Wrath, too.”

Reflection continued to sniffle. The worst of it was over, but he was still shaking. There was a lot still on his mind, but… at least he was free.

He wondered what horrible test awaited them next.

<><><>​

Milotic was getting deep into the Spiral. With Fury in her bag, Zena nervously taking up the rear, and her impatient Mirror next to her, it was beginning to feel crowded.

“That puzzle took way too long,” Zena complained. “I know it was to trade time for care, but… how does that apply to real life?”

“Well, I’m thankful I was worth more than your time,” Mirror scoffed. “…It did take a while, though.”

“I’m sure it would have gone faster if we realized the crystals lit up in a set order sooner,” Milotic said.

“Or that there were hints on the walls for what the colors should have been,” Mirror added.

“Or that they said different things on her side…” Zena glanced at Mirror.

The two Milotic sighed at once.

“It’s behind us now,” Milotic said.

“Such a cruel test,” Mirror muttered. “I have a thing or two to say to Aramé once we’re across the way… Am I real? Some construct? Or a fragment of you?”

“Oh, believe me,” Milotic said, “whatever you are, I’ll be mad for you.”

Zena nervously shrank back.

“Oh, Zena, it’s fine,” Milotic said. “We aren’t always upset. Not anymore.” She unconsciously held her bag with both ribbons. Fury’s mote was warm through the bag.

“…The turns the Spiral’s been giving us have been much sharper,” Mirror said. “I think we’re getting close to the center.”

“I’ve noticed that, too,” Milotic said.

“Ah!” Zena rolled her bubble forward. “Look!”

Finally, the spiral led to another enclosed space. The darker rocks and dried coral made it seem like this was an undersea cavern that had been pulled to the surface long ago. It was too dark to see what was inside.

On guard, the trio passed through and waited for their eyes to adjust to the dim glow their bodies naturally gave off.

Ancient stalactites and stalagmites lined the edges of the cave. Mystic, glowing water flowed down the middle, both marking their path and providing a little light as they went through. A light at the other end of the cave was their goal. The sound of flowing water on a shallow river calmed their spirits. It smelled fresh—not like the ocean’s spray, but of a forest’s river mouth.

Something shifted to their right.

Milotic and Mirror immediately went on guard. There, towering over them, was…

“E-Emily?”

Both readied attacks as Lugia stood to her full height, wings outstretched.

“Wait,” Lugia said slowly. “I’m not here… to fight.”

Her voice was about as deep as Emily’s, but the cadence was much more formal and slower. In fact…

“You’re… you’re me?” Milotic said. “A Lugia? What… what ‘version’ of me are you?”

Lugia smiled. “You catch on fast,” she said.

The blue columns along her spine glowed. At the same time, certain rocks peppering the floor and ceiling lit up the same way, providing ample light to see Lugia fully, along with the gentle glow her eyes always gave off.

“I am your last self in this Dungeon before reaching your culminating test,” Lugia explained. “Unlike all of you… I was informed of everything in this Dungeon. And it seems… you were able to bring most of you here.”

“…I had to defeat one,” Milotic said. “She was too… unstable. Not someone I would want to bring with me.”

Lugia nodded solemnly. “Admittedly, I predicted that would happen. I am you, after all. But… I am who you could have been. I am your ideal. I am… the answer to what would have happened, had you made choices to avert your regrets. And in a way, your future, for something you could become next.”

Milotic scoffed at first, finding the assertion laughable. But after that reflexive response, she thought about it a little longer.

“But I never had the opportunity to become Lugia,” Milotic said. “Only… to work alongside Emily, yes. We were friends. But…”

Lugia tilted her head. “You were friends with Lugia. You became the Water Guardian. But… for some reason, it seems that you wish you could have been a guardian of the seas just as Emily was.” She shook her head. “Sometimes, regrets and desires are not logical. I am simply what you want to be.”

“Fury would be mad to meet you,” Zena remarked. “She hated all the gods.”

Lugia nodded. “It might have been a hard conversation.”

Mirror and Milotic admitted the cave ceiling. Between the stalactites glistening against the light and the speckled rocks embedded all over, it reminded them of a nighttime sky.

“I could see some ways this could happen,” Milotic said. “I could have taken up the mantle if I’d sensed something was wrong with Emily. Maybe as a Legend, I would have had more power to… contend with so many of the other powers at play. And I’m… so… normal.”

She thought of Owen and his seemingly endless pasts. Of his peers, all Legends, former Legends, humans… Such long histories of power.

And her? She was just a mortal who was lucky, or unlucky, enough to stumble upon the Water Orb. She had no special, lost past. She had no grand talent or secret tie to Kilo’s formation. She was just Zena, a Milotic who didn’t like to socialize and wandered into the pit where the Orb had been resting.

Was Lugia, then… her envy?

“Are you ready to continue?” Lugia asked. “The final part of this long trial is up ahead.”

“Yes. It’s… not a fight, is it?”

“No, no.” Lugia smiled. “You could have gone through this whole Dungeon without fighting, with some luck.”

“Hard to believe that one,” Zena said. “That one Milotic was too angry to cooperate.”

“Ah… maybe not possible for us. But others who pass through. Those with less conflict in their hearts.” Lugia gestured for them to follow. “Come. It’s just ahead.”

As they slithered to the cave’s exit, the section’s distortion right at the passageway outside became visible. With some conflict in her heart, Zena passed through to the final trial.

Unlike every other chamber before, this one looked more like the inner sanctum of some kind of ancient temple. Pillars divided a central chamber into twelve segments, each one with inscriptions that seemed to be tales from the Book of Arceus. Above each pillar was a statue depicting a set of Legendary Pokémon, or a singular one. In the back, the Creation Trio made of marble stood on the left side of Arceus made of gold. On the right side was the Divine Trio, with Zekrom of Ideals, Reshiram of Truth, and Kyurem of Decision.

Milotic remembered reading these tales. Where the Creation Trio were meant to be the emissaries of the great laws of the land, of the fabric of reality, the Divine Trio were representatives of what mortals would make of those laws. Universal laws, and societal laws. Kyurem was meant to lean one way or the other based on the nature of mortals…

What was this trying to tell them? Milotic figured this was part of the test, even as Lugia led them to the back of the chamber, facing Arceus.

A message in bright platinum lettering greeted them.

“Please go here,” Lugia instructed Milotic. “Read it aloud for everyone.”

Up close, Arceus’ statue was very detailed, yet she also saw signs of it being handmade. And of solid gold, too… or maybe merely coated in gold. Or a Dungeon conjuration. Anything could happen in here, as far as Milotic could tell.

The message read: “In this chamber, you must come to terms with yourself and consolidate your spirit. Only one, with the aspects of the remainder, may pass through the final gateway. Choose two aspects to discard into the forgotten back of your mind. They shall stand before Zekrom to be removed. Choose two to keep in the forefront of your thoughts. They shall stand before Reshiram to be remembered. The one who remains shall march onward as the ideal self. They shall stand before Kyurem to confirm your choice.”

Milotic read it over a few times, trying to fully understand what it meant. “Two to discard, two to remember, and…”

Lugia nodded. “One who remains. To pass this trial, you must bring all of us within you in a certain way and become the ideal self. Or…”

For a moment, Milotic had a realization of what Lugia was going to imply. Her body felt colder.

“You choose someone else,” Lugia said, “of these personalities conjured from the Dungeon, from within your mind, to take your place.”
 

Spiteful Murkrow

Busy Writing Stories I Want to Read
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Partners
  1. nidoran-f
  2. druddigon
  3. swellow
  4. lugia
  5. quilava-fobbie
  6. sneasel-kate
  7. heliolisk-fobbie
Heya, took me a little while to get to things, but I do have a triplet of chapters to start reviewing from HoC, and this next one up looks relatively short and IIRC is pretty pivotal to the early plot, so let's just jump right in with…

Chapter 15

“Where in the world is…?” Rhys felt around for his Badge, but it was missing.

“Rhys? What’s taking so long?” Demitri asked. He stopped walking; his natural density made his feet sink slightly into the salt, which floated like clouds in the crystal-clear water. Distracted, he wiggled his claws, letting some of that salt dance around his toes.

“I am certain I brought my Badge with us,” Rhys said, opening his bag further. “I always keep it right in the inner front pouch, the sole item. I felt for it on the way out! In fact, it flashed upon us leaving the Dungeon and entering the main salt flats.”

Yeeeeeah, I stand by my assertion from last time that Rhys in the gang are significantly less alone than they think they are. Since this smells a lot like someone pickpocketed his bag.

Mispy tilted her head, staring at her reflection in the water. Not a bad look. It was a bit distorted from the ripples that Demitri made, and the ones from Gahi’s wingbeats. She brought a vine out and grabbed Gahi, holding him steady; that made it easier to see herself. She couldn’t wait for the time when her little buds would bloom into huge petals. Meganium were so pretty. She had seen one walking through town—she couldn’t believe what the amazing flower her species was able to grow!

Priorities, Mispy. Though I suppose that that's a sign that this scene's going to be written from her perspective.

Gahi protested being ‘monhandled, but eventually relented and looked at his reflection, too. He started by inspecting his wings. As a Flygon, they were going to get a lot bigger. Demitri was rubbing his tusks, wondering what it would be like once they became full-fledged axes like his evolution’s.

Aha, I see that you use s / man / 'mon terms in this story as well. Though I suppose that this is a sign that the rest of Team Alloy is also starting to get some of their memories of their prior "cycles" in life back.

“Rhys, you sure you didn’t drop it in the flats?” Demitri finally said, looking up. “The warp pad isn’t too far off. Let’s just walk back. We’ll get home by sundown.”

“Nrgh. But I know I had it… but yes. Let’s go. We need not waste extra time searching in this expanse. We can have Nevren track its location later.”

Image


Since... yeah, I'm not convinced at all that this is something to just be shrugging off right now.

“Right. Okay,” Demitri said. He looked around. “Wow. It’s really nice, though, isn’t it? It’s so… big!”

Indeed, now that they weren’t in such a rush, they had the opportunity to actually take in their scenery—now that they were turned away from the carnage, it was a reflective surface on all sides. Curiously, Demitri lightly—from his perspective—slammed his fist in the salt, creating a huge ripple in the water. The quake of his punch made Rhys and Mispy stumble. The water’s ripple went out, and out, and out; it brushed against Rhys’ feet, making little disturbances in the waves, and then continued outward. Everyone, even Rhys, took a moment to admire the sight.

Wait, Axew can learn punching moves? Or is that supposed to be one of Demitri's "weird" things kinda like how Mispy has her aura sensitivity?

“It is,” Rhys said. “But… it is a bit unnerving. A salt flat of this size.”

No, that's also a thing in nature given that there's a place just like the one the gang's presently in that's over 3900 square miles in size.

“Aw, it’s pretty!” Demitri said. “I mean, you can see your reflection perfectly in thi—Rhys?”

The Lucario had abruptly turned around. His paws erupted with aura embers, and he was ready to lash out at any threat. “I believe I found my Badge.”

There was a strange creature flying a stone’s throw away from them. A Ninjask at the base, in addition to its pointy, serrated-looking legs, it had an additional set of limbs that resembled a Scyther’s scythes.

Oh, hello there, mutant Ninjask thingy.

“I don’t think Ninjask’re supposed ter be here,” Gahi said. “Heh… weird. Wait. Ain’t their legs s’posed ter look a little different? And only have two of ‘em?”

“Weird, hm,” Rhys said. “That’s one way to express it, I suppose” Rhys briefly scanned the Pokémon’s aura. He couldn’t quite place it at first, but then— “Demitri. Mispy. Gahi. Stay behind me.”

“Wha—”

Cue the incoming attack in 3... 2...

The Ninjask vanished from view—and reappeared right in front of Rhys an instant later. It moved incredibly quickly—even faster than a normal Ninjask. It shoved its right, serrated limb right into the Lucario’s gut. Rhys grunted, eyes bulging. He jumped away and clutched at the wound, forced to a knee in the water. Crimson splotches faded into the salt. The trio stood in stunned silence—it all happened too fast.

Good thing that he's Mystic and can come back from this... I think.
:copyka2:


Gahi reacted first. “Mispy!”

“Right,” Mispy said.

She retreated to heal Rhys’ wounds. The strange Ninjask rushed forward. Gahi spotted this and countered with a deft shift in the air, ramming into the Ninjask to intercept the blow. Gahi heard a grinding noise that vibrated against his exoskeleton, followed by a shallow, sharp pain where he made contact.

“YOW!” Gahi shouted, flying away to get some distance.

At first I thought that that was Metal Sound, but then I realized that that was specifically described as hurting, so I'm not really sure what the mutant just did there.

“Gahi?!” Demitri didn’t know which way to run.

Some of Gahi’s tiny scales were torn away—the Ninjask had an extremely jagged exoskeleton of some kind.

“Rough Skin?” Demitri said.

Ohhhhh. Yeah, I overlooked the part about Gahi ramming the mutant. Yeah, that would explain things.

Rhys grunted, his wound healed. “Be careful!” he wheezed. “That isn’t a normal Pokémon! It’s—a mutant, but…”

The Ninjask rammed at Demitri, attempting the same attack that it had done to Rhys—but his scales were too tough, and it only resulted in a minor wound. He countered with a powerful chop to the creature’s side, using both his arms and his hefty tusks to deliver the blows. Demitri felt his scales get caught on the Ninjask’s outer shell. He hissed and clutched his hand. It tingled—in fact, it felt like it was starting to spread.

Demitri:
Image


Demitri recognized this feeling. “I—I think it poisoned me!” he shouted, stumbling back.

“Poison Point?” Mispy squeaked.

“Nah, that’s definitely Rough Skin!” Gahi shouted back. He then retched into the water, finally feeling the effects of the poison.

Is this going to be like the DS PMD games where Pokémon have all their abilities at once, just applied to mutants? Since just saying, it wouldn't be the first time "multiple abilities simultaneously" has happened in official media.

Mispy ran toward Demitri, readying another Heal Pulse to help him—if only to heal the damage, if she couldn’t get to the poison. But when she tried… something blocked it. The pulse was emitted, but then it faded away, like a dying candle to the wind.

Rhys closed his eyes and immediately spotted the source. “Rim!”

Well, looks like I popped that TF2 gif a bit early, and yeah. I knew that Rhys got pickpocketed, and Rim certainly has the ability to plausibly pull that off.

The Espurr was glowing with a dark light. Its aura radiated from her center, filling the atmosphere with a weak, ominous tinge—Heal Block. Mispy’s powers were useless.

Mispy: "Great, any other cheap and hax tricks you want to throw around right now?" >_>; Rim: "Gladly."

The Ninjask zipped toward Demitri again, slashing at his back. The arms tore through his scales with ease, ripping a few right out. He shouted in pain and spun around, but was too slow. It was already chasing down Gahi, who flew higher in the air. The Ninjask was faster and slashed at his tail.

“Nrgh—!” Gahi spun back and puffed out a plume of foul, blue breath at him. It grazed the Ninjask enough for it to back off and fly down again, freeing Gahi from the pursuit.

I will defer from commenting on bug anatomy right now other than that if playing things to the hilt for bug anatomy, depending on where on said tail the mutant hit Gahi, that'd be a very
:riooflu:
experience.

“Rrrgh!”

Gahi tried to ram into Rim, but he hit her barrier instead. The pulsing sphere around the Espurr rejected his advance. The impact alone made a loud, ethereal clang, bending one of his wings oddly. The Vibrava was then blasted back at the same speed he’d approached with. He slid across the ground and tumbled into a pile of wet salt.

IMO, this works better with Gahi's dialogue split off from the rest of the paragraph, though I winced after reading what happened to his wing. Especially knowing that he (probably) has an exoskeleton.
:wincepix:


His wings twitched; Gahi tried to free himself from the pile. In the meantime, Mispy charged her Solar Beam; Demitri ran toward Rim next, slamming his fist against her barrier.

Bet you can’t handle—Brick Break!” Demitri announced, slamming his claws down hard. The light flashed—flickered—faded… and then returned. “N-no fair!”

Gahi: "Demitri, yeh do realize that Espurr are Psychic-types, right?"
:what:

Demitri: "Look, it's still a tough attack, okay?" >_>;

Rim’s eyes glowed a bright purple. A force that seemed to bend the light itself blasted Demitri backward. The Fraxure slammed Gahi back into the pile he’d just escaped from.

Demitri: "... Ow."
:LiamDed:


“N-now!” Mispy shouted.

She fired
firing a concentrated blast of solar energy from around her neck, concentrated forward. Rim turned her head, staring at the light. The beam bent around her barrier—flashing, flickering—but it didn’t fade. When the Solar Beam finally subsided, it left behind a V-shaped carving in the salt behind Rim. Water slowly filled the gashes, but the Espurr herself was completely unharmed. Not even wet. Her wide, yet neutral eyes stared emptily forward, through Mispy.

“B-but…!” That attack always worked!

Mispy: "Er... yeah, this is about to be a really, really painful experience for me, isn't it?"
:uhhh:


“Leave us, Rim!” Rhys said, though he was currently dueling with the Ninjask, careful to only use indirect attacks against it. In this case, his only effective move was a ball of white, hard light—a Flash Cannon. “You already have the Orb!”

Rim stared at Rhys and blinked once, slowly. Then, she turned her head toward Mispy. The Bayleef flinched. That one moment of hesitation earned Mispy a Psychic blast.

she Mispy screamed and skidded across the salt, bouncing over the salt flat like a rock over a river. She hit Demitri and Gahi, who had both clambered out of the pile seconds before. They all grunted, buried once again. The Espurr, floating over the water, went higher, staring at the pile. Her eyes glowed. Psychic energy twisted the salt around them; all three roared in pain. It was like they were being crushed in the palms of a giant.

I see that things are going well™️ at the moment for Team Alloy. Part of me wonders if the second paragraph works a bit better cut up someplace. My reflexive thought was where the semicolon was, but I suppose there are other potential places that might also work well.

Though wait, what powers has Rim absorbed for her to just casually grab all that salt with her mind and use it to attempt to crush those three to death?

“Rim!” Rhys shouted.

The Ninjask doubled back and flew toward Rim, flying behind her obediently.

Rhys fired a Flash Cannon directly at her; she turned her head and deflected it with a glance. That was when Rhys realized that, in his current state, he wouldn’t be able to overpower her. He considered going all-out, unleashing his aura in full. But that would only give him a few moments, at the very most, to defeat Rim. It wouldn’t work, and he’d only strain his aura to the point of passing out. And then what? He was already injured. His guard had been down. Careless, careless!

Yeeeeeah, this sounds like it'd have been a good time to pull out some sort of cheap Wonder Orb to incapacitate these two, grab your badge, and blip out ASAP.

The Lucario grunted. “Y-you’re becoming quite powerful,” he muttered. “How many Orbs have you claimed, Rim…? How many have you relinquished to Eon?” Rhys hoped that his words would distract her long enough for the trio to recover.

It didn’t. Rim stared at the pile of salt and blasted again with Psychic. They screamed. Mispy panted. Demitri tried to help them out. Another Psychic—salt flew in the air, mixing with water. Rhys brought up an aura barrier to block some of the water from splashing against him.

Rim—STOP!” he roared, using a vertical Extreme Speed to leap high in the air. Rim blocked him with her barrier; he landed in the salt, feet stuck too deep. “Ngh—”

He fired at Rim from below with everything he had. Aura Sphere—Flash Cannon—his two ranged attacks, but neither had any effect. The barrier was just too much.

To answer the question, Rhys, at least two more than whatever you're presently suspecting. Though I see that he kinda epically failed his persuasion check there.

“Rim—you can’t keep doing this! If you do, they’ll—”

Rim blasted them one last time—and then… they stopped screaming. Instead, they all roared—in unison, in anger, in frustration, in madness. The salt blasted away with a great wind; the water rippled, splashed, and rose in tiny droplets. Rhys freed himself from the salt—but then, abruptly, felt a sharp pain in his back.

Ng—!” He lost all feeling in his legs. He fell forward, wheezing. The water around him reddened rapidly.

Is- Is she forcing them to evolve? Since I can see that comment that Rhys is making there.

The Ninjask flew toward the trio next, but was blown away by the force. Rhys stared in pain. A blinding, white light emanated from all three of them.

The light of evolution—and then… a flash of black.

Well then. Guess we're not wasting any time at all ramping Team Alloy up to their final morphs. Though I can already tell that Owen's going to be saltier than this flat they're all in once he finds out about this.

Owen left an Owen-shaped hole in the wall. He coughed and collapsed on the ground, barely able to stand. This, for quite a while, was his fight with Azu. It was a bit too dark to see the ground. Thankfully, the Feraligatr spirit had a slight glow to him that added to Owen’s fading fire. If this was how strong a summoned spirit was, just how strong was Manny? He was glad that he didn’t have his bag with him. While he couldn’t use Nevren’s Eviolite to his advantage, it also didn’t get in the way while he fought. Instead, he had set it aside near Amia and the others, so the only thing that would break in the fight would be his bones.

Well, I suppose that confirms that Manny is really, really tough as a Guardian given that his spirits are also capable of fighting directly like Anam's.

“HAHAH!” Azu boasted. “And before you blame the Type Advantage, little Fire, I’m pure Fighting in this spiritual form! These muscles don’t lie!” He flexed, striking a pose that emphasized his right side. A few loose pebbles blew away from the resultant shockwave of his pose.

Oh hey, it's like that Machoke animation that shows up in some earlier Pokémon games. I actually wonder how much Azu resembles one with his swoler-than-normal build.

“Ngh… that… that hurt!” Owen said, struggling to remain stable. Azu’s posing was both annoying and distracting. He leaned back and held the rocky wall behind him, glancing at the imprint he left on the wall. The rocks must have been a bit soft. Surely, he would’ve died from something like that normally… or he wasn’t giving his durability enough credit.

It's the properties of being a Mystic, I can already tell. Especially since "surviving making a crater on impact" is decently common in Dragon Ball.

“No pain, no gain!” the Feraligatr said. “Such a wonderful motto! I have no idea where Guardian Manny learned it, let alone Master Yen, but he is surely one of the greatest fighters alive!” He pointed a claw at Owen. “You can’t hope to face him with your puny strength! I can feel it!”

Just saying, you missed a chance to lean into Azu's physique and go with "No pains, no gains" as an incredibly lame pun given that he seems like the type who'd know bodybuilding lingo.

“Gooo Owen!” Willow said, crackling near Alex’s feet. It made the Magmortar flinch. He quietly inched away while the Joltik leaped high in the air, flashing yellow and white light.

“Y-you can do it, Owen!” Amia shouted from the entrance to the arena. “But—don’t push yourself!”

Owen: "Gee, no pressure right now."
:ohnowen:


“What’s that supposed to mean?” Owen said. He saw a fist flying toward him—he ducked and rolled. He felt the shockwave of the fist to the wall; a hole was left where Owen’s head’s imprint was. “Are you crazy?! That would’ve hit me right in the—I could die!”

“What’s death to someone who died?” the Feraligatr laughed. “That’s meaningless to me! Perhaps if I kill you, I’ll see you again in the Fighting Orb!”

I like how this is the first fight in the gauntlet.
:copyber:


Though wait, the other Orbs can draw in the spirits of Pokémon who've already been inside one? .-.

“S-sorry, but I have some things I gotta do here, first!” Owen said.

“Hah, and don’t we all?”

Azu swept his tail, knocking Owen off of his feet. This was immediately followed by an uppercut. The combination of downward gravity and an upward fist knocked all of the wind from the Charmeleon; he coughed and flew through the air. His back hit the ceiling—and then he crashed down onto the ground. Owen could barely breathe, let alone stand.

Image


“Hm, so that is the extent of what you’re capable of,” Azu said, stomping toward him. With a light push with his foot, he rolled Owen onto his back. The Charmeleon’s tail was barely alight.

“Owen!” Amia cried.

“Don’t you dare hurt him more!” Willow crackled enough to illuminate the whole cave.

Owen: "Oh great, so Willow has feelings for me. I... really, really did not need to know that." >_>;

“I won’t,” Azu replied, crossing his muscular arms. “He’s done, anyway.” He faced Amia and the others. He boomed triumphantly, “As per the rules, you can’t advance. Come back when you’re stronger!”

“B-but we have an important mission to take care of!” Amia said. She held her arms out, pleading. “We—we need Manny to come with us, so he can be safer!”

inb4 Manny comes tumbling out the door mid-battle with a mutant. Since I'm pretty sure that he's also relevant past this point in the story, but Owen and the gang clearly aren't getting past this one in the intended fashion.

“Why would he be safer with people who can’t even defeat me?” he asked. “Your first fighter surrendered before he even entered the ring. And your next fighter…” He looked back at Owen, who was back on his belly, holding himself up a few inches from the ground.

Well, he’s out of his league, too. I wouldn’t exactly call that reliable. You two don’t have very strong fighting auras, either. You’re nothing to Manny.” There was a wave of seriousness over his voice. But it washed away just as quickly. Seconds later, he had a toothy grin. “So begone, and challenge me again when you become stronger! Ha!”

Wow, rude. Even if I suppose that in normal times that that would be a pretty effective means of crowd control.

I do wonder if enough is happening here with Azu's dialogue and these little micro-actions such that it'd work better split into two paragraphs.

The Charmeleon stirred. “N-no,” he said. “I’m… I’m not done!” He hacked and wheezed, and then stumbled to his feet. His legs shook like autumn leaves.

“Oh?” Azu asked. “Hah. Your body is not ready, but your aura is strong! But you cannot win, Grass Guardian. Leave and return later.”

“I won’t!” He rushed forward and tripped on his broken leg, yelping.

:PainedCabot:


Yeeeeeah, that's quite a bit worse than what I was initially expecting Owen's condition to be. Guess Mystic abilities only go so far.

“Hmph,” Azu said. “You fight like a spirit.” He picked him up by the horn. Owen’s body dangled limply.

“Ngh… and what’s that supposed to mean?” Owen’s arms twitched—he was trying to punch, but his body simply wouldn’t listen.

I'm sorry, what. Like if that remark wasn't just a throwaway putdown of how Owen's fighting is comparable to a normal spirit's versus a standard Pokémon...

“Spirits don’t have bodies to worry about. They fight with disregard for their wellbeing.” He let go, dropping Owen on the ground, where he managed to stay standing.

Yeeeeeah, I'm keeping an eye out on Owen and his other attributes in the future, since I'm pretty sure that comment by Azu was significantly less pithy meta-wise than how it was initially presented.

“Guess I like a good fight,” Owen growled, wobbling.

He spat an Ember right at the Feraligatr; he blocked it effortlessly with a flick of the wrist. He countered with a powerful blast of his focused, fighting spirit, aimed squarely at Owen’s chest. The losing challenger roared and skidded back, holding the sphere in place. But it wasn’t stable—the launched Focus Blast exploded in Owen’s hands, propelling him into the wall again. Like a ragdoll, Owen hit the ground, eyes blazing.

Amia cried, “Owen! Stop! Please!”

Owen, don't make me break out the Sonic movie meme again. Even if at this rate, you probably are going to die... Again.

“I can do this!” Owen roared back.

He was missing a tooth, wobbling back to his feet. Adrenaline pumped through him. He didn’t feel any of the pain anymore. He knew this feeling. So familiar—so exhilarating. He was fighting to the death. He knew this. He’d die if he lost. And he’d never flee. This target would fall—or he would. Why did these thoughts fill him so naturally? It was logical to surrender. Tactically, he was being allowed to leave to return later, to win. But he couldn’t flee. He just couldn’t. He had to fight. He had to win. He had to kill.

Owen:
Image

Amia: "Oh. Oh dear..."
:uhhh:


Owen’s vision was reddening. He growled. Molten embers dripped from his mouth, melting the rocks below.

Amia covered her mouth. “No…”

“You still challenge me?!” Azu said.

Damn, that gif comparison is shaping up to be really fitting in live-time. Um. There aren't any bucolic villages nearby this trial ground... right?
:copyka2:


Owen ran toward him and launched a concentrated jet of fire, turning the whole arena red for half a second. The flames enveloped the Feraligatr, but he punched through it and hit Owen in the stomach. Owen growled and opened his mouth, chomping down on the arm, breaking through the scales.

“Grah—persistent Pokémon, I’ll give you—THAT!”

With his other arm, he punched Owen away. Yet he didn’t let go. His jaw clenched even harder, and he took the arm with him. It dissolved into a flurry of blue aura flames; Feraligatr’s shoulder looked like it was on fire from the missing limb.

Yeeeeeeah, I can see why Amia was afraid of letting out whatever it is inside Owen in full if this is what it looks like coming to the surface.

He stared at his erupting shoulder. “Heh… well. Guess y’got me there,” Azu said, shrugging with his remaining arm.

Owen growled and shambled toward him again. His arms dangled wildly below, but his legs, despite being broken, carried Owen step after clumsy step.

“Not gonna fool me again!” Azu said, spinning around.

His tail slashed at Owen, knocking him over. Owen got up and rushed again. The tail swatted him away. Owen got up and rushed again. And again. And again—he just kept coming. He didn’t stop—his stamina was endless. He’d fight himself to the ground. There was no pain. No fatigue. He didn’t even hear Amia crying for him to stop anymore. His vision was completely red. Running on instinct. There was something ahead of him, Azu, and that was all he knew. The target. It had to fall.

Oh yeah, this is totally normal and not unsettling and concerning at all there.
:FearfulMeowth:


I'm not sure just what on earth is inside Owen that's gotten him into this berserker state, but boy is this familiar right now.

A final punch from the Feraligatr did him in, and knocked him down completely. Owen’s body, regardless of what he couldn’t feel, was broken.

“Ngh,” Feraligatr said. “I didn’t mean to be so harsh… but he wouldn’t stop!” he tried to explain to Amia, who was watching Owen intently. “What?” he asked. “Hope you brought Reviver Seeds! He’ll need ‘em!”

Owen's about to pull some horror movie shtick and just abruptly jerk up off the floor, isn't he?

Azu scratched the back of his head, laughing, trying to lighten the mood. His laughing was deterred somewhat by the look in Amia’s eyes. There were tears, and behind those tears, wide eyes of fear. But it wasn’t toward Azu.

The cave glowed again. This time, the glow was white. Azu turned around. “Eh?”

Ah yes, we're getting all the evolutions this chapter, I see. Though wait, I just realized, but how is Owen able to see all of this from lying on the ground?

The cave was filled with the light of evolution. Owen’s body grew. Wings sprouted—his tail lengthened, his flame an inferno. A horrible roar filled the cave walls.

A black flash corrupted the light.

Image


Well, not really since there's two short scenes right after this, but let's see where those go.

“Owowow… Owen! What’s wrong with you!”

“S-sorry!” Owen rushed toward Demitri, helping him up.

“Hahahahah!” Gahi teased. “Ol’ Scalebag really had it coming to him, eh, Owen?”

Ah yes, more preincarnation visions, or whatever it is these are. It's from an effective past life, so good enough.

“Gahi…” Mispy growled.

“Aw, c’mon, Mispy,” Gahi said. “Just playing.”

Oh, so Mispy and Demitri were lovers even back then, huh?

“Are you okay?” Owen asked.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” Demitri said, nodding. “I hope I didn’t break one of my tusks…”

Right, that's a thing that can happen canonically. Even if I'm guessing this setting has a workaround to such breaks being permanent as Haxorus.

“I’ve got it,” Mispy said, washing him in healing light.

“Aw, thanks, Mispy.” Demitri said, perking up. “Hey! Why don’t we fight again?”

Someone chuckled from the sidelines. “Still looking to fight, are we?” Rhys asked. “Your endless energy is encouraging. If only I could say the same for myself.”

Oh, so Rhys has been the babysitter for these four for a while now.

“Ohoho!” A Torkoal beside Rhys chuckled. “At least you can fight, Rhys. I just don’t see myself doing those things.”

“Aw, Elder, I bet you’d be super strong if you fought!” Owen laughed.

Waaaaaait, isn't this the same Torkoal mentioned in passing to be a Hunter that shows up in shipping art with Rhys that was mentioned in passing like 8-ish chapters ago? Are we looking at what Rhys and this 'Elder' used to be like before they were Hunters? As Hunters? Or...?

“Ah, but I don’t know any offensive techniques, Owen! Such a shame, really.” Elder didn’t appear very regretful of this.

I'd post the Sonic meme again, but I'm pretty sure the answer is "Mystic powers" again.

The quartet laughed and Rhys chuckled.

“Say, how about this,” Gahi said. “Demitri and Mispy can fight as one team, and you and me can fight fer the other.”

I mean, I guess Demitri and Mispy being closer to each other than their teammates would make sense, though that now makes me wonder as to how close Owen and Gahi used to be or not.

“It’ll be air against ground?” Owen asked.

“Yeah!” Gahi said, outstretching his wings.

Owen smirked and mimicked Gahi. They both took to the skies.


The memory was wiped away.

>dat last line

... As in Nevren came along and pruned it, or...?
:copyka:


The dim glow of nighttime mushrooms colored the rocky walls of the cave in a soft cyan. Mixing with this light were flickering embers of orange and yellow. Owen was lying in the middle of these flames, enjoying the warmth; they licked at his scales and washed over his back. The flame at the end of his tail got hotter, brimming with energy. He rolled over to sear his belly next.

“No resting on the fire, Owen.”

“Wh—huh? I wasn’t!” He rolled away and quickly hid beneath his bed of leaves. Some of them turned black from the fire, but they didn’t burn. He rubbed the back of his head, feeling pain all over. He grumbled and rubbed the orange scales on his arms.

Okay, so I suppose that that's confirmation that Owen's a Charizard right now. Since that's a bit different from Charmeleon colors.

Rhys peered into the room. “You’re very lucky we were able to fashion your bed with Rawst leaves, or you’d burn through them every night,” Rhys said. He chuckled, but then walked over, patting him on the head. “How are you feeling, Owen? Today was a rough day, wasn’t it?”

“Today?” Owen asked.

Memories flashed before him. The Feraligatr. The fighting. That feeling… the sense of dying, yet the thrill. Like he was filling a void in his heart—fulfilling some grand purpose. But what happened after?

- peeks up at chapter title -

... Actually, now that I think about it, I suppose there's an alternative possible implication that Owen having 'orange scales' might point towards.
:copyber:


“W-wait!” Owen sprang to his feet. “I—I was fighting!”

“You were,” Rhys said. “And you lost.”

Owen’s tail drooped to the ground. “Th-that can’t be…. I… I had him on the ropes! I even tore his little spirit-arm off! I remember!”

“It wasn’t enough.” Rhys shook his head. “Don’t worry, Owen. Your mother told me everything—you fought very well.”

... Actually, I'm not sure if Owen evolved or if he got devolved back into a Charmander or not. I'm presently leaning towards the second, but...

“Mom,” Owen said. He sighed, crossing his arms. “You mean… I wasn’t good enough to win, even though I tried my hardest?”

Rhys hesitated.

Owen sighed and stood up. Every part of his body felt bruised, but he paced anyway to clear his head. His bed felt a lot larger today, and he felt smaller than ever. He remembered staring up at the Feraligatr—he was barely up to his thighs, wasn’t he? “I just… I bet I could’ve done it if… if I just… maybe if I moved to the left instead of the right, or…” He stopped. His fists shook with frustration, and he stomped on the ground. “I just wish I could finally evolve or something! I’ve been a Charmander forever!”

Whelp. There it is. The reason why this chapter's called 'Reset'. Though I see that they don't keep Owen and Team Alloy's dynamics with each other consistent across 'loops'.

Rhys gulped, but then said, “W-well, regardless, Owen… we need to do some planning. You aren’t the only one to fail their mission today.”

“What do you mean?” Owen asked.

“We all did,” someone said from the room’s entrance.

“Gahi!”

Oh, so Rhys, Amia, and the gang are keeping Team Alloy together from the jump this go-around. Duly noted.

The Trapinch wobbled his way inside, clicking irritably. A Chikorita and Axew followed behind, clearly just as crestfallen, even though Gahi didn’t want to show it.

Demitri spoke next. “Anam’s team… their Guardian was killed right in front of them—and Rim got the Orb, too! And our team… Rim was there! She already beat that Guardian, and then she beat us up! Really badly! But then I guess after we passed out, Rhys fought her off.”

“Hmph,” Mispy said. “If we were… just… evolved…”

I sure hope that you kept a journal somewhere and stashed it someplace where Rhys and your parents couldn't find it, since... yeah. That's going to be annoying to piece back together again, otherwise.

The quartet sighed in unison.

“We’re just late-evolvers,” Owen said. “We’ll—we’ll evolve eventually! I’m sure of it!”

"""Eventually""".
:copyka:


Though that makes me wonder what on earth is up with their evolutions such that them hitting final morphs is enough to make their caretakers reflexively reach for the reset button.

Rhys turned around. “We’re going to be discussing what happened now. Future plans. Star will be there, too. Would you like to come with us?”

“Y-yeah,” Owen said. “W-wait! Zena! Is Zena okay?”

“Zena is just fine. Everybody is okay, aside from the Guardians we tried to rescue,” Rhys said. “Come.”

The Lucario led them to Hot Spot Square. The Charmander, Chikorita, Axew, and Trapinch followed him out.

Oh, so the Guardian hunt was preserved for their memories this loop. I suppose that that makes sense, since you'd think that that one would be hard to keep hidden.

Alright, made it to the end. I mean, I kinda figured out that something like this was going on in this story, but it was still surprising to see it play out onscreen. Guess that explained why you allowed the cast to grow strength-wise so quickly. Though yeah, I suppose that if people hadn't figured it out by now, that this is the chapter that throws it out that "this isn't going to be your normal story" and "thar be a conspiracy afoot" out into the open, and it does so to pretty good dramatic effect. There were some interesting things hinted at for the different characters, especially that passing remark Azu made about Owen and his fighting style, though clearly we'll be waiting a bit for that to all come out since... yeah, that ending note there.

As for criticisms... I honestly don't have a lot to level with this chapter. There were a couple paragraphs that I thought had enough going on in them to be better presented as multiple smaller ones, and a couple word choices I didn't quite agree with, but otherwise things were very well put-together. Definitely got a lot across even within the span of a shorter chapter length.

And that concludes the first of three prize reviews @Namohysip . Dunno when I'll get the next one out, but this is some good stuff, and I'll be looking forward as to what happens in the other two chapters in my docket.
 

Spiteful Murkrow

Busy Writing Stories I Want to Read
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Partners
  1. nidoran-f
  2. druddigon
  3. swellow
  4. lugia
  5. quilava-fobbie
  6. sneasel-kate
  7. heliolisk-fobbie
Heya, saw that the next chapter looks nice and digestible, so I figured that tonight was as good a night as any to chip away a bit more at that stack of prize reviews I owe you. So let's just go ahead and pick things up with…

Chapter 16

“Looks like that’s everyone,” Star said, flicking her tail.

A few of Amia’s spirits swept away little pebbles that littered the ground of Hot Spot—much to Valle’s irritation—while Amia herself channeled extra Mystic energy into the mushrooms to brighten the brown rocks. The cyan glow they gave off a light that mixed with the jagged edges of the houses, casting shadows on the wall. Owen sighed at the sight; what nostalgia to have a get-together like this. It was too bad it had to be over such depressing talk.

That actually makes me wonder if during these successive rounds of resetting if Owen and Team Alloy get false memories implanted or not, since 'nostalgia' implies that he has a percieved recollection of being with Team Alloy being normal for him at this point.

“What’s the damage?” Gahi asked, clicking his jaws uncertainly.

Star sighed, sitting down in mid-air. Her tail curled around her legs. “I want you guys to be very, very calm, okay?” she said. “No sudden movements. Be nice and delicate. Talk quietly. Got it?”

“Eh?” Gahi said.

“Just… just promise me, okay?”

Demitri: "Yeah... this is sounding exactly like the sort of thing you'd say when you're about to reveal something that's impossible to be calm about, just saying."
:grohno~2:


Gahi hesitated, clicking his jaws. He glanced at a few of the others—Willow, in particular, who irritably crackled.

“Well, why should I be quiet?!” she said.

“Willow,” Star said slowly. “Please.”

I should be less surprised that Willow would be the one who'd cause the biggest issues with Star's ask given that... yeah, Willow is definitely on the more impulsive and unhinged side.

[ ]

“W-well, I… I’ll…!” Willow looked at the others, and then at Star again. “Okay…” The crackling slowed down, and the Joltik stood still.

Star nodded. She closed her eyes. “Anam, if you can…?”

IMO, it might have made sense to show more of how Willow's mood / reaction changes a bit before she speaks up again, especially if you're trying to hammer it home that Willow basically has that "I fear no man" meme relationship with Star.

“Oh, right!” Anam held his arms forward and focused; a little aura flare formed between his hands, and he sent out another spirit. It formed into a winged Lopunny—a solid spirit. She wasn’t very strong, unlike Star, who was still very much see-through. Much easier to summon. But James and the others in Anam’s squad recognized her immediately.

“Cara?” Zena asked.

“Shh,” Star said softly.

Oh, so they can pick up dead Guardians as spirits. I wonder if they also picked up that Torterra, too.

Zena flinched, but nodded. Cara was a trembling wreck—shaking, looking to her left and right, and all around her. “Wh-where am I? What is this?”

“Hey… Cara,” Star said softly. The Mew floated closer, but she stopped when Cara shrank away. “Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. It’s just me. Star. You know me, right? When you were afraid and confused, I popped right in and brought you someplace safe. Remember that?

:absus:


“I was… I was floating. My body, I… I couldn’t feel my body…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

Owen: "You... did the Orb thing again, didn't you, Star?"
:unimpressedrayquaza:

Star: "Actually, I didn't, but..."

“There were lights everywhere, like I was… I was flowing, I—I didn’t know where to go, what to—”

“Shh, shh…” Star advanced, placing a paw in Cara’s. “You’re in a place called Hot Spot Cave. It’s underground, and away from any dangerous Pokémon. You can let your guard down.”

I—I can? Truly?” Cara looked like she was ready to collapse in front of everyone.

Image


Yeah, no. Star has been giving off "obviously sketchy and don't trust her" vibes since the chapter she first appeared, so that feels very ill-advised.

“Look around,” Star said, waving her arm to the small crowd. “Not a harmful soul here, don’t you think?”

:EzeraSus:


Yeah, look who's speaking, lady.

Cara scanned the cave square. The four unevolved Pokémon. The lovely Goodra that summoned her. Star, the constant presence that she could speak with, should she ever feel afraid. The others seemed fine, too [ ].

Oh, what an adorable Joltik,” Cara said quietly.

“Adorable?” Willow asked.

“Yes, you’re quite lovely,” Cara nodded.

Willow glowed. “W-well, I guess I might be a little cute…!”

It probably makes sense to explicitly note Cara's attention falling on Willow, but that might just be my more descriptive tendencies as an author flaring up.

Cara scanned again. “That one, the statue. Quite unnerving, that. Who is…?”

“I am Valle. I am one with the mountain.”

[ ]

“He’s a little weird in the head, but he means well, I think,” Star said. “Actually—hey, Valle, is there anything dangerous in the caves right now? Like, uh, Pokémon that would be trying to hunt us down?”

“No.”

I feel as if there was supposed to be some sort of reaction coming from Cara to Valle that Star noted and responded to, but it's not really depicted at the moment. Given that this is like 8 paragraphs of dialogue in a row, it might've made sense to drop in some description to keep things from getting a bit talking heads here.

“There!” Star said. “See? Valle’s our little security system. He’s like an army of guards! That’s pretty cool, right?”

Waaaaait, but what on earth did Valle even do to determine that anyways? Or is Cara meant to just be taking his/Star's word for things?

“Yes. That is quite… cool, yes.” She flapped her ear-wings a bit. “A tad warm here.”

“Yeah, Fire Guardian’s home, so, y’know.” Star srugged. “But it’s a bit cooler in some of the houses—anyway, Cara… you know you died, right?”

And cue the freakout in 3... 2...

“Y-yes… I believe that is it. I was summoned. A spirit. Oh… A spirit…” she sighed, shaking and shivering. But she seemed calm. Perhaps she was in shock.

Gahi: "Gee, ya think? Why she looks more shook up than Demitri walking along a cliffside!"
:what:

Demitri: "Hey! I don't look like that when that happens! (Partly because I'm avoiding those cliffsides for dear life, but...)" >_>;

Owen watched sympathetically. “Hey, I’m sorry that happened. Um, so… that means Rim got to her before we could, huh? How come she still looks like she has the Orb?”

“It’s the form she’s most familiar with,” Star explained. “Kinda like Valle, she prefers a body different from the one she was born with. And for what happened… that’s what I wanted to outline to you guys. And I want Cara to tell me everything she remembers about this, first. Cara? What do you remember?”

Waaaaait, implying that Valle is also a spirit, too? Or is that a thing for Mystics in general?

Though that makes me wonder if there are other characters with this "choose your form" ability that use it to adopt "god, I wish I'd evolved into an [X] / been born as an [X]" guises. Since if Star's explanation is accurate, that should be technically possible in this setting.

Cara grabbed one of her ear-wings and preened the feathers with her paws. “I—I’ve always been a small bit jumpy. Perhaps it is in my nature. But I’m afraid I can’t give much more information than what I’ve told Star, even now. I had been fleeing from strange, mutant Pokémon like them for quite some time. I think the brightness of my abode made it hard for them to strike me, but once I lowered my guard…”

Anam gasped. “Th-then… then when we made Cara feel safe, they just…!”

Yeah, great job there, guys. Though I'm not convinced that someone in the party didn't deliberately engineer that.

“How did we not sense them?” Zena asked. “We should have sensed their auras!

“Rim may have been hiding from afar, waiting for the light to lower to find her,” Rhys said.

Oh, so that's how Rim completely blindsided Rhys. Though Rim can apparently teleport in from at least half a mile away if Rhys' aura sensitivity tracks with Pokédex fluff, which feels... shockingly reasonable for a powerful psychic, especially if she had line of sight the entire time.

Star nodded. “There wasn’t much we could’ve done with what we knew. I’m sorry that it happened, Cara.” She then addressed the others. “Right now, we’ve got seven Orbs on our side. You, your mom, Zena, Willow, Anam, Valle, and ADAM. And Rim stole the Psychic Orb a while ago. Well, she just got two more. Cara, the Flying Guardian, and Forrest, the Ground Guardian. I wanted Forrest to come along, too, but he said that he’s fine. I think he was ready to give up anyway.”

Waaaaait, but I didn't think Star was addressing Owen this entire time. And for that matter, she isn't mentioned focusing specifically on him, so the "You, your mom" bit feels a bit sudden.

Though I guess that's a 'no' on Forrest ever appearing onscreen in this story given the implication that he's opted to pass on after death. I suppose that's one way of handling him likely not being able to physically fit in Hot Spot Cave since his implied size was on par with those giant Torterra from the Detective Pikachu movie.

“Wait,” Owen said. “So… not Manny? What happened to him?”

“Guess Rim wasn’t strong enough to handle him yet,” Star said. “Actually, Rim also attacked other areas today, too, but I dunno if Guardians are there or not. It might’ve been a guess, because I just don’t know where all the Guardians are anymore. They either don’t talk to me, or won’t tell me where they are.”

“Won’t tell you?”

“They kinda… don’t trust me,” Star said, biting her lower lip. “Because, you know…”

Zena: "Gee, I wonder why when you ghosted us for multiple centuries!"
:unimpressed:

Star: "Look, I already admitted that that was dumb of me, okay? Let's not get into this again."

“Because you recruited the Hunters,” Zena said. She had cooled down from that revelation, but perhaps too much—the Milotic’s voice was icy.

Zena: "Also, that, too." >:(

Owen looked uneasily at Zena. Everything felt hazy when he thought about her or any of the others. He must have been hurt pretty badly in that fight against Azu, because he could only vaguely remember details about all of them. They were in a strange state in his mind, both familiar and unfamiliar. He knew them, but for how long? Owen felt another crisis of panic wash over him. Not crazy. Not crazy. Not crazy. Just play along.

Owen: "... Also, why am I getting the weirdest sense of deja vu over this whole 'I'm not crazy' train of thought?" .-.
Anam: "(Yeeeeeah, I should've insisted that Nev-Nev do a more thorough job of managing the kids' memories and we just chalked it up getting hit upside the head too hard. I wasn't expecting this to already start up again not even an hour after they woke up.)"
:worriedgoo:


“Yeah… but, anyway,” Star said, “Cara and Forrest were the last two weak Guardians, I think. At least, of the ones I know. From here on out, the Guardians are gonna be strong, and they might even be paranoid and hostile if we approach.” Star sighed. “Some of them… don’t trust my word anymore, like I said.” She glanced at Zena. “So, I think… we might need to do this a little forcefully and try to calm them down, or convince them some other way. But either way—we’ll have to… you know.”

Image


“Beat them up to befriend them?” Demitri asked.

“Now yer talking.” Gahi clicked happily.

Ah yes, Defeat Equals Friendship. Definitely showing off that shonen DNA in action there.

Cara stiffened with fright. This was enough to quiet Gahi down; he stepped away, mumbling to himself, and hid behind Zena to avoid frightening Cara.

“I would like to go, now,” she said quietly to Star.

“Okay. Thanks anyway, Cara. Forget about all this and enjoy your afterlife.”

Owen:
:VidriBlink:

"Wait, there's an afterlife, too?"
Star: "Well, yeah. What did you think happened to all those spirits that opted to move on? Also, there's a whole 'spirits passing onto the Overworld' thing going on, but let's worry about that sometime after we're done gathering up all these Orbs."

Relief washed over Cara and the Lopunny vanished, and Demitri and Gahi both shrank guiltily.

“You don’t have to fight them… not always,” Star said to them. “But, hey, they might put up a fight. So just keep that sorta thing in mind, y’know?”

Mispy: "I see no problems with this, really."
Rhys: "(I see that some things don't change about the kids even when their memories get reset.)"
:lucariwhat:


“Aw, heh, sounds fine to me.” Demitri tittered.


Kek. I mean, I misjudged who'd make the comment, but I figured that the sentiment would be about the same.

Owen crossed his arms and spoke up. “So, wait, are we just going to send a single team, then?”

Oh hey, he's making the
:judgemander~1:
emote right now.

“A team of our absolute strongest, maybe,” Star said. “But nothing more than that. If we had two squads head in, that might help us with extra power if we have some big problem… like a run-in with Rim, for example, or…”

“Or those weird Pokémon that follow her,” Anam said.

Star: "Mutants. They're mutants, Anam."

“But having two teams will make it difficult to coordinate,” Zena pointed out. “We aren’t very good at using our communicators in the heat of battle. Nevren wanted them to be useful, I’m sure, but we found little use for it in our last battles.”

That seems more like a "you" problem, just saying. Since nobody was keeping you all from doing checkups whenever you found a lead or something like that. ^^;

“Wait, hold on,” Owen said. “Weird Pokémon? You mean mutants, or something else? What’d you guys run into?” If they were more of those odd Pokémon, what did they have to do with the Guardians? And, more importantly, why did the others react strangely when he mentioned them?

The group shifted uncomfortably again. Owen sensed it. “Guys, what’s all this about? And—and what happened when I passed out, anyway?! I know I lost, but…”

Anam: "(Dammit, Nev-Nev, I told you you didn't trim enough of his memories!)" >.<

“We ran into some strange Pokémon while on this outing,” Star said. “Basically, Rim was being followed by one or more… mutated Pokémon. Like, something was just different about them in some way—a Ninjask with Scyther arms, or a Luxray crazy bulked out, with a Raichu’s tail. It was insane! And—they all had this different aura about them, too, is that right?”

“Much like the mutants we typically see around Kilo from time to time,” Rhys said. “Only now they’re fighting alongside the Hunters.”

“The Luxray’s aura felt weird,” Anam nodded.

[ ]

“Weird?” Mispy asked, wiggling the leaf on her head. “Our auras are weird.”

I feel like there's probably some sort of mood moment going on with Mispy (and presumably at least some of her teammates) that might be worth showing off here, especially if you're driving home Owen's "something's seriously off here, but I can't put my finger on it" sense in live-time.

“Well, yeah, but that’s probably because we’re late evolvers,” Demitri said. “Right?”

“Yes, that’s likely it,” Rhys said.

“See? Even Rhys says so,” Demitri said.

Lol. Lmao. Though boy are Anam and the rest of the cleanup crew fortunate that none of the kids have thought to try and keep a diary of some sort.

Owen spotted Willow nearby, shivering. “Hey, Willow, are you okay?” he asked the Joltik. “You’re, uh, shaking.”

“Huh?” Willow squeaked. “Yes! I’m fine. I’m just… cold in the mornings!”

Oh, so Willow also knows what's up with those four such that their final evolution triggered some freaky black pulse. And whatever it is, it freaked her out something fierce. Or at least I'm pretty sure that that's the implication.

“Oh,” Owen said, stepping closer. “Well, I’m a Fire-Type. Want to rest on my head?” he asked, giggling. “I mean, you liked it bef—”

Willow skittered away, hiding behind Anam. Little particles of pink fairy dust scattered around her feet with every step, like she was ready to shrink him down if he got any closer.

Oh right, she was there for Owen's fight with Azu. No wonder why she's freaking out so much. Though that makes me wonder how come Nevren didn't just use his memory editing / deletion abilities on her.

Owen blinked. “Uh… okay.” That was not the reaction he was expecting.

A memory flashed in Owen’s eyes. He was rushing toward Azu, the Feraligatr from before. Willow was screaming, and Amia was calling Owen’s name. Azu’s eyes, for just a second, looked… afraid.

I'm half-convinced that whatever is up with the gang's final evolution is going to turn out to be that one personal problem of Fei's in Xenogears all over again. I mean, it's supported by exactly nothing given that this chapter was written at least 4 years before you played the game, but boy is this dynamic and everybody's reaction to Owen + Team Alloy's "bad state" familiar in vibe.

Owen held his breath.

James was murmuring to the Joltik, almost like a lecture. Whatever he was saying, Willow wasn’t having any of it, and she hid right behind Anam’s gooey ankles.

Owen: "... I really should get into the habit of keeping a journal, since clearly there's a lot that everyone who was there for my fight with Azu's not telling me." >_>;

“Yeah, weird auras,” Star said. “To be honest, we’ve seen that stuff before, and I’ve seen similar auras running through the aura sea before.” She avoided looking at anybody else. “Basically, these Pokémon, the mutants… I’ve only seen them recently out and about like that, but the reason those auras look strange? Ugh, how do I explain this?"

[ ]

"Oh, okay. So… You know how, like, berries kinda look like each other if they come from the same plant, or something? Like, Oran berries come from Oran Berry plants… I mean, unless it’s a huge berry tree, then it’s all sorts, but… Ugh, that example sucks…”

“…Genetics, you mean?” Rhys asked. He quickly amended, “Nevren spoke of that before.”

Star's dialogue is long enough that IMO it should be two separate paragraphs with something dividing it. Also, I saw that casual mention of 'Genetics' by Rhys there. Either there was some wild stuff going on in Kilo's world back when he was mortal, or he's learned a lot about "ancient history" in the last 500+ years.

“Yeah! Nevren would know how to describe this, uh, but…” Star spun around. “Okay. Zena… you used to be mortal, right?”

“Yes,” Zena said.

“So, you had parents.”

Owen: "Star, she's already mad at you for leaving her in the dark for hundreds of years. Maybe don't remind her of that?"
:mewtwofacepalm:


Zena nodded. “Yes. Their spirits are often ferried to my realm from time to time, in fact. It’s been so long since they’ve last visited, though…”

“Yeah. So, your aura, see, it kinda has traces of both their auras, since you came from them. That make sense?”

“Yes… ancestry, of a sort?”

Zena: "Star, where exactly are you going with this? And just what is this 'genetics'?"
:what:


“Yeah,” Star said. “Really, really good aura readers can trace an ancestry back a few generations, kinda like matching and linking auras to where they came from, and where those auras came from, and so on, okay? Well… the Pokémon we encountered back there? That Luxray and that Ninjask? They… didn’t have that.”

Just filing that one away for the future. Though that now makes me wonder if Deca was aura-sensitive or not, since he seemed to zero in really fast on Owen being someone he was familiar with in that special episode in a way that would likely be implausible just based on physical appearances.

“…They didn’t have… auras?” Owen asked.

“No, no, they had auras,” Star said. “They didn’t have ancestry. No aura traces of parents, or grandparents, or any of that. No history.”

Translation, there's some sort of lab or whatever lying around that's spitting them out of vats. Since if you're brought into being ex nihilo, you won't have an ancestry to speak of.

“Wait, what does that mean?” Amia said.

“Rhys has a similar aura,” Star said. “His aura is a little weird because he doesn’t have grandparents—All he has is a single parent, me. Since I created their auras. Same for Nev, and all the Hunters. All that weirdness you sense from them? Sure, some of it is a bit of divine power, but it’s also their weird aura trace.”

I'm sorry, what? Though yeah, the sus-o-meter for Star just spiked, given that if Star created the Hunters, it implies that she wanted them to go after the Guardians at some point for reasons. Probably related to the Orbs.

Though waaaaait, I could've sworn that it was mentioned in passing somewhere that Owen and/or Team Alloy's auras themselves were "off". Is that implying that they also don't have normal parentage? (I mean, I'm spoiled on Owen definitely not having normal parentage, but…)

“You… created their auras?” Owen said.

Rhys looked off.

“Yeah,” Star said. “I mean, what, you think I’m just gonna pick random folks off the road to get involved in this Orb business?”

Zena: "Wait, but that means you made the Hunters. The same Hunters that have been chasing after us for hundreds of years."
:absus:

Star: "I mean, kids will be kids, right?"
:joltyshrug~1:


Owen rubbed his eyes irritably.

“In other words, since they came right from you,” Amia said, “their auras go just to you, and not some family tree. I get that! But… then, those strange auras from Luxray and Ninjask?” Amia glanced at Owen and the other late-evolvers.

That actually makes me wonder if vat-created Pokémon would similarly have a "void" for an aura signature, or if even that would still have a signature of some sort. Since I'm pretty sure that the implication is that these mutants have been made ex nihilo, I just haven't zeroed in on by what method.

“They don’t have an ancestry at all,” Star said. “They were… created some other way. Without… parents. I at least gave Rhys and the others a little trace from me, just for, you know, symbolism and stuff.”

“No… parents?” Owen asked. “They were created? But—you created Rhys, right? So, what’s the difference?”

Yeah, see above. Though that makes me wonder if ADAM also has a void for his aura’s ancestry given that he was created from nothing during the events of In Beta.

“They must’ve been created some other way,” Star said. “Maybe… artificially.”

A confused silence filled the air. Then, murmurs. Anam spoke up. “Artificial? …Like Adam? His aura’s weird, too, now that I’m looking at it…”

“ADAM,” the Porygon-Z specified.

Oh, speak of the devil...

“Uhh… maybe?” Star said evasively. “He’s a weird case, but—Look, not important. But that’s why their auras are strange. No ancestry. They were made some other way—and it seems like they were modified, too, from how their species should be. That’s why they’re called mutants in the first place, y’know? They had some weird abilities. Even other sightings are kinda like that.”

I see that Star really, really wanted to change the topic there about ADAM and his aura. I'm not fully sure that that implies, but I did notice it. Though I suppose that confirms that he similarly has a "void" when it comes to his ancestry.

“Pokémon with weird abilities?” Owen asked.

He wondered. Should he say this? Yes. He should. Because he wasn’t going to let this go when it already felt so close. It felt like someone tried to tie his memories up and seal them away. But now they were coming back.

You know, no matter how much I try to teach others, I don’t think anybody knows how to do my Fire Trap, but… maybe that’s just because I’m resourceful?”

>this comparison

I mean, I hadn't considered it before, but could Owen and Team Alloy be mutants themselves that someone created? Since even if they're a bit more superficially "normal" than the other mutants we've seen thus far, they have a lot of abilities that are off-spec for what they ought to have for their species.

This time, Owen watched for everyone’s reactions closely. He wasn’t speculating for no reason. The others knew something. And he saw just what he expected. Uncomfortable shuffling where they stood or sat. Some of them didn’t make eye contact. Rhys, in particular, looked like he’d seen death in the face. He looked at Zena next, and the way her serpentine body reacted.

He was starting to become more familiar with in terms of body language, if only slightly. He couldn’t identify the emotion she was experiencing based on her muscle movements, but he did know one thing: she had trouble looking at him. For some reason, this one hurt the most.

“…Guys,” Owen said, “what… aren’t you telling me?” He turned his head, looking at them all. “What… am I?”

Not a normal Charmander, that much has been obvious for a few chapters now.

Owen wobbled where he stood. He felt faint. He saw Rhys’ paw glowing with a strange light.

Ah yes, time for Nevren to do his thing again since he clearly didn't do his job well enough this time.

“Ugh, my back,” Owen muttered, rolling over in bed. “Wh—huh?” he looked up, springing to his feet. “Wait—how long was I…?” He remembered he was planning things out with Star and the others. They were going to try to form a strong team of fighters. Would Owen—no… no, he wouldn’t count. He’s just a Charmander, after all. Just a Charmander…

“Ugh, stop dwelling,” Owen muttered. “I should just ask them about it.”

Yeah, I figured. Though Nevren seems to have overcorrected heavily given that Owen's memories are a lot more disjointed this time around.

Owen, seeing the glow of the mushrooms in his room, determined that it was late in the afternoon. Ugh, my whole sleep schedule is done for. He looked outside and saw that everybody was still planning, far ahead in Hot Spot Square. “Oh—good! I didn’t miss too much?” he called.

“Oh, hey, Owen! You kinda passed out while you were talking,” Star said. “Feeling better? Listen, you shouldn’t push yourself. If you’re too tired, just sit back and rest.”

Everybody Else:
:blazikensweat:

Owen: "Okay, what happened?"
:judgemander~1:


“I must’ve been really tired from that fight.” Owen laughed. “Okay! So, um, who’s going to be going and stuff?”

“We ain’t,” Gahi muttered, looking down. “We passed out just like you.”

Damn, so they didn't leave anything to chance with those four, huh? Though I suppose it was kinda unavoidable when Owen basically destroyed their hard work trying to pull off a reset in the span of like a minute after Star went on that whole spiel about aura and implied ancestry.

“Yeah. We just aren’t strong enough, I guess,” Demitri said. “The stress of all that fighting with Rim really got to us. I feel like I was hit by a Golem’s… everything.”

Mispy sighed.

Can't tell whether or not the reset process is inherently painful or if they straight-up got clocked by the others beforehand. Since... yeah, you'd think that Team Alloy would've freaked out a bit seeing Rhys casually keel Owen over after asking a question.

“But don’t worry!” Star said, “You guys can meditate and spar with Rhys and stuff instead, okay? How’s that sound?” The Mew waved her arms encouragingly. “Right now, those ‘clean aura’ Pokémon aren’t doing anything—they must be regrouping, so we should take that time to do the same thing here, y’know?"

[ ]

"And to be honest, I think it’d be a good idea if we narrowed our numbers down to maybe… a single strong team to handle just one Guardian at a time So, if you want my opinion on that…" she trailed off, before shaking her head. "Then we should also go back to the Spire of Trials and try for Manny a second time—but with a stronger team. And we need some of us to also rally up some help in Kilo Village for scouting, since… uh… since I have no idea where the other Guardians could be.”

IMO, Star's line is long enough that unless if she's very, very deliberately motor-mouthing, it should be at least two separate paragraphs. Since there was a lot going on in this one line of dialogue.

“Hmm,” Amia said. “Well, I wouldn’t consider myself strong, so why don’t I help with rallying?”

“Wait,” Owen said. “Can we do the Trial place again?”

“Huh?”

“I lost against the Feraligatr the last time. Feraligatr Azu. And I want a rematch! I’ll do better this time!”

Amia and the Adults:
Image


[ ]

“Owen,” Amia said.

“Please?” Owen pleaded.

Star sighed. “No,” she said. “You need to train, Owen. I’m sorry.”

[ ]

“B-but…”

I kinda feel like there was a chance to show off reactions from the different characters a bit more. Like I'm guessing that the adults in the group were very firmly in the "no" camp, but it might have made sense to show off their reactions a bit more, especially for showing off how Owen parsed them.

“Um, should I stay back, too?” Anam said. The Goodra poked his fingers together; they fused, and then split apart each time. “I know I’m strong, but… you need me to rally up the Hearts, right?”

“I can do that in your place,” James said.

“But what if I’m defeated? You’ll fizzle up, and the whole town will see it!”

Owen: "... Wait, why have you kept your status as a Guardian secret to the rest of Kilo Village all this time anyways?"
:what:

Anam: "Security measure to avoid attention by Hunters?"
:joltyshrug~1:


“Hrm…” James ruffled his feathers. “I’d rather not imagine a scenario where you die, Anam. Also, I imagine it would be difficult to maintain my form so far away, even for you.”

“Anam, compared to Manny, I don’t think you’ll be defeated like that,” Star said. “But it would be a tough win…”

I mean, yeah. I kinda gathered that Manny was a strong guardian from how Azu was just going to town on Owen, but he can even make it dicey for Anam, huh?

“Would I be… strong enough?” Zena said.

“Perhaps not,” James said, “but we work as a team together quite well.”

“Yeah, Zena, you seem like you’d be an elegant fighter, if you ask me,” Owen said. “It goes well with how James fights, and maybe it’ll keep Anam calm? And Mom fights like that, too.”

“Elegant?” Zena blushed.

Ah yes, time to see Owen and his way with girls™️ come back out onto center stage.
:trollzel:


Star giggled. “Okay, let’s form up the team of elites. Rhys, you might not be the strongest Hunter, but you’re the strongest we have. So, I want you to go and fight Manny himself, okay?”

[ ]

“Rhys is stronger than me?” Anam said.

“Ehh, I dunno. You guys would have to spar it out,” Star said, “but—trust me, Manny will want to fight Rhys. Now, for the other three fighters. Amia, don’t be modest—you’re pretty tough. So, you’re going, too. Okay?”

It probably would've made sense to show some reaction from Anam to Rhys getting picked + Star's logic for selecting him. I'm assuming that he's side-eying a bit, but it's not really depicted here.

“Oh, okay,” Amia replied. “Am—am I, really?”

“Yes. You should be able to handle his second-in-command. So as for his third- and fourth-in-command…”

“So, I really can’t go back and fight Azu?” Owen spoke up again.

Amia and the Adults:
Image

Owen: "Oh come on! How on earth am I supposed to be able to improve as a Guardian if I don't get any chances to have a rematch?!"
:WHY:


“Owen, you—you can’t,” Star said. “Train here. Okay?”

Owen crossed his arms, rolling a ball of an ember in his mouth to silence himself. He didn’t bring it up again.

Yeah, I figured that he wouldn't be happy.

“Next up, uh… Rhys, Amia…” Star mumbled under her breath. “…Anam, are you sure you can’t substitute somebody else to rally the team, like James?”

“I guess I could…” Anam said. “Nevren might be able to help, right?” He nibbled on his slimy fingers, thinking. “I just hope we aren’t bothering him.”

“It’s his duty,” James said firmly. “He should be able to do it easily. We will simply speak with him before we go.”

Oh boy, that's ominous. Though beyond the complaints about lack of description, I think the deeper issue that's occurring to me right now is that that parts of these scenes feel a bit light on framing PoV in spite of the story being written in a third person limited perspective. Since if this second scene is meant to also be written from Owen's perspective, it feels like we're missing some of that "bah, this is so unfair" / "why is everyone freezing me out, I know that I didn't do that badly against Azu"-ness from his perspective in the narration.

“Okay, and James, you’re pretty tough all on your own, so you’re member number four!” Star said. “Everyone else should focus on training. I’ll have someone other than Anam summon me so I can probably do some coaching.”

Owen listened, but then decided to concentrate on his memories again. He felt it. They were sealed away. It felt like a plug stuck right in his skull, like he couldn’t breathe through his mental nose. What if he thought back harder? Owen earned a massive headache when he tried, but he pushed through anyway, just for something—anything—to satisfy his curiosity.

Whelp, I suppose that that confirms that Nevren went full "not messing around" mode when doing his thing with Owen's memories this time, since that's certainly new compared to the times we've seen Owen try to recall memories from prior cycles.

More memories. He saw Rhys approach him while at the meeting—right before he had passed out. He was telling him something—to go rest, that he was tired. And then, his paw had glowed… and Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi all passed out. And then Owen did right after. And… and that fight. Feraligatr Azu.

He wasn’t a Charmander, was he? No. He was too tall. He wasn’t at thigh-height. He was at belly-height.

I was a Charmeleon.

Okay, so Owen and Team Alloy were created with Rhys functioning as a delibarate fail-safe over them. Or at least I think that's the implication. Though Nevren's handiwork is having a shorter and shorter shelf-life this time around. I wonder if something about the happening™️ at the end of Chapter 15 messed with its efficacy such that past tricks that used to work no longer are.

“Owen?” Rhys asked.

He’d do it again. Rhys would try to make him sleep and forget. “Huh?” Owen asked. “Oh, sorry. I was thinking about a new strategy for that Feraligatr. I think I know how to beat him!”

Putting his knowledge of his own body language to use, he tensed his arms, as if readying a punch. His eyes glowed with a competitive fire.

Or, maybe I can beat him. Maybe. I need to think more. Maybe after I do some training, I can have a rematch when he comes here with Manny!”

Owen: "(... Boy, I really, really hope that Rhys' aura sensitivity doesn't give him thought-reading abilities, since boy is this moment of realization going to be short-lived otherwise.)"
:grohno~2:


Rhys sighed. “Of course.”

As long as he played dumb, he could keep his memories. But why were they gone? What else did he forget? Think, Owen, think… What did they want to hide? And how was he back to being a Charmander?

Again, Owen. Keeping a journal and hiding it from the others would help a lot for getting past this, just saying.

Zena’s reaction in particular bothered him. She was with Anam and the others for Cara’s failed rescue. None of Team Alloy was with them, so they must have told her what happened. So, what did they tell her? What did he—and the rest of Team Alloy—do?

What did they become?

>become

Um, yeah. Funny story about that, Owen, but it's much, much more likely that this is all related to what you all have been. For a long, long time.

Alright, made it to the end. I wasn't expecting the reboot cycle from Chapter 15 to already make a reappearance in the story, but I suppose that's a sign that Owen and Team Alloy are going to be more aggressively looking for ways out from it in the very near future. I gather that this is the part of the story where things start going off the rails from the Orb hunt given that there were a lot of hints and implications that Owen and Team Alloy are: A: Very, very abnormal, B: Very, very powerful. Dangerously so given that everyone's reflexive response once they get too close to the proverbial danger zone is to nuke their memories and acquired experience and start over again. There's clearly a much bigger story behind that one, which I'm not sure just how fast that's going to come out since this story's way, way up there in overall length.

I had some quibbles about some phrasing and paragraph formatting here and there, and there were a couple parts where I felt the amount of description provided was a bit lacking. I also felt that this chapter weirdly didn't lean into its viewpoint characters' perspective as much as prior chapters did, which made some parts feel like they were going by without much of a reaction one way or another to events unfolding, which was a bit weird since the story seems to rock a third person limited perspective and did so quite well in earlier chapters. I wonder if it's a sign that those have gotten touch-ups that this one hasn't just yet.

But either way, I thought that the chapter was still fun @Namohysip , and does a lot to key up interest for things that will come afterwards. Since the status quo in HoC is really, really obviously falling apart by the events of this chapter, so all that's left is to see how it breaks and what comes afterwards.

Hope the feedback was helpful and fun to take in, and I'll be looking forward to getting that last prize review out for you sometime soon.
 
Chapter 176 - The Value of Regret

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Thanks for the reviews, Fobbie! Glad that you've been enjoying these big bumps of the plot now that the story really got rolling. I replied to your evals elsewhere, but it's nice to see you getting into the think of it now.

And here's the next chapter...

Chapter 176 – The Value of Regret

“Please, wait!” Solgaleo cried. “I spent a lot of time thinking about this!”

“No. I’m done with these tests,” Charizard growled, marching straight past regal marble statues and pillars with Necrozma’s insignia dotting every floor tile. Golden crystals of light decorated the ceiling, reflecting his orange flame. Up ahead, he saw a distortion.

Solgaleo awkwardly followed behind them with his tail down. “But but but… It was going to be a cool speech! Like, can I at least say one line?”

“You’re… just mocking me. I know what you are,” Charizard said. “And I’m not falling for it!”

“Let me goooo,” Wrath whispered. They’d caught him in a pincer attack the section prior; he and Reflection traded off who maintained the barrier around him as they walked. “I need… to kill… the god…!”

“Quiet,” Reflection said, tapping the shield. “Just behave.”

“I’d never mock myself!” Solgaleo said, prancing ahead and spinning to face them again. “Please, I spent my whole existence thinking of the speech!”

“Your whole existence.” Charizard crossed his arms.

“Yes! About… a few kilos now?”

“He’s… bubbly,” Owen remarked, looking disturbed. “Are you sure you’re me? I don’t think I was ever like this…”

“I can think of some times,” Charizard said. “In fact, when you were a Heart…”

“That’s different!” Owen defended.

Charizard eyed Solgaleo again, finally stopping his advance. “Alright. Then how about this,” he said. “I’ll let you talk about what you want to… after I guess what you’ll say.”

“Fine, fine.” Solgaleo sat on his haunches and flicked his tail left and right. “What am I going to say?”

Charizard gave him a cross look. “You are created from a hypothetical. You’re who I would be if I didn’t do anything wrong. So, like, if I made the opposite decision of what I think led to this mess. Listening to Necrozma, becoming Solgaleo, and working under him as an apprentice Overseer. Dark Matter gets destroyed. Maybe Kilo is remade without him. Everything would be fine if I listened to what Necrozma said, and where we are right now is all my fault.”

The flames of Charizard, Owen, and Reflection made the golden crystals shimmer. Wrath still hissed inside his barrier, occasionally muttering something as Charizard and Reflection traded barrier duties.

“Well,” Solgaleo said, glancing behind him. “That’s one way to phrase all of it…”

“Did I miss anything?” Charizard asked.

“…Just that it’s guesswork,” Solgaleo admitted. “But it’s what you think could have happened. And I’m from you, too. Remember when you were hit by that light? It took little pieces of you and scattered them across the Dungeon. I’m that last piece.”

“How can Aramé even do that?” Owen piped up. “That’s… a crazy strong thing to do!”

“Well, Aramé is crazy strong,” Solgaleo answered with a chuckle. “It’s… scary, uh, yeah. But I guess that’s why she never leaves this place; it’s her domain. Where she’s strongest.”

“So, each one was some test… What was the point of the mirror thing?” Charizard gestured to Reflection. “That was terrifying!”

“Ah, well, it wasn’t meant to go that way,” Solgaleo said nervously. “You… broke it. But it was supposed to be something where it’d weigh your time against someone else’s well-being—even someone just like you.”

“…What kind of test is that?! That wasn’t even on my mind! Someone was in trouble!”

“I was created as a test of patience?” Reflection whimpered.

“Starting to think Aramé’s a little nuts,” Owen mumbled.

“Can I kill her?” Wrath whispered.

“No,” they all said.

“In any case, yeah” Solgaleo said. “The fact that it didn’t even cross your mind is a good thing… to an extent. But trying to save one person when a whole world is burning can be another angle. Neither answer is the correct one.”

“Right.” Charizard returned his attention to the path down the marble-gold hall. “Well… If you’re my final piece, then what’s the end of this supposed to be like?”

“That’s not too far ahead. I think it’s better if you read it than if I explain it first.”

“Alright…”

Charizard’s mind wandered to the feasibility of making a Dungeon like this without any kind of Mystic or Dungeon power to assist. Solid gold pillars, crystals, and runes on the pillars, not to mention how many of them there were in this excessively long hallway… The ground, polished so well that he could see his reflection, made him briefly tap on the tile to make sure it wasn’t another false mirror.

Thankfully, it wasn’t.

“What force would have kept me from entering with my Perceive?” Charizard asked.

“Oh, yeah.” Owen nodded. “You left your horns outside, right?”

“Aramé likely has them by now,” Solgaleo said. “And there was no force. She assumed you’d obey out of politeness.”

Charizard groaned. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Hey, don’t say that!” Solgaleo said, tail rising with his tone. “Our curiosity is one of our best and worst traits!”

“You’re too cheerful,” Charizard mumbled, feeling guilty for remarking it. “Is that… how I used to be?”

“Well, a little,” Solgaleo said. “Our line naturally has some fiery cheer. I didn’t shake it as Solgaleo. I think… you’ve been very tired. I didn’t get that kind of fatigue.”

“Tired…” He couldn’t deny that. In the end, he was marching onward, even though his legs hurt. But… he saw the end. He had all the answers he needed to give it his best against Alexander and the other fragments of Dark Matter.

It was better than his walk in the Voidlands. Glancing at Owen, he wondered if he could have just as easily been that time when he’d lost even Amia to the Voidlands.

“What’s on your mind?” Solgaleo asked.

“These… parts of me.” Charizard gestured to him, then at Wrath, who had defiantly become dead weight while rolling in the Protect sphere. “They represent…”

“Different flaws or states of mind,” Solgaleo explained, nodding. “The times when you were lost…” He gestured to Owen. “The times where you are your most unstable…” He gestured to Wrath, who rolled his eyes. “Your current self.” To Reflection. “And, your regrets reversed. That’s me. For now, you are the host, but we all have a fragment of your spirit. Uh, I think.”

“For now?”

“Uhh—that’s for later. When you read the thing.” He pointed a paw at the end of the hall, which, at their pace, was still a few more back-and-forths away. “A lot of this is symbolic.”

“It’s… symbolic?” Solgaleo said nervously. “When you are so dedicated to a goal that you would cast aside even ‘yourself’ for that duty. That’s what the test was meant to symbolize.”

“Did getting more symbolic come with becoming Solgaleo?” Charizard deadpanned, not expecting an answer.

They entered the final chamber. He wondered if Zena had seen the same thing in her part of the Dungeon. Statues loomed over him, larger than life, each one of a Legend. In the back was Arceus made of gold, surrounded by the Creation Trio and the Divine Trio.

He read the message swiftly, aloud for the others to hear. “In this chamber, you must come to terms with yourself and consolidate your spirit… I already did this. By myself! A year ago!”

Solgaleo tittered nervously. “Oh yeah, we did do that…”

Charizard read on. “Only one, with the aspects of the remainder, may pass through the gateway… two to discard, in front of Zekrom. Two to keep, in front of Reshiram. And then the last one in front of Kyurem…”

“Wait, what’s the full version?” Reflection asked.

Charizard stood aside so he could read it.

“So…” Owen squeaked. “So, I came here all for nothing… I’m… I’m gonna die anyway? Or, or all of you die instead?”

“It’s hardly death,” Solgaleo said. “You’re just going to sprint into the future! From your perspective, at least.”

Charizard repeated it to himself, glaring at Kyurem’s statue.

“What’s the symbolism for this test?” Owen asked Solgaleo.

“That one’s a little easier,” Solgaleo said. “And… it’s not entirely symbolic.”

“What?”

Solgaleo approached the statue of Arceus, tilting his head upward to make eye contact with the imposing, yet inanimate, figure.

“You know how Legends have special instincts to weather immortality, right?” Solgaleo said. “Things that a normal mortal can’t do.”

“Yes…?” Charizard’s tail thumped on the ground, sending a little shower of embers behind him. “What about it? Do you have those?”

“Well, yes,” Solgaleo said. “But have you ever considered why, and how, that’s possible?”

Charizard didn’t like where this was going.

Solgaleo sat in front of Arceus’ statue and faced Charizard. “It’s all… instincts.”

He gestured with one paw to the Creation Trio.

“Once mortal, these former humans, and some just plain Pokémon, ascended Destiny Tower and then passed. Their spirits, their past, everything about them is combed through, and then they see if that kind of temperament is… good enough.”

“Good enough—I always thought that ‘good enough’ was not enough for being a god,” Charizard said. “That was the whole problem I had with it.”

“Because you were in denial of what it meant,” Solgaleo said. “But… you understood the fundamentals, didn’t you? Being a god meant throwing away part of yourself to adopt another. Your instincts.”

Solgaleo brought his paw to his chest and bowed.

“I don’t have the temptation to fly freely in the skies. I’m not afraid of the dark. And I don’t mind a cool dip in the pool now and then, either. But, in exchange… I now have a mind that can handle much longer periods. I have innate knowledge of Ultra Space, how to traverse it, and even some Psychic tricks, too. I mean, you already have a few of those, Mister Past-Seer.”

“I, uh, I don’t think I reawakened that one yet,” Charizard admitted. “I lost most of that once I sided with Dark Matter…”

“Oh. Exchanged the past for the negative present.” Solgaleo nodded. “Well, reawakening that might be useful.”

“You also talk a little strangely,” Reflection suddenly said. “What’s with that? Another… instinct?”

“Oh, no. In my hypothetical memories, I spent more time with Necrozma and the other gods. Picked up their accent a little.”

“Hypoth—” Reflection rubbed his eyes like it would make him hear better. “Do those instincts also defend you from existential nightmares or something?!”

“Yes!” Solgaleo said cheerfully.

“…Why?!”

To that, Solgaleo opened his mouth, paused, and then closed it with a shrug.

“So, um…” Owen nervously raised a claw. “What’s your whole point about instincts?”

“Oh, right. Sorry. Got distracted.” Solgaleo cleared his throat. “My point about instincts is… it’s part of who you are. You take great pride in your species, don’t you?” Solgaleo tilted his head at Charizard.

“Well… yes. It’s who I am. What I grew up as, and what I want to keep being.”

“Don’t you think that’s… interesting? You know, when you think about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” Solgaleo shrugged. “Most souls don’t get to be the same thing for as long as you have. A century or so at most before they die and pass on, perhaps reincarnate, perhaps go into the Overworld… But never do they stay a Charizard, for example, for… two thousand or so years?”

“And?”

“Basically… you already act like a super-mortal.” Solgaleo pawed at the ground. “It’s not as different as you think. You’ve spent so much time trying to be normal-minded that you didn’t realize how… weird it is to be normal in this kind of situation. And you aren’t normal. You haven’t been normal in over a thousand years.”

Charizard shifted again, folding his wings as if defending against incoming attacks. He tried to find a neutral stance, only to realize that his neutral was a defensive position. Nothing else felt right.

“If you consider your ‘self’ as a Charizard part of your identity,” Solgaleo said gently, “then your ‘self’ has already been changed. You don’t… have thoughts like these as a normal Charizard.” He pointed at Wrath, who, enamored by the speech for once, had stopped clawing against the barrier. “No normal Charizard gets used to the things you have gone through. And no normal Charizard would do so without untold mental scars and damage. And… while you are hurt, you are functional. That is… abnormal.”

“But that’s a good thing, right?” Charizard defended. “I’m… I’m still me! So what if I can handle things a little better?”

“It is good,” Solgaleo agreed. “But what about everything else? About being a mutant and letting those instincts become part of you? Why did you spare him?”

At first, Charizard read that as an accusation. After looking directly at Solgaleo, he realized it was out of curiosity.

“What do you mean?” he said.

“You came all this way,” Solgaleo said. “You don’t seem to like me… The choice would be simple for you, wouldn’t it? You’d put me and that one to be discarded. You’d bring Owen and your reflection to your present mind. And you would pass through. That’s your answer, right?”

“No.”

Charizard turned to face Kyurem again, then at the statues where the sacrifices had to be made.

“I’m not giving any of it up. I need all of it.”

“…Even me?” Solgaleo asked.

“Yes.” Owen sighed. “I need to remember… that I made wrong choices. And that maybe I could’ve been happier. The regrets… I think they’re strong, too. They’ll remind me to think twice when I do… dramatic things.”

“And Wrath?” Solgaleo asked.

So he knew the name, too. “I need his fighting instincts. I need to be able to kill if I have to when I’m facing Alexander. I think he’ll take advantage of… if I hesitate otherwise.”

“I think I understand,” Solgaleo said. “Alexander is far beyond forgiveness. Even I can agree with that.”

“Wh-what about me?” Owen asked.

“I can’t forget what it’s like to go through what you did,” Charizard said, nodding. “To feel lost and confused, weak and helpless. If I’m making decisions for people a lot weaker than I am, even if I don’t want the world to be like that… I need to remember them. I can’t lose sight of that.”

“Another noble gesture,” Solgaleo agreed. “But… unfortunately, I do not think you can achieve that here. Do you see a way through?” Solgaleo gestured to the statues that loomed over them.

Their regal sparkle mocked Charizard and, in that silence, he wondered if those lifeless eyes were connected to any living souls.

“The way forward cannot open unless you activate them with your sacrifices,” Solgaleo said. “Even if we tried to brute force the way through somehow, it’d take a lot of time. This is the Dungeon of the Dragon Guardian. The power needed to overwhelm it… Can you imagine?”

“We have a world to save. Aramé wouldn’t stall us for that, would she?” Owen asked.

“I don’t know,” Solgaleo said. “But you know how Aramé can be when it comes to conviction and ideals. To a fault.”

“Ironic,” Charizard muttered.

“Takes one to know one,” Solgaleo pointed out.

Charizard glared, tail thwapping against the marble ground enough to leave a crack. He huffed a plume of smoke and stared at the wall again.

“…Then you’ll help us get through,” Charizard concluded.

“What?”

“I know you know what I’m talking about,” Charizard said pointedly. “You’re getting us past the wall. You know it’s a wall, don’t you?”

Solgaleo stiffened and adjusted his weight. “Well… yes… I guess I do…”

“And… you can do what Necrozma can do,” Charizard said.

“Only in here,” Solgaleo quickly said. “The domain of the Dungeon is like another world. And in it, I’ve been given a lot of power… including… doing what I could hypothetically do in my… nonexistent timeline.”

“Again with the existential sentences.” Charizard rubbed his eyes. “Seriously, does it bother you at all? You have memories of a life that never happened. Of a timeline I never explored. You’ve existed for less than a day. Why aren’t you upset?”

“I think I was made to not be upset,” Solgaleo said flatly. “Another instinct.”

“I… don’t think I like Aramé,” Owen said grimly, holding his tail tight against his chest.

“Now, come on.” Solgaleo shook his head. “I’m a tiny part of you! In that sense, I’ve existed just as long as you have! Just as… ideas in your head. Maybe that’s why it’s so easy to accept. I’m simply your regrets!”

“Oh, good.” Charizard pointed at the wall. “Come on. Let’s go through.”

“That’s against the rules of the Dungeon,” Solgaleo said.

“And?” Reflection piped up as Charizard stomped to turn around and calm himself. “Don’t you think that being perfectly happy to follow everything your commander said is… a bad idea right now? If Aramé told you to stall me until the world ended, would you?”

“Well… no, I wouldn’t,” Solgaleo admitted. “But this—”

“I’m not letting anyone try to tamper with my head again,” Charizard cut in, turning around again. “I’ve had enough. I want to walk my own path without… someone, anyone, trying to shape my thoughts with their divine power! Aramé, Star, even Mom, it’s… enough.”

Owen loosened his grip on his tail. He stared at Wrath, who had settled into his little Protect bubble. It had gotten so thin, but he didn’t seem to care to strike at it.

“Even if, in this case,” Solgaleo said, “it might just wind up the same way? If you want no manipulation… why not put me in the discard pile? Maybe myself and… Wrath, who’s just a perversion of your violent flaws. You still have that in its moderated state. So…”

“Because no matter what you say,” Charizard said, “I… can’t trust that. It has to be by my own hands. At least that way, I know it’ll be done the way I want. Aramé might be good at this… but you know what? I’ve already done this before! And the five of us I sorted out were a lot less agreeable than how we are right now.”

“That’s true…” Solgaleo sighed. “Fine, okay. I’ll help… but Aramé isn’t going to be happy about this.”

“She can do her worst.” Charizard huffed. “We’ve got enemies a lot stronger than her to deal with anyway.”

At least… he hoped so. Aramé was the most powerful Guardian. Owen didn’t think he would be able to stand up to her full wrath head-on. This was a risk, but… playing along was only going to waste more time. This was the best option. And it’d have the best outcome. It had to.

Solgaleo’s starry eyes twinkled. “We do.” He held a paw toward the wall. “Okay. Time for fake-but-works-here Ultra Wormholes into the goal. Come close, please.”

Reflection rolled Wrath over; Owen hopped on Charizard’s shoulder. As a strange puncture in the already twisted space formed in front of Solgaleo, Charizard offered one last glance at the statues, this time at Zekrom with a sharp frown.

Whatever test this was, he got through it on his own terms.

<><><>​

Mu was unaffected by Dungeon distortions.

When Owen started wandering off and doing… whatever he was doing, and when Zena went in the other direction, Mu was left at the Dungeon entrance with nothing more than her book. Which she’d already finished reading.

She went back and grabbed the horns Owen had left behind so she could return them to him later. Then, she headed through the Dungeon like before. A weird beam of light hit her but didn’t do anything. Maybe it was supposed to. Oh well.

After several empty corridors, she spent a little time playing with the crystals in a big room with a glass wall. Boring. She ran ahead to a fancy-schmancy room with gaudy statues and no way forward.

Any time she saw something like that, it usually meant there was a hidden passageway, so she teleported past the room and continued down the hall.

“What?” called a deep voice. “How are you here?”

“Oh, hi.” Mu waved.

It was a Salamence and a Dragonite. The one who talked was the Salamence. Mu felt her irritation—that was the dominant emotion. She didn’t feel much from Dragonite, who stood at the side and tilted his head.

“How did you get past my Dungeon so quickly? Did you know the test?”

“I walked?”

A beat of silence. The irritation transitioned to confusion.

“What?”

“I walked. You know. Like, with my legs. Oh, except for when there was a dead end. Then I teleported because I didn’t want to bother finding the switch.”

“Why didn’t you teleport in the first place?”

“Dad said that was unhealthy and I’d become a blobby Charizard if I did that.”

Aramé squinted at her. Mu shrugged. “I might. I’m already part Void Shadow, so I’m practically a blob already.”

“You don’t seem like an—Ah!”

Mu melted into a puddle of black pudding-like material before reforming.

“Have you always been able to do that?” Aramé hissed.

“Picked it up a couple months ago. Dad said it might scare people. But you’re, like, the ultimate Guardian, right? So, it shouldn’t scare you.” She glanced at Dragonite, who was radiating mixtures of… shock and fear, yes. She was pretty sure that was it. And some disgust. “He is, though,” Mu added with a little smirk.

“Don’t rope Ire into this,” Aramé grunted.

“I, er… I never fought a Void Shadow before,” Ire admitted nervously. He had a slight accent that reminded Mu of a Kanto Pokémon. Dad had the smallest hint of it resurfacing, too, though it faded by the time he’d left for Alola and Orre.

Mu stretched her arms, legs, and tail, popping a few joints before stretching them even further to impossible angles. Then, she relaxed.

“How’s Mom and Dad doing?”

“Well, your father has made a mockery of at least two of my tests,” Aramé said.

“Sounds about right.”

“And your mother is… coming to her final decisions on which aspects of herself she values the most.”

“Aspects?” Mu asked.

“Oh, so you didn’t see any of the tests,” Ire said. The Dragonite plopped down on his belly and tilted his head at Mu. “You’re adorable.”

“Thanks. But I’m trying to grow out of that.”

“You need to grow?” Ire asked. “You’re a Void Shadow, right? Can’t you just… change shape?”

“…Huh.” Mu scratched her cheek. “Maybe.”

“Maybe? You haven’t tried?”

“Hey, gimme a break!” Mu said. “I’m only, like, a year or something old!”

“Oh!” Ire flinched. “That’s all? You’re… you act like a teenager.”

“Guess I matured fast.” Mu rolled her eyes. “Comes with getting a bunch of knowledge and memory pieces from everyone in, uh…” She counted on her claws. “Kanto, Orre, Alola, and a little bit here in Kilo.”

“…Pieces of memories?” Aramé said. “Just by proximity?”

“Mhm. Including yours.”

She always liked that little pulse of insecurity she got from those she said that to. It was fun because usually, their most insecure secrets came up right after, involuntarily, for her to see.

Dad said she shouldn’t take advantage of that. But Aramé was mean to Mom and Dad, so she could do that to them. As a treat.

“You’re… well-adjusted for someone who feeds on and learns from nothing but negative emotions,” Aramé said.

“Thanks. Mom and Dad spent a lot of their downtime talking to me about the things I learned. I didn’t like it at first, but… I dunno. Eventually, I got curious… It became a knowledge thing. Like, academic?”

Mu thought back to the little birds she’d killed in Alola and averted her eyes.

“…Is there more to that?” Aramé asked. “For only having a year of life, much of who you are must have been written in your nature, rather than your upbringing.”

“Dad doesn’t like talking about that,” Mu said. “But I mean… I don’t have evil thoughts. Like, I don’t wanna enslave everyone to be my evil minions.”

“What do you want?” Ire asked. “Like… what does a being of negativity want?”

“I dunno. Ask my other bio-dad. For me, it’s just a power. How I get the knowledge, I mean. I don’t feel it if I don’t want to… That’s what makes me different from Daddy Diyem.”

The pulse of startled revulsion from Aramé, and befuddlement from Ire, caught her off guard.

“What?”

“D… Daddy Diyem.”

“What? Too cursed?”

“Cursed?” Aramé repeated.

“Weird.”

“A bit.”

“Well, I’m gonna call him that and see how he reacts,” Mu said. “Anyway… I’ve been feeling a ton of irritation from you and how Dad broke all your tests, so I know what you wanted him to do. I thiiink I have a good idea what Mom’s doing, too. You said aspects, right? So I’m gonna bet…”

Mu thought about her mother. She was kind, but she always bottled up a fierce defiance, sometimes even more than Dad. It was surprising, in a way, that she didn’t also try to go against the test. Maybe she didn’t realize it was a test? No, her ideal aspect would have explained everything…

Mu finally answered, “I think she’s going to keep her reflection and her weaker self.”

“Good guesses,” Aramé said impartially.

“…I can’t tell if you’re being coy or not.” Mu’s snout scrunched up. “That’s annoying. Show some negative emotion.”

“Oh, I’m just entertained at how you’d guess your parents’ decisions,” Aramé said. “I guess that’s not a negative emotion… besides, I’m sure you feel my negativity at how easily you were able to grasp what I know about my Dungeon.”

“Sorry.” Mu shrugged. “Being a walking violation of privacy runs in the family. Be happier. Maybe I won’t know you as well.”

Ire rubbed the top of his head in worry. “I’m not sure if you’d make for a great therapist or a terrible one.”

“Oh, I’d be terrible. Mostly because I’m only a yearish old.”

A gust of wind blew to punctuate the silence.

“…Sooo anyway, are they here yet?”

“They’re still deliberating,” Aramé murmured.

Mu huffed and whipped her tail on the ground again. She reached over and pulled at it and it grew and grew. She darkened her scales and pulled at the back of her head, growing a horn. She sharpened her snout until it became slightly more beak-like. Around that point, she felt a slow burn of horror coming from Ire and glanced his way.

“’Sup?” she asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Tryna evolve.”

“That’s not… that’s…” Ire sat up, gesturing to his arms. “You’re not… doing it right, I think.”

“Well, I’d ask for a mirror, but I think they’re all tests here,” Mu said. She let her body revert, melting back to its Charmander base state. “Guess maybe I still follow basic evolution… Maybe I’m like Dad and I have a different element. Like. Grassmander, right? So, I must be… Voidmander.”

Ire tilted his head with uncertainty in his aura.

“Too edgy?” Mu asked.

“Edgy?”

“Like, trying to act dark and brooding and cool, but it’s cringe instead.”

Ire and Aramé both stared at her blankly.

Mu sighed. “Never mind…” She dug into her torso and pulled out a book. “I’m just gonna read until they get here.”

She turned to the next chapter—this one on the relationship between Grass Pokémon and mundane plants—and ignored the typical waves of disgust from her audience at her book storage methods.

For someone a yearish old, waiting a few hours felt like an eternity.

<><><>​

Five different kinds of Owen marched down the final hallway. Charizard led the pack. On his shoulder was Owen, the little Charmander who got a little braver every second. Beside him was Reflection, rolling Wrath in front just in case he lost it again. Taking up the rear and walking behind and between the two mirrored Charizard was Solgaleo, who had a guilty expression that avoided Aramé’s gaze as they walked to the Dungeon’s center.

This was where Zero Isle Spiral’s arms all met in a central vortex.

A thin layer of saltwater rippled with each step the Owen aspects took, mixing with fine sand and Dungeon rocks. Near the middle, atop a platform of rock only a foot higher than their current, sandy approach, was Salamence Aramé, Dragonite Ire, and Mu, still a Charmander. And, thankfully, unharmed and nonchalant.

“Wow, look at you,” Mu called, finally sitting up. “You’re walking up here like a five-draw from a gacha game. One dupe.”

“I don’t know what that is, Mu!” Charizard called routinely.

“So. You’ve arrived.” Aramé rose next, a mighty Salamence that managed to reach Charizard’s eye level while on all fours. “…And not only did you bypass my test, but you made a mockery of it.”

“Yeah.” Charizard wasn’t going to deny it. “I’m through with tests, Aramé. I already went through one with the Overseers, and I don’t know how many other things I did that count as tests. So we’re done testing. I’m ready to save the world.”

Aramé offered a wry smile. “Save the world again, you mean?” she said with a tone that Charizard refused to make him feel small.

“I know what I did wrong,” Charizard said. “It’s not happening again. And you know I’m the only one who can fix this now.”

“You’re probably right,” Aramé said. “If only by chance… and the powers you have. Under any other circumstance…”

“I’d be long dead and not the world’s problem,” Charizard completed.

“And what’s your plan?” Aramé asked. “Not for the world. But for this.” She gestured at the five of them.

“Oh, that’s true,” Ire piped up. “If you aren’t going to fuse …”

“No, we will,” Charizard said. “Aramé. You can dispel this, can’t you?”

“…Fine.” Aramé closed her eyes and took a breath. Aura encircled her…

Charizard’s claw twitched. He grasped the aura and pulled.

Aramé’s senses were sharp. The great Dragon Guardian snarled and lunged for Charizard, only for all five aspects to pull up a Protect barrier.

“You!” Aramé growled. “What are—”

Charizard clutched at the piece of aura he’d stolen.

“Proving a point,” Charizard said, his head only inches away from Aramé’s, split by a barrier. He saw the details of her scales, every wrinkle between her battle-worn skin. She trained often while inside her little domain. Her home away from the rest of the world. Her ideal place.

Charizard harnessed the aura in his hands, which flared up like a fire that had been offered the driest brush. Owen, Reflection, Wrath, and Solgaleo all looked at their hands and paws… and disappeared into motes of light, crashing down upon Charizard, and covering him in a thin layer of gold. This light, too, faded.

Owen opened his eyes. A rush of memories returned to him, but at this point, he was used to it. Some memories were fragmented hypotheticals from Solgaleo of a time that never happened, conjured by Aramé’s hypotheses and theories of what could have happened in an ideal world. He thought of them as daydreams… but there was merit to it. There was value in regret.

“Why do you insist,” Aramé said, “on hoarding all of your memories?”

“Um, I’m… lost,” Ire admitted. The Dragonite stepped next to Mu. “What did Owen do?”

“He did… something close to what I would have done,” Aramé said, “but clearly, he’s more Dragon than I. The pride he has in doing all matters himself is more than enough to make even Arceus look modest.”

Owen rolled his eyes. “At least you admit he’s… Look. I’m doing this because I am done with people tampering with my mind. Understand?”

Aramé’s jaw clenched, though she didn’t object.

“It’s not pride. It’s control. And I’m taking it. No more people trying to change my identity through my instincts, through controlling or suppressing my memory, through any of that. If you want to change me, do it the old-fashioned way. With a talk. With a fight. And—give me back my horns!”

“What? Oh. Right.” Aramé sighed, glancing at Ire.

“Oh!” Ire quickly flapped his tiny wings and went to one of the spiral’s arms, returning with a small bowl with Owen’s horns in them. “Er, here you go. Thank you for putting those in.”

“…What would have happened if I brought those with me?” Owen asked.

“Nothing. I was relying on your… politeness.”

“Oh.” Somehow this was the least expected answer. He thought that was a lie Solgaleo had been told. “…Well, you used most of that up with what happened right after.”

“I can tell.” Aramé shook her head as Owen removed his clay replicas and slipped them into his bag. He gently put his true horns back and sighed, relieved, as his Perceive returned to him.

And just within range, he sensed Zena slithering in from another of the spiral’s arms.

“Oh, hey! Mom’s here!” Mu said, running over to her. “Mom! How’d you do on your test?”

There you are.” Zena quickened her slithering. Owen noted that it was just one of her… Based on how Aramé was smiling at Zena, followed by casting a glare Owen’s way, she must have gone through the test properly.

“Zena…” Owen nervously approached. “Are you… still Zena?”

“I am, Owen. Don’t worry.” She nodded. “In fact, I feel… lighter. The Dungeon helped isolate some… parts of myself that I wasn’t happy with anyway. It was only a boost in the direction I’d wanted all along.”

Owen still didn’t like it, but… it was her choice. She took advantage of it in her way. That was fine.

“What was it like for you?” Owen asked.

Ire left the area and returned with bunches of berries and a few balls of leaves from some storage area in the Spiral’s center. He set them up so they could sit and recover from their examinations and travel, and during it, Zena talked about what she’d gone through, and Owen exchanged similar tales.

The biggest differences were how Zena had to defeat her ‘angry’ aspect, while Owen was able to contain his… and that while Owen bypassed the final test, Zena made her choices exactly as requested. However, when Zena got to the point where she’d made her decision…

“Something for… me to talk about later,” Zena admitted, glancing away. “I need some time to process it.”

“What?” Owen whispered. “Did you… get rid of Lugia?”

“Later, Owen,” Zena said gently. The Milotic coiled a little tighter and leaned against Owen as they sat against each other. Mu stopped reading to listen, looking pensive.

“Did you… want to be Lugia?” Owen said nervously. He tried to ignore the cold feeling in his chest.

“Don’t worry, Owen. I don’t… I don’t know how it all worked out. It’s fuzzy to me. Can I have some time to think about it?”

That wasn’t any help, but… he respected that. Maybe her mind was still trying to adjust to everything. It was disorienting; Owen knew that. “Okay. Sorry.”

“I’m also sorry,” Zena said. “I know you have bad experiences with… mates becoming Legends.”

“That—but you didn’t make any decisions because of me, right?” Owen asked, defying his knee-jerk reactions. Sure, he didn’t want Zena taking on that… but he didn’t want her deciding because of how he felt.

“No.” Zena shook her head. “I knew you’d be upset if I based my decisions on… how you felt alone. But it’s hard to… recall exactly. I’ll tell you later, when I have it sorted.”

Just talking to her… she felt like herself. That was good enough. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Mm.” Ire nodded sagely. “Zero Isle Spiral tests your strength, but your spirit grows if it can conquer the Dungeon. As the world’s most powerful Guardian, she can give the Spiral’s Blessing to anyone who completes that final test.”

“The Spiral’s Blessing…” Owen tilted his head. “What’s it do?”

“For you? Nothing substantial,” Aramé admitted. “It’s only a little more. It’s the ability to push yourself even further and draw out the true strength that lay dormant within all Pokémon—the ability to be a god, however small. I mostly did this test… to see if you had the mentality necessary to confront Dark Matter, who would take advantage of every insecurity you had. Every mental weakness, every… Shadow.”

“I had a feeling that was the case even before meeting Lugia,” Zena said. “Still… you could have gone without the strange, cryptic tests.”

Ire chuckled. “Well, it was on short notice,” he said. “An Overseer had requested it and we didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. We used what Aramé always used.”

Zena sighed, glancing at Owen. He let the annoyance slide and fade. He’d already proven himself to that Overseer. But if Hecto and Necrozma were anything to go by, the Overseers were thorough when they wanted to be. And redundant.

“One way or another, we got here,” Owen said. “That means we passed, right?”

“Yes. You passed… by technicality.” Aramé flashed a glare. “I could kill you for it, but that wouldn’t do much.” Her tail whipped at the ground. “…Zena passed properly. Congratulations to you, Zena.”

An awkward nod was Zena’s reply.

“…Well, I guess that’s it,” Owen said. “But Aramé… You’re coming with us, right?”

“What?”

“To help against Dark Matter. We need all the help we can get.”

“…I’m not as strong outside of my domain, this Spiral, you know.”

“You’ve been no help here,” Owen said flatly. “We had to come to you. Aside from when you helped Arceus in the Ethereal Forest, have you been able to do anything other than… guard?”

“…Those were my orders. I must guard this place.”

“Is that relevant anymore?” Owen said. “C’mon. We need to be all at the front to defend everyone else.”

“If I leave, this Dungeon could become infected,” Aramé warned. “We can’t have that. Void Shadows emerging from the former Dragon Guardian’s Dungeon?”

“…Right.” Owen stretched his wings behind him but kept his arms crossed. “…Then you’re going to help me in one last way.”

“How?” Aramé said with a suspicious glare.

“We’re going to battle.”

Ire perked up.

“You’ve spent too long in the human world,” Aramé said with an entertained smirk. “Battle, me? In my domain? You realize this would—”

“It’ll be the same, right?” Owen countered. “You could kill me, but that wouldn’t mean much.”

“I was speaking figuratively,” Aramé grunted. “…Fine. What about you?” Aramé eyed Zena.

“Where Owen fights, I fight,” Zena replied.

“Hm. Ire.”

The Dragonite sprang to his feet and thwacked his tail on the ground. The earth rumbled, leaving a fissure that trailed to a spiral arm behind him. Sand and water filled in the crack. Aramé stepped away to gain some distance and she murmured a plan to Ire. Owen could read what they said with his Perceive… but they were talking in shorthand. It could have meant anything.

“…Yeah, I’ll uh…” Mu vanished, reappearing at the center’s edge. “Good luuuuck!” she called.

Zena coiled up and readied herself. Her feather-fan covered her face, hiding her first prepared move, while Owen watched Aramé closely. It looked like Aramé was someone who preferred to finish things quickly. She wasn’t going to hold back, even for a sparring match. Ire… Owen didn’t know much of Ire, but he wasn’t as big of a threat. But he could get in the way…

“Zena,” Owen whispered. “I want you to prepare Life Dew after you attack Ire. Like we practiced.”

“Okay.”

That was all they needed. It was a new strategy, but they’d spent a lot of time in the human world planning for things like this.

“Ready?” Aramé called.

“We’re ready.”

“Mu,” Aramé called. “Mark the battle’s opening.”

“Oh, uh… okay!” She cleared her throat and stood up straight. “This is a battle between Guardian Aramé with Spirit Ire and Guardians, uh… Mom and Dad! Trainers—uh, I mean, fighters, ready… begin!”

As predicted, Aramé wasted no time in toying with her foes. She gave everything she had in one strike, conjuring meteors in the sky and raining them down upon Owen with exact precision. Owen brought his arms up and created a barrier, blocking the attack and kneeling from the force it exerted anyway. Ire flew in with his claws enveloped in indigo fire, but Zena deflected it with a powerful Hydro Pump.

While that didn’t do much, she chained it with an Ice Beam, flash-freezing the Dragonite mid-flight. She grabbed the new rod of ice with Ire at the end with her tail and, despite it being tens of feet long, swung it at Aramé as she conjured her meteors.

Ire slammed into Aramé and pinwheeled into the ground below, dissolving before he could even get a hit in. Aramé, however, was barely affected by the combination strike.

That struck Owen as odd. Ire dissolved far too easily.

His Perceive didn’t detect it, but his eyes did: Ire’s phantom loomed over Aramé, bolstering her aura to the point where it felt like Owen’s scales were peeling off. It warped the light around her as the Draco Meteor onslaught continued, giving Owen no break.

Then came the soothing cool of Life Dew. It wasn’t much, but it kept Owen going long enough to grasp at the Draco Meteor’s essence… and Aramé’s power.

Just what he was waiting for.

The meteors finally stopped. Aramé had to rest—but her aura was as strong as ever. The fatigue that Draco Meteor usually inflicted on the user… simply didn’t manifest. Aramé was truly powerful…

But the battle was already over.

“You’re still standing,” Aramé remarked. “But it looks like you don’t have the strength to fight back.”

Owen was on his knees, one hand in the sand, the other on that arm’s bicep.

“I wasn’t aiming at you.”

Owen’s flame turned black and white. That energy spiraled around his tail, up his back, and into his arm where it mixed with Aramé’s power. Then, he pumped it into the sand, where the energy rippled out in a single pulse. It trailed around every spiral’s arm in a matter of seconds and infected the walls of the Dungeon.

Aramé gasped. “STOP!” she roared.

Hastily, she conjured a second Draco Meteor—

Too late.

Owen sent a second pulse, triggering a Dungeon-wide shockwave. Zena took on a defensive stance and covered her eyes. Mu crossed her arms and formed a black-white Protect. And everything around Owen erupted in Chaotic energy. He heard something shatter, ethereal and glass-like. When he glanced upward, he saw the very skyline light up, twist, and break.

The labyrinth collapsed into piles of sand. The meteors evaporated with the blast. And the oppressive atmosphere of the Dungeon… became nothing but a memory.

In complete shock, Aramé only stared. Owen pointed a claw at her, forming several meteors above the arena. He held them.

“…Give up?” Owen asked.

“Owen…” Zena looked around. “What… was that?”

“Testing a theory,” Owen said. “It’s for something I’m going to need to do a lot more.”

Aramé landed—stumbled—on the Spiral. She stared, left and right, and the ruins of the spiral, which was now more like a grassy sandbar.

“You… it’s gone,” she whispered in total disbelief. “Owen, what did you do? What did… you… DO?!”

Owen stood tall, frowning. “I sealed a wound that Kilo has. I closed a gateway into the Voidlands.”

“YOU BLEW UP MY HOME?!”

“W-well, yes, but you were coming with us anyway, so—”

Aramé turned her body around and whipped Owen with her tail across his face. A golden barrier dulled the pain… but she had quite the swing. It still stung.

“Okay, I deserved that one—”

She swung again. Then clawed at his belly. Each hit was blocked by a barrier and Owen nervously stepped back. Every strike conveyed anger, but… he also sensed that Aramé was impressed—and not as mad as she could have been.

After several more blows—Zena and Mu awkwardly watching—Aramé stomped her paw on the ground and huffed.

“Completely and utterly unnecessary,” Aramé said. “You could have informed me of this ploy. I would have agreed.”

Owen had his doubts.

“But… you must have sensed it, too,” she said. “The weakening barrier. Did you think Alexander would have tried to pass through here?”

“It would’ve been bad if he did,” Owen said. “But… don’t worry. Yours is the first of many. I figured out how to seal off the Dungeons. And if we do that… we can control where Alexander emerges from.”

“I see…” Her anger slowly subsided. “…And… Arceus must also have informed you that my time to leave this place was at hand anyway.”

Owen nodded. “But you couldn’t,” she said, “because you had to guard the Dungeon. So, I got rid of that part. I wasn’t sure if it was possible…”

Aramé sighed. “Next time,” she said, “explain what you will do. We can’t have improvisations for the true fight.”

“I will,” Owen said with a shrinking flame.

“He just wanted to be cool,” Mu piped up.

“I didn’t! It just seemed like the best way to get Aramé’s strongest hit! I think… it wouldn’t have worked otherwise.”

“Oh?” Aramé said.

“Yeah.” Owen made vague gestures with his hands. “See, the way it works is, when I Usurp an attack, I need to—”

“Um, can this wait?” Mu suddenly spoke up.

“What?”

Mu pointed at the northern horizon.

Owen had been so focused on Aramé and the others that he didn’t realize a giant, shadowy leviathan with five heads and countless eyes had been flying toward them. And now that he had some reading done in the human world… Nate looked a lot like Eternatus in its unleashed form. Yet… somehow even more disturbing. Blackened and covered in eyes… What was up with that?

“Isn’t that Nate?” Zena said.

“Yes. Why is he coming here?” Aramé murmured. “Come. Let’s meet him. I’ll have my comeuppance with you afterward.”

Owen winced. She meant it.

<><><>​

They met at the former Spiral’s northern arm’s edge. Nate landed gingerly, making several waves anyway due to his size. Owen landed just in front of him, craning his neck up as he figured out which eye to look at. Aramé, Zena, and Mu stood behind him.

“Hey, Nate,” he said. “You… came to see us?”

Yes. I… must ask you something, Nate said.

Him, specifically? That answered a few suspicions Owen had.

The report from Alola… told him that a small piece of his spirit was missing. It couldn’t be in the Voidlands—he was whole after that ordeal, and nobody found a trace of him afterward. He hadn’t been fragmented there.

All the other Dungeons were the same way. If they sought Owen out, they found nothing. The piece missing… had to have been old. Ancient. And hidden somewhere nobody had the opportunity to check…

His first guess had been Zero Isle Spiral, somehow. But obviously—even though it loved to fragment those who entered—Owen hadn’t recovered a thing. His fragment wasn’t sealed here.

And now, Nate was coming here, just before Owen planned to set off to find it.

That’s when he realized just what happened.

“Nate,” Owen said. “…May I have my final piece back?”

Most of Nate’s eyes widened with surprise. Zena and Aramé glanced at each other with confusion. Mu leaned forward, her attention on something else of Nate.

…It’s… exactly as you planned, Nate said, somewhere between awe and disbelief.

From the palm of the hand-like, multi-headed creature, a small, golden mote emerged and drifted toward Owen. It said nothing, yet Owen felt a warm, proud, triumphant smile radiating off its aura.

“Hey,” Owen said. “How… old are you?”

The mote of light pulsed rhythmically. The waves settled again after Nate’s shifting stopped.

Then, in a voice like Wishkeeper’s, yet with the serenity of a white cloud, the mote said, Let me show you.

It drifted to Owen’s chest…

And Owen’s two thousand years of memories unified with a thousand more.

<><><>​

Author's Note: Thanks, everyone, for reading! Incoming is the final Special Episode of HoC. As such, expect it to take twice as long to get out. The publication date for the final Special Episode will be May 19th. See you then!
 

Spiteful Murkrow

Busy Writing Stories I Want to Read
Pronouns
He/Him/His
Partners
  1. nidoran-f
  2. druddigon
  3. swellow
  4. lugia
  5. quilava-fobbie
  6. sneasel-kate
  7. heliolisk-fobbie
Heya, it took a couple sittings to get through this one, but I figured that it was about time to chip away at that last prize review of HoC that I owed you from PMDiner's Review Event. So let's pick up right where we left off with with…

Chapter 17

Anam, Rhys, James, and Amia all left for Manny’s Spire of Trials. In the meantime, Nevren paid a visit after he was summoned, and left to rally up Kilo Village. That left everybody else to go through some training with Star, who was summoned this time by Zena. Compared to when Star had been summoned by someone else, Star was barely solid, and for the most part, could only be heard. There were a few instances where Pokémon accidentally passed right through the Mew phantasm because they didn’t see her. And, generally, it was hard to tell the pink cloud of Mew-shaped smoke from everything else.

Waaaait, are we about to get a Nevren-PoV scene in this story for the first time in like 10 chapters, or...?

Owen was sitting at the town square, just below a small bulletin board that went largely unused. He stared at it nostalgically; he knew every corner of that board, the way it was carved from stone and then melted at the edges to look shiny. There was a small bowl of grayish-yellow adhesive to the side of the board that was used to stick papers on; when it was no longer needed, it could just be peeled off. Owen remembered how he once put a notice here. ‘Looking for a new rock, at least two feet in height, polished! Will pay 3000 Poké!’ was what he had posted.

It ended up being a very good rock.

Scratch that, looks like it's Owen's PoV this scene after all. Though sounds like this kid needs to get his priorities straightened out if he's got 3000 Poké to blow on random rocks bigger than he is for much of his existence.

He had bought it with his allowance that he’d saved up from Amia and Alex, after spending most of it on treats and fighting materials. But now, what could he post there? Especially now that he knew all of the other Pokémon that had lived in town were dead and hiding out in Amia’s Fire Orb to leave room for the newcomers. Owen felt a sudden heaviness in his chest.

How could his parents do that to him? All of the friends he had were spirits. They weren’t even around anymore—they had to make room for all the Guardians and their spirits. What was the point of all that, anyway?

I can't tell whether or not the implication is that Owen's been bugged by this all this time since the big reveal of what Hot Spot Cave really was to him, or if he's had a "... Boy, that's really messed up when you stop and think about it" epithany in the wake of the past chapter's events.

I do wonder if this one paragraph is effectively two smaller ones, since the last two sentences feel pretty different in subject matter and vibe than the ones beforehand.

Spirits… It had been a while since Owen thought about the ones he had. Were they watching the whole time?

Wait…”

He looked around. It seemed that mostly everybody was training in their own corners of Hot Spot, focusing on what they felt was most necessary. Zena was nearest to Owen, despite this. Star was also nearby.

Um—Star?”

“Yo.” The Mew in question was watching everybody and their training, giving pointers when necessary. Zena, in particular, was still gathering her energy after expending so much into summoning Star.

Oh that's not worrisome and paranoia-inducing at all there...
:copyber:


“How do I summon spirits?”

“Oh, you wanna learn that? Yeah, I guess you should, especially since everybody else knows how to do it. It actually isn’t that hard, either. Zena, didn’t you accidentally spit someone out when you used Water Gun once?

:copyka:


Ah yes, I see we're getting shades of that already even before Emily's proper debut in this story.

“Y-you promised you wouldn’t speak of that!” Zena squeaked.

“O-oh, sorry,” Star said. “But hey, wasn’t a Divine Promise, heh… S-sorry. Really.”

Zena, flushing red, slithered away to compose herself.

Yeeeeah, Star totally isn't sorry, I can already tell. Though that makes me wonder what other sorts of ultra-embarrassing shenanigans happen with the other Guardians and their summoning of spirits.

“A-anyway, it feels a lot like using an Attack, okay? But instead, it feels like you’re focusing… inward, and then bringing something out… That make sense?”

“I think I understand,” Owen said, closing his eyes. “Inward… inward… Wait—who do I summon?”

Oh, so that's how Zena puked up a spirit once upon a time. I wonder if that means that that's a decently common beginner's flub for Guardians who can use breath attacks when summoning spirits.

[ ]

“Uhh,” Star said. “Why don’t you try talking to them? It’s kinda like talking to yourself in your head. You’ll get a response. Hey, you might even feel them reaching out. That’ll make it easier to summon them.”

“Okay, let me try.” He closed his eyes and tried to ignore everything that his five senses gave him. It was easier than usual; this part of town was quieter, and the heat was nothing to his natural body.

Um… hello? Is anybody there? Owen said. It’s me, um, Owen.

A few voices replied to him—various forms of hello. Owen knew that if they’d done this to him earlier, he would’ve thought he was going crazy.

Wow. That certainly was a lot further than what I was expecting Owen to get on his first try. Though I do wonder if it might have made sense to break up the string of dialogue lines somewhere around when Star has her "err..." moment with some description or inner thoughts from Owen.

H-hi! I—I didn’t think that’d… work! Um—have you guys always been there?

Various answers that confirmed.

W-wow, okay… I didn’t expect that, he said. Are you enjoying watching all this? I hope you guys aren’t too bored there.

More responses, though they seemed mostly positive.

I'm... not sure if I'm really feeling the way that the "multiple responses" is being handled in this sequence. Like I get why it's being done as a way to not beat around the bush, but I do wonder if things would've been more interesting to see like 3-4 distinct voices of Owen's spirits and Owen grappling with the enormity of what's happening, especially since that could be used as a foreshadowing tool for a spirit or two of Owen's that will become plot-relevant in the future.

Owen blushed slightly. A-anyway, I wanted to summon one of you guys for practice! Is that okay? Who can I summon and stuff? I just really want to learn this new technique. Everyone else knows it, and I gotta catch up!

Well… I suppose I can,
said a voice. Owen got the impression that it was Klent, the Jumpluff—the previous Guardian.

>the previous Guardian

Okay, now I'm curious, but what on earth happened to Klent anyways? Since the fact that he's in the Grass Orb at all implies that he died sometime back, but as we've seen, Pokémon in this story with Mystic abilities usually aren't particularly easy to kill.

Klent! Right? I’m glad to hear you again! Um… sorry I didn’t talk to you guys until now. It’s kinda been a really rough few days, and then I got distracted…

Owen: "Also, I kinda didn't know that I could even do this up to this point, so..." ^^;

It’s okay, Owen, Klent replied.

Owen felt something inside his chest. No—not quite. But it felt like it was coming from there. Was that Klent trying to summon himself? But it wasn’t enough. Owen had to help.

Okay,” Owen said.

It felt like meditating. He went deep into himself, into his spirit, and found Klent’s presence. Then, with another thought, he pushed him out. More and more… it felt like something rising out of his body. A gentle warmth, even for his Fire. Owen briefly wondered if going Grass would’ve made it easier or harder to summon someone.

It's probably an authorial style/nitpicking thing, but this one paragraph feels like it'd work better split around Owen's brief line there. Though oh boy, is this going to result in Owen having a turn at barfing up a spirit in public?
:copyka:


A blue ember flew out of Owen’s chest, landing a few feet ahead of him. There, it turned into four little spheres—Owen recognized this as the base of a Jumpluff’s shape. It then solidified enough to be visible, like Klent was made out of lightly colored glass that was also on fire.

“A-are… are you okay?” Owen asked.

“I believe so,” Klent replied, looking at his pom-poms. “Hmm. I feel very… ghostly.”

Yeah, we could tell from the hitodama aesthetic, Klent. Though that actually makes me wonder if there's something significant about the color that a spirit's fire / aura / whatever comes in, since I remember it being explicitly mentioned in an earlier chapter that they could also come in red and green even if blue appears to be the "default".

[ ]

“Sorry. I guess I’m not strong enough yet.”

“Yeah,” Star said, “your Mysticism is actually a lot higher than when you started off, more than I expected, actually, but you don’t know how to use it yet, is the problem,” Star said. “That’s what I’d call a measure of how adept you are at using your divine power. Mysticism. And since you’re still working on it, don’t worry! You’ll improve fast.

I see no real reason to disbelieve that one given how rapidly things changed for Owen and Team Alloy just within the first ten chapters. Though it does make me wonder how deep the rabbit hole of Mysticism-driven abilities goes since a lot has already gotten revealed up to this point in the story, and there's like 160 more after this one.

“Mysticisismum… Mystici…” Owen gave up. “I’m stronger than expected?”

“Mhm,” Star nodded. “See, being exposed to powerful Mystics… kinda also raises the power faster. Like a feedback loop. So, the training you guys do with each other is gonna benefit you the most, Owen, since you’re the furthest behind. Oh, and not to mention you nearly died during that fight with Azu, that boosts your Mystic power, too!”

Oh hey, it's basically that one semi-common fanon idea of what makes trained Pokémon / Pokémon in proximity to a human become unstoppable gods of war under the right circumstances... I wonder if there's any relation between the two in this story, since it's already been strongly implied (and confirmed once knowing that In Beta shares a universe) that this is a post-human setting.
:lucathink~2:


“I—I have to nearly die to get stronger?! What kind of system is that?!”

One that I'm pretty sure that Star had a hand in creating given how prominently she features on the story's cover art, Owen.

“Just a side-effect.” Star shrugged. “It’s not ideal… but hey, you also nearly drowned with Zena, remember? So that’s another boost! Stress on the aura trying to cling to the body is a real workout for the spirit, you know. Usually doesn’t mean anything, but for a Mystic, you can use that to get more in touch with your spiritual side. Literally.”

So dying repeatedly, but not enough to die "for real"™️ is the key to growing stronger as a Mystic. I guess that "what doesn't kill me only makes me stronger" is quite literally the rule of thumb for greatness as a Mystic in HoC-verse.

... Though that makes me wonder how many times Anam or one of the higher Mystics has kicked the bucket in the past. Since they're waaaay up there in strength, and if Star's explanation was remotely accurate...

Owen crossed his arms and pouted. She had a point, but he didn’t want to admit it. This reckless lifestyle that once endangered him was actually paying off. At least he was more strategic in battle. “What else raises Mysticis—mys—is there a better name for it?”

“Divinity?”

“Mysticism it is,” Owen grumbled.

... I'm sorry, but did Star just casually imply that Mystics in this setting undergo apotheosis? As in they're literally ascending to godhood thanks to the power they've been given (which presumably has been yoinked by Arceus or someone else on the totem pole)?

Star giggled. “What else raises it? Lots of spiritual and aura stuff that Rhys does,” she said. “Meditation, mental training, grueling endurance, powerful emotions, near-death experiences… the works. Stuff that the body normally wouldn’t want.”

“So… not fighting?”

“That’s for your normal abilities; that tunes your aura with your body,” Star explained. “Mysticism tunes your aura to the power that your body draws from, directly. The connection from your aura to your spirit. Subtle difference.”

“I don’t get it.”

So basically, you undergo things that your body normally wouldn't want or find desirable in order to gain the power to break the rules of the universe. I wonder if Legendaries in this setting also have to do that to wield their power at full blast given that Star more or less just stated that Mysticism runs off the same juju that "gods" in this setting have.

“You will. Just practice more.”

“Ngh…”

I mean, given the track record of this story up to this point, I see no real reason to disbelieve Star there. Even if I assume that this is one of those "easy(-ish) to wield, hard to master" abilities for a Mystic.

They repeated this process a few times. Star left to train the others while Owen practiced under Klent’s instructions. Klent vanished as an ember and reentered Owen’s body.

Zena was eventually unable to maintain Star’s form, and the pink smoke faded in the air. Willow summoned her next, practicing with ADAM and Valle. The Joltik practiced summoning her twisted spirits, all of them preferring to become giant mushrooms of some kind, screaming and laughing at anybody who approached, occasionally exploding. ADAM, meanwhile, focused on summoning the few spirits he had within his Normal Orb. They behaved oddly like ADAM, moving stiffly and erratically, though given how transparent they were, it was clear that this was not a technique that the Porygon-Z was used to.

For a second, I thought that the implication was that ADAM's spirits were all various Porygon line 'mons. Though I wonder how his spirits compare to the various visual glitches you might encounter for character models in S/V in terms of appearance, since that description doesn't sound that different.

Valle practiced by meditating. That is, he stood still in the middle of Hot Spot and observed the cave’s walls.

Owen: "Does he ever have a moment when he's not meditating?"
:UnimpressedCabot:


“Is that even a valid way to train?”

“Well, it’s meditating.” Star’s smoky form made what Owen could only guess was a shrug. “And I guess since he’s expanding his aura a ton to feel the whole cave, that’s pretty good training. And—”

Willow and a few of her mushrooms screamed at one another. Willow tackled a blue one, which puffed up and exploded, making all of the others scream and hop along the ground, tackling one another.

Owen:
Image

"Seriously, why on earth does she have to do that?" >_>;

“Oh, come on.” Star sighed, pressing her paws on her forehead. “I gotta go break them up.” She flew away, leaving Owen and Zena alone.

The Charmander stared uneasily at the exploding mushrooms. “How long have we known her, again?”

“Not very long,” Zena replied. “…Do you… not remember?”

Oh, so Zena wasn't kept in the loop for Owen getting memory-wiped. Probably. Maybe. Or at least I think that's the implication of her "Do you not remember" line there.

Owen looked at Zena. “I mean,” he said, “I know that we met her recently, but I kinda—I don’t know. To be honest—” He laughed nervously. “I think this Mystic stuff is making my memories a little foggy. Is that normal?”

“I’m sure it’s just shock,” Zena said, strained. “Owen, do you—do you really not remember anything? How much do you remember?”

“I remember I was fighting Azu,” Owen said. “And I remember… I think I remember fighting Willow. And training. I think I remember that. Oh, and I remember fighting that Aerodactyl. I wonder how he’s doing. He’s probably a Broken Heart now, making up for his crimes.”

Zena fidgeted with her ribbons. “What about me?” she asked.

Oh, so Zena really was left out of the loop for Owen and Team Alloy getting reset. That feels like one hell of an oversight there given that the two were clearly developing feelings for each other.

“Huh?”

“Me. Do you remember anything about me?”

Owen paused. “Oh! I remember we fought Rhys. Yeah. That was pretty scary, actually. I hope when I get stronger, I can rematch him.” He nodded. “He beat me in one hit.”

“You only remember your fights?” Zena asked.

Owen: "Uh... I mean, I guess pain has a way of sticking in one's mind a bit more? That's not an issue, right?"
Zena:
Image

Owen: "Uh... Zena?"
:ohnowen:


Owen scratched the back of his head in thought. “Yeah, I think so. But that’s the most important part, in a way, since I can learn from all those fights. Muscle memory! That’s a really important type of memory.”

Zena stared in silence. Her tail coiled around itself in a tight circle.

Yeah, I figured that she wouldn't take things well. Though I wonder if we've been a bit heavy on dialogue without interleaving description or inner thoughts for the last 10-ish paragraphs. I'm admittedly not sure what to suggest right here, but it's something that stood out.

“Did… did we hang out more often than what I’m remembering?”

“No, we didn’t,” Zena said curtly. “Your memory is just fine. Like I said, Owen. You’re still in some kind of shock from the fight. Your Mystic power will help you recover in time.”

Owen hummed, scaly brow furrowing. “I don’t know, Zena.” He eyed her carefully. “Can you at least fill me in on some of the details I’m missing? Maybe it’ll help jog my memory!”

“No. You’re just fine,” Zena said.

Zena:
Image


And no, Owen's absolutely not fine, and neither are you, Zena. Since I could see that reaction to you being told that Owen didn't remember meeting you.

She seemed tense, but Owen’s perception was dull. He had the vaguest idea that his senses used to be a lot sharper for these sorts of things. But now? It all felt muddled.

And he knew he used to be a Charmeleon. Zena should have known, too. Why was she hiding it from him? It was like everybody was playing along to keep the secret. He could tell that much. Zena knew, too. He saw it in her eyes. But—was it for something important? Or was it just another lie, like Hot Spot’s villagers?

Image


No. He wasn’t going to live through something like that again. Zena felt too important for him to leave those memories locked away. He didn’t know why. It was just a feeling. Feelings. He could remember those. If only he could also remember the details. He also had a feeling who it was that was behind keeping everyone quiet.

Just saying, this is a really, really strong argument for keeping a journal and then just never telling anyone else about its existence, Owen.

“Zena,” Owen said. “Do you trust Star?”

“Star?” Zena scoffed. “Of course not.”

Owen wasn’t expecting such a forward answer. “O-oh. You don’t?”

“No. I’m only following this group because you—” Zena stopped herself. “Because… it’s better than being alone. There are others that I can talk to here and I feel safer. I can tell that it’s the same for most of the other Guardians, too."

[ ]

"It isn’t that we trust Star. It’s that she’s offering a better alternative than… being alone. And, I suppose in Valle’s case, he’s satisfied with his new cave.” The Milotic rolled her eyes. “But don’t you remember why I don’t trust… well, no… why I simply can’t forgive her so easily? I’d think at least that would be something you’d remember,” she hissed.

I personally feel as if Zena's dialogue here works better as two separate paragraphs with something in between. Though I have to wonder if Zena isn't fully in the loop regarding the process of Owen getting his memories tampered with, since she sure feels offended that Owen basically completely forgot about her when you'd think that that would be something that would've gotten explained to her in the "yes, I know this sounds terrible, but we need to do this" briefing after the damage control over the past couple chapters.

“A-about that,” Owen said, shrinking back. “O-oh, wait. I think I do, I—”

Owen sat in the middle of Anam’s office. Zena was trembling around him, burying her face in her coils. Her body constricted around Owen, her scales grinding against the rocky wall behind her. The Charmeleon desperately held Zena steady, trying to keep her together.

Owen clutched at his head. “OHH, that one hurt,” he grunted. His tiny body would’ve been split in two if she’d squeezed any harder! But that memory… that confirmed it. Charmeleon. He looked up at the Milotic in his memory.

Oh, so he does still have lingering memories of Zena buried down deep enough. Duly noted.

Zena gasped, slithering backward. “Owen?” She bit at her lower lip uncertainly.

“Y-yeah, I’m fine. I’m fine. I think—I think I should stop thinking for a little bit.” Owen looked up, seeing the Milotic back away like she’d done something she shouldn’t have. Eyes of regret. She was keeping it a secret. Everyone was. It was Hot Spot all over again. “Zena? Listen—tell me again, just—why, with Star and—”

“I need to go,” Zena said abruptly, turning around.

Owen: "Hey! Wait! You can't just get mad at me for not remembering things and then turn around and-!" O_O;

“Uh—Zena!” Owen said. “Wait! I—”

“Practice your summoning,” the Milotic said. “I need to meditate.”

[ ]

“But…” Owen frowned. “But I just… want to remember…”

Wait, is Zena supposed to still be right there? Or is she already out the proverbial door? If the latter, it might've made sense to more explicitly describe that.

Owen… Klent said from within his spirit. Let’s just practice for now. Let her unwind. She’s obviously tense.

Okay, so that wasn’t just me?
Owen said. I know I upset her with what I said, but—I just don’t remember, Klent! I—

She understands. She just needs time. Please, let’s keep practicing.


Owen sighed. Fine.

... Actually, that makes me curious now as to if Owen can use the spirits from the Grass Orb as a bypass to his memories getting wiped in successive cycles. Since they do seem to have a level of autonomy from the people that conjure them.

Owen summoned him again, over and over, improving his technique until—finally—the Jumpluff appeared, but instead of being opaque like before, he was solid. The Jumpluff was indistinguishable from others, just like the other spirits that Owen knew all his life. This thought sent another pang through him—of what, he still couldn’t identify. Anger, betrayal, sadness… confusion. He was pretty sure it was confusion. He couldn’t see himself holding a terrible grudge against his own parents, after all. They meant well.

I better not be developing a complex, Owen thought bitterly. But then he addressed Klent with a smile and a presenting motion with his arms.

Narrator: "He is absolutely developing a complex."

“Oh, you did it,” Klent said, inspecting his pom-poms with a neutral expression. “Very good.”

“You don’t seem too happy about that,” Owen said, crossing his arms. “I mean, c’mon, aren’t you glad to be alive again? I mean… basically-alive? …Solid?”

“I suppose I am,” Klent said. “I just didn’t think it would be under these circumstances.”

Owen: "Wait. 'Under these circumstances'? What's that supposed to mean?" ._.;

“Oh—circumstances?” Owen asked. “What do you mean?” He glanced at Klent and, for half of a second, they locked eyes. Owen saw… something, there, in those eyes. What was it? It put a horrible pit in his stomach, eating at him from the inside. “Klent?”

Klent shook his head. “Sorry. I suppose I’m still bitter about dying, is all.”

I suppose that would explain why Klent never pulled a Forrest all this time and has been chilling inside the Grass Orb all this time. Though I wonder just how much of a correlation there is between a Pokémon that dies and lingers as a spirit and having some sense of "unsettled"-ness about them and their circumstances of dying.

Then why was he looking at him that way? “Yeah, I guess that’s pretty… yeah,” he said, stepping forward. His eyes—they were similar to what he saw before when he first entered the Grass Orb. That hesitation to meet him. Why did they all hesitate? Were they shy, or…? And the way Klent looked at him, too.

“…Owen?” Klent asked. His eyes softened. “Are you okay?”

I mean, if you have to ask the question, Klent... though I can't tell whether or not this is Owen thinking that Klent has a crush on him or something else entirely.

“I—yeah, I’m okay,” Owen said. “Klent… can I ask you something?”

“As… as one of your spirits, I suppose I’ll have to at least listen to your question,” he said.

Owen glanced back. Star was still busy. He looked back at Klent. If there was one person he could put his trust in right now, it’d be the very spirits that were a part of his being. They wouldn’t lie to him. “How come I’m a Charmander again?”

Oh, so Owen did realize that at least on paper, his spirits can serve as a bypass to the whole reset cycle.

“Pick a different question,” Klent said lowly. He hadn’t even hesitated to reply; the quickness—did Klent know he was going to ask that?

Whelp, so much for the brilliant idea of using these guys as a bypass. Even if I suppose that indirectly answered the question.

“S-so I really was a Charmeleon,” Owen said softly.

Klent looked at Star. “Owen, stay here, I need to—”

“Please, don’t tell her,” Owen begged. “I don’t want to forget. I… It’s messing with my head. I feel like I’m losing my mind—why? What’s happening? Why does it feel like there are huge holes where my past should be? I—I don’t even know how old I am, Klent. Please… What’s… why am… why is everything like this?”

Owen, hasn't Klent literally been dead before you started being able to wield Mystic abilities? I'm not really convinced that he would know more than you would short of Star blabbing to him about what's been going on.

The Jumpluff hesitated again. He looked cornered and eyed Star. He wouldn’t be able to get there in time even if he tried. His eyes were frantic and said it all: Owen wasn’t supposed to be behaving this way, and it was a surprise. Why was he regaining his memories so quickly?

“Why did Star trust me to have this Orb?” Owen pressed. “What’s so special about me? How come I’m so strong for a Charmander, a—a late-evolver, too. Like the others. Why can I do Fire Trap? Only I know it. Only me.” Owen’s mind was racing. Connecting. He was always good at this—when he was focused on something, he could make connections quickly and easily. He did it in battle all the time, finding just the right tactic to beat an opponent many times stronger than he was. But tactics alone wouldn’t make him that special. James was the same way—tactical—perhaps even better. So why him?

Because as the last chapter strongly implied, you were literally made for this purpose, Owen. To what end is still a mystery, even if I'm not holding my breath on Klent giving a direct answer here.

Owen thought again. What other people had strange, special talents? Stronger than usual? Late-evolving? Gahi. A Trapinch that was incredibly fast. He gave off the signs of a Pokémon with Speed Boost, on top of already incredible speed, even for his slowest, larva-like form. Mispy. Her aura reading, for one, not to mention her incredible healing talent, and her slow-charge Solar Beam. Demitri. He was slow, but nothing held back his attacks. He could take more hits than all of them combined. Owen had a vague memory of him smashing through even his Protect shields of light during a distant sparring match.

Those strange Pokémon. The Ninjask that Star talked about. The Luxray, too. They were strange, just like he was. A Pokémon with no ancestry. A Pokémon that was created by some other way. Who were his parents? The ones he was born from. Amia and Alex never knew. And Rhys—why did he know so much about—

Oh, so Owen is starting to put two and two together. Though that makes me wonder... has Owen been able to do all of this all this time even without Mystic power? Or did he wind up getting some amount of it even before the Grass Orb that he got lazored from his memory?

Though either way, it does seem to point in the direction of him and Team Alloy being mutants in some capacity. Since I can see that final paragraph there.

The bed. The Rawst bed. Not only did he have one in his home in Hot Spot Cave, but there was also one in Rhys’ old home. Who would ever need a Rawst bed in that cave? Rhys didn’t take guests. Sure, he tended to gather useless trinkets. But a bed?

“Klent,” Owen finally said again. The Jumpluff was taking slow steps away, trying to get to Star. “Please, wait! Klent! I… I need to know!”

Klent: "I... uh... lo siento, no te entiendo."
Owen: "We're a monolingual setting, Klent! Seriously, what on earth is going on such that nobody is willing to tell me the truth?!"
:WHY:


Klent ran as fast as his light body would allow. Little puffs of dandelion seeds flew from his pom-poms in his frantic dash. Owen didn’t yet know how to forcibly recall a spirit. He had to chase after him.

“Klent, PLEASE!” Owen yelled. “What—what am I?!

Yeah, I kinda figured that Klent would basically pull the:
mgs3_comic_running.png

card on Owen there.

Star turned around, ears twitching at the question. She saw Klent running toward him with primal fear in his glassy eyes, and then Owen right behind him. She flicked her hand and created a barrier to stop Owen from advancing; he slammed his fist helplessly against it. Star floated toward him.

“Whoa, whoa, h-hang on, Owen!” Star said. “Just—just breathe, okay? Just breathe! This’ll only take a second…”

“NO! DON’T TAKE THEM AWAY!” Owen screamed, clutching his head. Star’s paw glowed, but when he said that, the light flickered.

P-please,” Owen said again, staring at the Mew with wide eyes. “I don’t want to forget! I know someone’s messing with my head—taking away my memories! There’s… they’re missing. I’m missing so much of my past! I—I can see the holes, they’re—they’re all covered up and scooped out of my head…” Tears bubbled at the sides of his eyes, tracing the ridges of his scales.

Klent: "... Have you tried keeping a journal-?"
Star: "(Klent, don't encourage him! This is serious!)" >_>;

“O-okay, Owen, just—just calm down! Look, l-look, no light! It’s gone, no light!” Star waved her paws in the air; indeed, the light was gone.

Hyperventilating, Owen sat down. He was dizzy. He wanted to throw up.

Huh. I honestly wasn't expecting Star to back off there. Even if I'm
:sceptical~1:
as to why she'd do that without some sort of ulterior motivation in play.

He sat in the middle of some forest, reading a book with Amia and Alex nearby. They had gone out more often back then. How far back? He was a Charmeleon.

He was playing marbles with a few of the other villagers. He was a Charmander. His tiny hands made it easy to make precise shots. He won every time.

Huh. That makes two Chars with memory problems from Pokémon fanfiction I'm aware of who are crack shots at marbles. I wonder if that's independent evolution for character details or if @Shades of Antioch did that as a HoC reference.

The chest pain returned. Something ran right through his back—a blade from the end of a tail, plunged into him. His mother cried his name.

He was flying—the memory abruptly cut off.

Oh hey, it's the Prologue. I mean, I suppose we already knew it from those disembodied dialogue sequences that strongly implied that once upon a time Owen was a Charizard, but that confirms that he's been a Charmeleon even before the events of the story on at least one occasion.

“O-oh… oh, Arceus… h-how old am I?” Owen said. His head was pounding. He wasn’t sure if it was his breathing or his tears that made his vision so blurry.

That depends on if his "coming back from death" shtick is always in the same body, or if this is XG/XB3 all over again where the characters keep coming back in a reincarnation cycle. It's prooooobably the former since the story has all but openly stated that Owen doesn't have parentage as we know it, but...

“Owen, shh, shh… just… just breathe, okay? Stay with me.” Star held Owen’s shoulders, but her paws were barely effective. “Your aura is out of control—just breathe… Owen? Close your eyes… just focus on my voice, okay? Owen, can you hear me? Owen?”

It wasn’t working. Owen’s entire body was shaking; he couldn’t see anymore. It was all dark. It felt like his tail’s flame was covering his whole back.

He heard roaring. It was his voice. He remembered roaring. Such a horrible noise. The roars in his mind translated into desperate whimpers for the others to hear.

Well, I suppose that's a sign that his final evolution presently has some problems going on. At this rate, I should probably start a betting pool for if "Bad State"!Owen has ever dropped a warship on someone before since... yeah. I'm not quite convinced that I've seen this movie before, but it's definitely giving off some familiar vibes.

“Owen,” Zena said, right beside him. He didn’t even realize she had been there. “Breathe.”

Owen choked on his breath, clutching at his chest. It felt like his ribs were splitting apart.

“You’ve got this, Owen,” Star said. “In and out. Breathe easy. Theeere you go…”

Breathe, breathe… Meditate. Rhys always asked that. Rhys—!

So... this is going to be the chapter where everything (or at least a lot of things) just comes flooding back for Owen, huh?

He sat next to Gahi. He sank halfway into the sand pit, muttering something. Owen laughed and said, “Just do it, we can fight later!” And then he closed his eyes.

They sat at the table. Rhys gave Owen a little smile. He had his favorite dish today. Gahi groaned, wanting something meatier.

Owen had Rhys’ neck in his giant claws—the memory abruptly stopped.

Owen: "... I'm sorry, but what was going on with that last memory there?!"
:uhhh:

Star: "That's probably something you want to worry about after your meditation when you're not on the verge of an emotional breakdown." ^^;

“Owen, stay with me, c’mon,” Star said softly. By now, everybody was staring at them. Owen didn’t know; his eyes were shut tight.

“Owen, I’m going to put a small block on your memory, okay? I won’t erase anything. I’m just going to stop them from coming for a little while.

:absus:


Okay, first off, even if this is believable at face value, why on earth should anyone be convinced that this is a proper way of handling things given how Owen's had to get "reset" twice in as many days at this point?

Owen didn’t say anything. He was burning.

He walked through Kilo Village with a spring in his step. As a Charmeleon, he’d surely be accepted into the Hearts!

There was a frightened little Spinarak with a few injured legs. He offered an Oran Berry. The wild thing ate it, spat a String Shot in his face, and fled. Owen shouted something about being ungrateful.

Oh, so Owen's concern about ferals does come from somewhere. Though that makes me wonder what on earth he was up to with them back then.

Owen felt the warm embrace of a fellow Charmander. They were both crying silently. He didn’t want to let go.

Oh, hello, Deca. I'll need to double-check how Owen was described reacting to that moment where Deca hugged him at the end of SE1, but this definitely sounds familiar, and if it's not that moment, it's one that that moment intentionally evoked.

“Owen? Owen, are you okay?” Star said.

It felt like there was still a lot more missing. He didn’t know how much was gone—but a lot still was. But the flood was frozen in place. Ready to topple over him at any second, yet halted for now. Owen breathed slowly.

“Star,” he finally said. Feeling slightly more secure with what he had, and what he didn’t yet have to deal with, he asked, “What’s wrong with me?”

Owen: "Since... uh... I'm really obviously not okay right now."
:grohno~2:


The Mew nodded and pat his shoulder. She floated to his height—a little, pink puff that tried her best to comfort him with words. “A lot, Owen, a lot,” she said, “but you’re going to be okay, alright? You have me. You have everyone else. We’re here for you.”

Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi were all staring, confused. “What’s going on?” Demitri asked. “What’s Owen talking about? Is he… Is that Orb driving him crazy?”

Wait, I just realized, but when did those three enter the scene again? Like I get that Owen was probably not in a super observant state of mind when he was having his memory recall moment, but it might make sense to more explicitly note "oh, the rest of Team Alloy is here now, were they always there?" somewhere in the narration before namedropping them like that.

“C-can it do that?” Mispy asked. She was hiding her leaf behind her head; it was getting a total sensory overload at the pulsing flare Owen’s aura gave off. His panic made it an inferno; her ability to sense auras was shot like she was hit by three Flash attacks all at once.

Waaaait, but if this is written in a third person limited perspective, how does Owen know this again? I think I'm going to chalk this one up to Early Installment Weirdness, since some of the past couple chapters have moments like these that feel very "omniscient narrator" when I could've sworn that wasn't HoC's narrative style.

“Oy, Owen,” Gahi said.

Owen gulped and opened his eyes. “G-Gahi?”

“Y’alright?” he asked.

“I—” Owen stopped. He felt… grounded, hearing Gahi speak to him. “I’m okay… I think I’m okay.”

Narrator:
Image


He looked at Zena next, and the pain in his chest slowly subsided.

Star sighed, feeling Owen’s aura calm down. It was still flaming—but it was at least no longer like staring at the sun.

Wait, can other Pokémon wind up in a state like that in this setting? Or is that meant to be a hint that deeper power lurks under the surface of Charmander Resetti here? Since when your life energy is explicitly mentioned as being overwhelming for others sensing it in close proximity to you...

“Owen?” Zena spoke up again.

“H-hi, Zena,” Owen said. He realized that everybody was staring at him; he lowered his head in shame. “I—I’m sorry. I… I’m making a huge scene over nothing…”

“It’s not nothing,” Zena said. The Milotic could relate. No breakdown was over nothing. There was always a reason—and it felt like this was over something much deeper than a bit of stress. “Star, why don’t we make lunch for him?”

Owen: "Wait. So... you're actually going to tell me what's going on with me? Just like that?"
:bulbuhhh:


“I want to make lunch for Owen, too!” Willow said.

“There is a fresh collection of underground berries,” Valle said, “located in hallway E after a left, right, left, and left turn. They will serve Owen well.”

“Okay. We’ll all take a break for lunch,” Star said.

“Guardians do not require food,” ADAM said.

[ ]

“Then—train if you like, but take a break if you want,” Star growled. “Owen, want to head to, uh, Rhys’ place? We’ll whip up something nice.”

I think that it might have been a bit funnier to show Star giving a glare or something at ADAM before speaking up to accentuate the mood a bit, but that's just me.

Owen’s mind was still racing, but perhaps now it was at a jog rather than a sprint. He was making connections about his blurry past and what he already knew. With Star putting a block on the remaining memories that were hidden away, he could work with that manageable portion without being overwhelmed by the rest.

So on a scale of "1 to XB3 Moebius-style Psychotic Breakdown", just how badly would getting the full memory dump in one setting have gone anyways?

He was definitely a Charmeleon during his fight with Azu. But then, something happened. He remembered… an intense heat. And a pressure in his chest. The heat he felt before when he had evolved the first time. And he felt that heat many, many times before. He became a Charmeleon countless times—he evolved, over and over, and then forgot, becoming a Charmander again. It was always Rhys—or… or Amia. They were the ones who somehow brought him back to normal.

Normal. Normal from what?

A psychotic superpowered evil mode? I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I've encountered that in fiction before, and it would be very on-brand with how everyone's so terrified about that "Bad State" that apparently lies past your first evolution.

Owen thought about his strange dreams. He thought they were just fantasies about being a Charizard, but… no. There was no way they were fantasies. That happened. He was a Charizard before. And Gahi was a Flygon—and Demitri, a Haxorus, and Mispy, a Meganium. They all were, before. But something happened… what happened? He couldn’t remember. That was still locked away. Those times with Team Alloy, fully evolved, felt like incredibly early memories. How far back did it go? How long ago was that? How many evolution cycles? Was there anything before that?

I mean, I can think of some downright apocalyptic possibilities depending on how far down the rabbit hole this Takahashi samebrain goes. But it'll probably be something different, so I'll wait for the story to get there later to confirm one way or another.

“Owen!” Gahi shouted.

“Wh—buh—huh?” Owen said, jolting awake.

“Arceus in the Sky, we’ve been calling yeh ten times!”

“You look lost in thought again,” Demitri said. “Are—are you sure you’re okay?”

Owen: "Uh... probably not, but let's not get into that right now."
:copyka2:


“I’m… I don’t think I’m okay,” Owen said. “My head’s spinning with all these memories… and you were all in them, too,” he said. “Gahi, do you ever remember—”

“Ah, ah, ah! Owen! Not yet,” Star said.

“H-huh?”

“Not yet. Please,” Star said carefully.

Gahi: "... Star? What is he goin' on about right now?"
:what:

Star: "... Nothing you need to worry about at the moment." ^^;

Owen gulped but nodded. “O-okay…” She had a point. There was no telling what would happen if Gahi had the same sort of panic that he did.

I mean, we could just... find out, just saying.

Like a punch in the gut, Owen realized that the reason everyone was keeping him ignorant was because Star, or perhaps Rhys or Amia, had told them what would happen if he got his memories back. And then, against their wishes, he pried too far, and the memories came spilling back. And now, everything hurt.

Owen stared at his claws while they waited for lunch. He focused, turning his scales green, and then orange, and then green again. He was getting better at that.

The previous Grass Guardian, Klent… Owen sighed. What was that look he gave him? It wasn’t the first time. Still, there was something bothering him. He looked to the right, where Klent was sitting at the table, though he requested Star not make anything for him—he didn’t need to eat, after all. He didn’t want to take up resources if he didn’t have to.

Oh, so Owen has/had some sort of connection to Klent in the past. Or at least I think that's the implication there.

“Klent?” Owen said. His heart skipped a beat.

“Yes, Owen?” Klent said. He was speaking respectfully, but Owen could still sense a coldness in his voice. Owen was starting to wonder why, connecting more and more of his fragmented memories together. He couldn’t complete the full picture. He was filling in the blanks with speculation. The more he inferred and guessed, the smaller the gaps felt.

Owen couldn’t remember anything beyond evolving into a Charizard. He didn’t even know if that’s what actually happened. What if he became… something else? The strange auras, the lack of ancestry. A clean history. No history. His strange dreams. His instinct for battle—his abnormal need to fight.

Almost like you were built for that purpose, huh? Though to what end is apparently a story for another day.

That look. Klent’s eyes. Those eyes.

“Klent,” Owen finally said. “How did you die?”

Oh. Oh. I mean, that would definitely explain a thing or two about how a convenient Grass Guardian vacancy opened up for Owen and that weird bitterness Klent had about his death.
:copyka2:


Star fumbled by the stove, dropping the berries in too fast. The hot water splashed through her smoky body. The Mew cursed under her breath, turning back.

Klent looked away. He looked at Star, instead. The Mew shook her see-through head frantically, but Klent shook his head back. It was too late. Owen’s memories couldn’t be sealed away anymore. He was a Guardian—that trick wasn’t going to work as easily, or perhaps at all. He was going to find out eventually. Just as the memories of Rhys and the other Hunters couldn’t be sealed—a Guardian was just as immune to that kind of influence.

Owen: "I... uh... I killed you, didn't I?"
:ohnowen:


The Jumpluff nodded at the Charmander. “I’m sorry, Owen,” Klent said. “But… I think I know what you’re thinking. And… you’re right.”

The world stood still.

Owen didn’t want to ask. But his mouth moved on its own. “M-meaning?”

Klent: "Owen, you literally just asked me this five seconds ago."
:eltywtf:

Owen: "One: that wasn't canon. Two: I really did not need to know that, okay?!"
:grohno~2:


Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi all exchanged dumbfounded looks. What was going on? Where was Owen getting all these crazy ideas from? And, more importantly—why was everybody else playing along? They always felt like everyone else knew something they didn’t. They were quite eager to have Owen tell them the answer.

Klent sighed as if bracing for it as well. “I’m sorry, but… it’s true. You’re right.”

“Th-that the way you died… I…” “You killed me,” the former Guardian said, “and my daughter.”

Star: "Oh for crying out loud, Klent. You couldn't have pretended you had a sudden stomachache or something?"
:mewtwofacepalm:

Klent: "Star, I'm a spirit." Star: "That didn't mean you just had to go and blurt that out loud!" Owen:
200w.gif

Star: "... Yeah, I'm not going to even begin to try sorting this out right now. Let's just go on to that recap of this thing." >_>;

Well that was certainly quite the ending note there. Though with the utter dread that the rest of the cast was having towards Owen's "bad state" over the past two chapters, I suppose I should be a lot less surprised that he'd have a body count to his name. It does make me wonder just how hard and fast these awful truths are going to stack up, since just this scratch at the surface clearly sent Owen to some bad places, and I doubt that this is just going to get swept under the rug. IMO, the characterization is the main strong suit of this chapter, since it pretty effectively sells the vibe of Owen starting to spin apart after realizing that everything he took for granted wasn't true and everyone he ever knew and trusted was directly involved in trying to mislead him and the frustration that follows when they just flatly refuse to give an explanation for anything. There's also a number of subtle but big hints about the way things really are in this world and where things will be going on, with Star's casual passing mention that Mysticism is straight-up divine power being one of the bigger ones that caught my eye.

I'm not really sure if I have a whole lot to complain about in this chapter. There were the customary paragraphs where I didn't agree with the formatting, and a few sequences that felt a bit "talking heads" in delivery, but the chapter's events and character dynamics carried things well enough that it didn't really distract from things.

And that concludes this batch of prize reviews @Namohysip . Things definitely started getting lit over these past three chapters, and while I'm not really sure when I'll cross paths next with this story, the stuff that went down in this one portends for a wild ride next time.
 
Special Episode 13: Some Heroes Fail

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Thanks for the feedback, Fobbie! Really happy to see the story picking up for you at this point. I gave you feedback on United, but in general, this is when the story finally picks up and starts giving hints to its "true" A plot, and the Guardian plot becomes more of a backdrop.

Anyway, now it's time to move to Special Episode 13...



Special Episode 13 – Some Heroes Fail

My body’s age is the world’s age. My life is tied to the world’s life. Through me, all spirits are granted the privilege of the living world. And to me, all spirits are meant to pass through on their departure.

The fabric of reality is dictated in my being, and should it ever need to be modified, those with divine power may change it… carefully.

But with each new rule and each subtle change, instabilities form with unpredictable outcomes. All I do is process them. I take no sides. I have no opinions. I only… act.

That is how it was upon my creation. That is, perhaps, how it always should have been. And for over a thousand years, that was my existence.

But one day… that system experienced a wonderful upheaval.


<><><>​

Year 0

The world began to exist with a single soul. Then, their gods entered to make sure all was well, knowing little of the nature of the world that had been created. They had to learn.

A Mew floated silently over a cosmic sea. Her name was Star.

Next to her was a Dusknoir. His name was Hecto, though he was not of this world and not its creator. He was an advisor from beyond.

Behind them was Arceus, whose nickname was Barky, though he resented it. He seemed troubled by what stood in front of them all.

The cosmic sea was a beautiful mixture of purples and blues, dotted with white. Every little drop of light was a soul taken before their time. Rather than sending them away into the great beyond, the two gods—Mew and Arceus—took those souls and tried to give them all a second chance.

It was only fair, in their eyes: they were the ones who had ruined the first.

Drifting along this cosmic sea was also a small swarm of Unown. Following Arceus’ command directly, they shaped and encoded the special nature of this tiny, tiny world. Special conditions to make up for gravity; a false sky to give the world stars and a realistic sense of space; many little things a natural world wouldn’t have. All to house these souls and give them new life. All to cover up a sad mistake they could not fix.

These souls had been ‘destroyed’ in their home worlds. That meant the world no longer acknowledged their existence. For them, a new world had to be made.

Though… Star and Barky did not realize some were not truly destroyed, only most. But perhaps that would not matter.

“That should do it,” Star said with a nervous laugh. “I… I’m a little rusty at it. But you helped me through it again, Hecto…”

“Mm.” The Dusknoir’s arms slowly crossed. “I should personally inspect it for a few decades to search for any abnormalities… But that will do it. A temporary world for them to live in. I’m sorry it had to be this way.”

“And your other Overseer is also coming, right?” Star said nervously, but then suddenly winced and held her chest.

“Star?” Barky leaned closer.

“I—I’m fine. Sorry. Still just… shaken up.” When Star removed her hand, there was a blotch of darkness in her chest. It faded away. None of the others saw it. This darkness had been within her when she’d made the world, but it would soon fade.

However, during the delicate process of Creation, the world was given two sets of keys to its control. One of light, meant for the gods; and one of darkness, lost to the abyss and with no owner.

They did not know. And so, instead, those souls were placed in new bodies. The humans—which Star now feared—were given Pokémon bodies, quickly determined by what best fit their personalities. In the end, they all felt as if their bodies were appropriate, by instinct or their ‘soul-match.’

Those who had saved Star—those who rescued her from the clutches of an organization not relevant to the new world—had been given extra favor. Stronger bodies, and a call to see them for more noble goals. This small, special world needed temporary gods to keep it managed.

And so, the world began.

<><><>​

Year 9

Initially, there were no disturbances. New souls were born, created from the lives that formed within this fully functional, tiny world. Old souls whose bodies’ lives ended were moved to another plane, where they would exist quietly, or sleep quietly, until this tiny world’s end.

Aside from one exception, nothing ‘left’ the world. Nothing ‘entered’ the world. The closest to an intruder was another Overseer, who took the form of a dragon of light and crystal: Necrozma, the prism of death. However, with special approval from the gods, he had free passage.

One day, that pattern changed. A single new soul entered the world but was housed within Necrozma. Because this soul had the approval of Necrozma, it, too, was allowed inside.

Because this soul was so far removed from the rest of the world’s soul, its body had to be created manually.

The world asked the soul questions. The subject matter was strange and unfamiliar, based on things that did not exist in the tiny world, but were very familiar to the soul’s original world and realms beyond. Despite some unknown words, the answers demonstrated character: the soul’s valor or cowardice; their temperament and tendencies; their aversions and fears.

That’s all for the questions. Thank you for answering them honestly.

Eh… yeah…
The mote of light bobbed in the air. Listen… can we be real fer a sec?

This isn’t part of the test.

Yeah, I know, I jus’ gotta ask. What is this? All this? Is this some… weird new judgment yer rollin’ out fer the dead? ‘cause it’s kinda…

This is for your body in the Pokémon world.


The soul laughed.

No reply was given.

…Yer serious?

And a valiant soul like yourself… should be a Charmander!


An illusion of the fiery reptile appeared in front of the soul.

…Ehhh… nah. I mean, can we go again?

What?

Again. That ain’t it. I dunno if that’s a real good fit.

That is what your soul matches.

An’ it looks lame! What is that, a fire on its tail? How’m I gonna get any sleep with that goin’ on, I ain’t had a nightlight in ferever!

What?

C’mon, ain’t there another species? I dunno what these Pokey-mans’re supposed ter be, but I ain’t gonna be some fire-startin’, scale-havin’ beast!

I see… This has never happened before. Someone who isn’t familiar with Pokémon at all?

Yeh. I ain’t from around here. I… I died already. My body’s all burned up.

Burned up?

Yeah. I ain’t… gonna be dealin’ with fire, I don’t think. Too destructive… Spent my life fightin’ em. Went a li’l too hard on one an’ the buildin’ collapsed, y’know?

I see. You dislike fire. Perhaps instead, you can be a Chespin.


Another illusion formed.

Ehh? What is that shape, some kinda moldy peanut? An’ the teeth! Aw, no, that’s worse!

The illusion disappeared. This was becoming a tough case.

Look, I know beggars can’t be choosers, but if this is a new body an’ I’m here ter help out, I need somethin’ workable. That’s what th’ pink cat said.

Perhaps a Growlithe? They are naturally resistant to fire.


But just as the illusion appeared, the soul bobbed.

That’s just a dog! What’s goin’ on, this some weird… afterlife prank? Agh… sorry, sorry. I’m still all… frazzled from, y’know, burnin’ ter death an’ all that.

I see. Do you want something closer to ‘human’ for you?

Yeah! I mean, at least this time it’s a mammal an’ stuff… but I dunno. Maybe somethin’ more human fer me.

If that’s the case, you should be something from the Human-Like egg group.

…WHAT?


Another illusion appeared. This time, of a Riolu.

…Huh. Well… still got that weird… vibe about it… but it ain’t bad. Ain’t bad at all… Ehh, y’know, I’m gonna take what I c’n get. Riolu it is.

Very good. Now, what about your partner?

Eh?

When you enter this world, you will soon run into a partner. They will help guide you in this world, and perhaps you will guide them in return. What does your partner look like?

Uh… I mean… I figure you tell me. What, c’n you shape the world er somethin’?

You will determine who your partner will be. For example, this Pokémon, an Oshawott…


The illusion formed.

…Looks kinda like a kid’s shower sponge.

Would you like Oshawott to be your partner?

Ehh… sure, I guess, whatever. But can it wait?

Can it… wait?

Feels weird ter shape the world like this. I wanna learn on my own at first.

Very well. You may run into other Pokémon instead, but look for an Oshawott as well. She and many others will be in need of your help.

Right…
The soul dimmed. What’s this all… gonna be about?

You are an outsider. A human from a world with no Pokémon, no divine powers, no true link to the aura that can be corrupted. When converted into the body and spirit of a Pokémon, that otherness… will allow you to resist a developing irregularity.

Alright, alright… So y’need an outsider ter resist this thing.

Yes. Resist it… and keep the world safe. That is all you are tasked with. And as payment… you get a new life.

…Hard ter deny that chance.
The soul glowed brighter. He was reluctant at first, but it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. He was chosen exactly for that reason: a noble soul willing to save others, but also a sad soul who had nothing to return to.

There is one more aspect to your task. You must fend off and defeat this instability before you eclipse your existence within here. In other words, if you consider your arrival ‘age 0,’ then you must not become older than when you first died. Once that happens, the universe will fully accept you. You will lose your ‘outsider’ nature.

Plenty o’ time. Yeah. Easy! I’ll fight this instability!

Your confidence will please this world.

Heh. Alright, sure… I’m ready. Fer… Riolu, er whatever.

That’s good. Riolu will eventually evolve into Lucario once the time is right.


The illusion changed again, displaying Riolu in its final stage.

Oi, that’s awesome! The soul flew closer to the illusion. Alright, I c’n get behind that!

Wonderful. If that’s the case, welcome to the world of Pokémon. And good luck on your journey.


The forces in the cosmic sea pushed the soul deeper into the world, until, finally, there would be no turning back.

…Oi, wait, do any o’ those other things evolve er whatever? What’s that Charmander one beco—

The sea swept him away…

<><><>​

Year 12

Oshawott sprinted through the sandy beaches and into the nearby forest, panting at every step. She nearly tripped three times. Her feet barely caught her the third time and she narrowly avoided a keratin blade to the back. Instead, it carved into the ground, leaving deep gashes. Trailing water deepened the earth’s wound, creating spouts of water in random directions.

One happened to strike Oshawott, sending her pinwheeling through the air and flat on her back.

A Samurott—her mother—loomed over her with soulless, dark eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but all that came out were black clouds.

“Mom, don’t—”

“HYAH!”

Samurott jerked to the right and it was as if her spirit needed time to catch up to her body. By the time Oshawott opened her eyes again, Samurott had been slammed through four trees, crumpled and unconscious next to a fifth at least fifty feet away.

In her place stood a Riolu, tail high and chest puffed out. “Hey, y’alright?” he called, kneeling, and outstretching a paw. He grabbed the terrified Oshawott and helped her up.

“I—I was just fine!” Oshawott lied, shoving the Riolu away.

“Oi, alright.” He held up his arms. “Jus’ helpin’ you out. Name’s Manny.”

“Name?” Oshawott repeated. “…What… what happened to my mom?”

“Yer mom?” Manny glanced at the crumpled Samurott and winced. “Ah, eh… uh…”

That heroic air of the Riolu evaporated with the next gust of wind.

A big, purple bubble appeared around Samurott, and then she vanished.

“Got ‘em!” called Mew Star, who appeared in her place. “Great work, Manny.”

“Is that… a Mew?” Oshawott whispered. “Aren’t they rare?”

“Oh! Uh!” Star tittered. “Yep! Super rare. It’s alright, though. Think of me like a lucky charm!”

Oshawott didn’t believe her but also had other things on her mind. “And… what did you do with Mom?”

Jirachi appeared next to Star. “Okay, I brought her over to—oh. Hi…”

Star shifted where she floated, forming a pink bubble to sit on. “Well, uh… We have to take her—uh, your mom”—She glanced at Jirachi and Manny—“somewhere to get her treated. Hopefully, we can find a cure for her. Your mom isn’t herself… So, whatever she did, uh…”

Oshawott frowned at that. “…It’s okay if I don’t see her.”

“Eh?” Manny, taken aback by the sudden nonchalance, said, “I mean, y’can visit if she gets better! So, like…”

Oshawott was quiet again. Thoughtful about something in the past. She didn’t want to say it to these strangers, even if they were Mew and some strange Pokémon she didn’t recognize.

Just then, another shadow cast over the group. Great wings and a fiery tail caught Oshawott’s attention. Then came a Charizard in the middle of the glade.

“Everything seems clear from above,” Charizard confirmed, nodding.

“Thanks fer the help, Owen,” Manny nodded.

“How about your father?” Jirachi asked Oshawott. Owen tilted his head and growled curiously.

“Gone,” Oshawott replied routinely. “Just… gone.”

Manny rubbed the back of his head. “Aw, geez,” he murmured. “That’s a real tough nut ter crack. Eh…” His ears twitched.

This was familiar to him in some ways, though it reminded him of a life long ago. One he’d left behind upon his death, though even the afterlife didn’t appeal to him. He had nobody waiting for him.

But he didn’t want Oshawott to feel that same kind of isolation.

“Hey, lis’n. What’s… the whole deal with yeh, y’seem pretty young. Well, not too young…”

Oshawott was guarded again, glaring suspiciously at Riolu. “And?”

“Jus’… fer not…” Manny trailed off. “Alright,” Manny said. “Yer comin’ with us. Owen! Yer givin’ someone else a ride t’day.”

“What?” Oshawott, Owen, Star, and Jirachi all said.

“What’re you gonna do otherwise?” Manny pressed.

“I’d… go home, I guess? I take care of myself already… this… isn’t that different.”

Manny crossed his arms expectantly.

“You mean, you’ll just go home alone?”

“I’m not a kid,” Oshawott growled. What’s it matter to you, anyway? You’ve saved tons of people already, I bet!”

“Ehhh.” Manny waggled his paw. “This one feels more personal. Takin’ down Blights, it’s usually crazed folks already way too far gone. But you… yer a victim in this.”

“Don’t… call me a victim,” Oshawott spat. “I’m not some charity case.”

“Alright, but how about… you payin’ me back?”

“Wh—pay you back?!” Oshawott blurted.

“What, do I look like a charity?”

She flinched. Annoyance and confusion mixed in her expression. Owen tittered nervously, avoiding Oshawott’s glare.

“You think you’re so clever,” Oshawott said, turning her head away. But for that moment, she looked vulnerable. She was a lot older than her appearance gave off; Manny saw how skinny she seemed beneath her thick fur coat which, looking a little closer, was off-color. This Oshawott did not lead a happy life. There wasn’t any light in her eyes.

“How about fer a day?” Manny asked.

“What’s your plan?” Star asked, unsure.

“Dunno,” Manny said. “We c’n play it by ear.”

But she also trusted Manny on an instinctual level. Neither realized it, but the power of Manny’s spirit was something many false Pokémon shared: the power to convey feelings without words, but through a strange connection that predates this world. This remnant of the “human spirit” made Pokémon thrive.

When Manny reached to Oshawott again, he wore a smile. His feelings through this connection could not be fabricated, and Oshawott understood them the same way.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll humor you for one day.”

She grabbed him back, knowing full well the day would last much longer.

<><><>​

Year 13

Oshawott was part of a mysterious group of scattered Pokémon known as the ‘nameless.’ During the world’s creation, countless humans had been transformed into Pokémon down to their core. With their bodies and spirits destroyed in the other world, they had been pieced together from scratch and molded into Pokémon forms with ease. Their histories, their minds, were rewritten to conform to a Pokémon past, though most of it was kept the same otherwise, if only so the inner soul could agree with the new set of memories.

These Pokémon often knew nothing about the fact that they had once been human. Pokémon who had been raised with humans had also ascended into humanlike intelligence so their lives would be disrupted as minimally as possible. They always understood their humans in a figurative sense, through that special bond between humans and Pokémon. In this world, being able to understand one another became literal.

The conversion was not perfect. Some humans lost much of their history. Pokémon raised by humans sometimes lost it, too. Oshawott was one such person—a true Pokémon, ascended to a human level of intelligence, but under the care of a former trainer. All foreign concepts to this world, the relationship had been converted to one of mother and daughter.

But the mother was neglectful, and the daughter knew little else. She didn’t even have a name for herself. The “nameless” were these ascended Pokémon, and often they were related to Pokémon at high risk of becoming Blights.

At the time, nobody knew what Blights were. They assumed it was a flaw of the human spirit upon becoming a Pokémon; that was Star’s guess, and nobody could quite dispute it without further study.

Over time, Manny helped two others and took the liberty of giving them names. Oshawott insisted it would be a clever name that Manny valued, so he gave her the name Elbee. It was based on a term of value in his “old land,” a place Elbee didn’t concern herself with. The same trend went to Yen, a Drampa whom he’d eventually become fond enough to ask for his hand in marriage. Yen had no idea what that meant. He settled for being mates. And another went to Doll, a Cacturne who was quiet but fiercely loyal.

They went on assignments together, investigating small issues that didn’t require the work of the gods. They were still trying to find candidates to fill all the positions anyway.

One fateful day, Manny, Elbee, Doll, and Yen went on another seemingly typical assignment to a strange forest. It was down south, given the nickname Shadow Garden. Due to the unknown territory and anomalous nature of the area, Charizard Owen accompanied them as a divine bodyguard.

In this place, the Blight had strongly concentrated around the plants. This was abnormal. Normally, the Blight was something that affected Pokémon, and only Pokémon. For a while, it was assumed to be a sickness of the aura.

“This place kinda flew under the radar, didn’ it?” Manny asked.

“What’s a radar?” Elbee asked. Now a Dewott, she stood taller than Manny, who had yet to evolve, she often led the way with her Razor Shell in hand.

“I think Star said it’s something she had on Manny,” Owen theorized.

“Ehh, ancient tech,” Manny said, flashing a glare at Owen. “Read about it once. It means we didn’ detect it until now since it was developin’ all quiet-like.”

“…Right…” Elbee glanced behind her. Doll was prodding one of her thorny arms against a Blighted tree.

“This place is really weird,” Doll said in one of her rare sentences.

Trailing behind them all, making sure nobody got lost, was Yen, the protector of the group. The Drampa hummed and said, “Perhaps we shouldn’t touch anything Blighted. I’ll write down everything we see here and report to Star later.”

“We could always pray ‘n get her attention,” Manny suggested.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Yen admitted. “We already know she gets nervous about the Blight. In a place like this, she might react badly…”

“Ehh, true.”

“What’s weird,” Elbee said, “is that we haven’t seen a single Blighted Pokémon here. It’s all just plants and the soil. Doesn’t make sense. Could this be the source of all Blight?”

“That’d be a real big find,” Manny said gravely. “C’mon. Let’s keep on our guard.”

Elbee continued to take the charge. The ground was dry and yet squishy against their feet and there was a dusty smell everywhere. This was especially odd because it wasn’t remotely enclosed. They could still see the sun and clear blue sky. It was only when they surveyed the ground and the field that the dreary nature of the landscape returned to them.

Manny kicked at a rock, leaving an obvious trail in the dirt. He glanced back and suddenly stopped.

“Hm?” Yen stopped next, drifting aside to avoid Doll walking without paying attention. “Manny?”

Elbee stopped next and turned around. “What’s wrong?”

Owen turned and looked next. He quickly realized the same problem Manny had. “Our path is gone.”

The team inspected the earth. At first, it was mundane ashen soil. However, the ash fell back into place, creating a uniform flatland. Whatever force existed here kept everything in place, not even allowing the dust to be disturbed for very long.

“Never seen somethin’ like that befer,” Manny said. “What kinda magic is this?”

“That’s a question for Arceus,” Owen said. “I’ll write it down for later…”

He rummaged through his bag, but inexplicably couldn’t find his supplies. Nervous at the results, he didn’t tell the others and acted like he was merely checking their supplies.

Just ahead, Manny saw more movement. “Eh?”

“What is it?” Elbee asked.

Manny pointed. Ahead, past the trees, there seemed to be a small hut that led deeper underground. Manny thought he saw someone outside, but it was too dark to see anyone…

“Hey!” Manny called. “Someone in there? D’you need help?!”

Silence. Yen shuddered and said, “This place is too… off. Maybe we should go now.”

“Nah, nah.” Manny stepped ahead. “…Get ready ter run, but nah, not yet.”

Owen trailed after him, using his tail to keep things a bit more well-lit. The hut led deep underground. Trails of strange, rainbow lines etched through the walls like exposed tree roots. There was… a Sliggoo? It slid deeper into the cave.

“Who is that?” Manny murmured.

And then they all turned around and left and forgot all about this place.

<><><>​

Year 30

East of the Shadow Garden was another field that had shown signs of a Blight wandering the area. Manny and his team went with Owen to investigate and subdue the Blight.

This Blight was a Spiritomb with a dark, black cyclone rather than its typical purple and green. Easy enough to spot. Even easier in an open field. Manny had moved with confidence and stretched his limbs, getting loose and agile.

“Ain’t gonna be too hard,” the Lucario said, kicking a nearby pebble. “See anything yet?”

“Not yet,” Yen hummed.

Owen suddenly stopped, spreading his wings.

“Eh?” Manny called.

“Ahead,” Doll whispered.

Manny wished he was better with ‘aura sense,’ but that kind of thinking wasn’t native to him. He chalked it up publicly to being a different Lucario breed or something, but in reality, his humanity got in the way. Old instincts.

The ashy, damp ground—wet enough to clump the dirt but dry enough to not stick to his feet—reminded Manny that this place was not natural. It hadn’t rained here, according to scout reports. This was something else.

And just ahead, a patch of ground was even darker. In the middle of it, like a boulder in tar, was a Spiritomb’s anchoring rune.

“Oi! Spiritomb!” Manny called.

…You…

His words reverberated in Manny’s head. This was a strong Blight—stronger than he’d ever experienced before. “Careful,” he murmured.

“Careful about what?” Elbee whispered. “He’s just standing there?”

“Y’didn’ hear that?” Manny whispered back.

A cold blast of air kicked up the damp ash, covering Owen’s belly in soot. Manny covered his eyes and held his breath until the wind died down.

“Gnk—!”

Followed by a deep thud.

Manny opened his eyes. Next to him, crumpled on the ground, was Elbee, pierced by a strange black spike through her chest and out her back. She wasn’t moving. Even with his most basic aura sense, he couldn’t see any life in her.

The others seemed just as dumbfounded. Stunned. What just happened?

“Elbee?” Manny whispered.

“Manny!” Owen shouted. He dove in Manny’s way and crossed his arms, forming a Protect barrier. Three dark spikes, like black icicles, punched holes through the barrier. Owen’s blood splashed onto Manny with each puncture. The Charizard fell forward, silent.

It was the Spiritomb. It was launching those attacks. When the dark spikes faded, all that they left behind were black wounds that rotted away the nearest flesh of the wound. Their bodies were dissolving before his eyes.

Doll and Yen sprang into action next. Manny was frozen in place, staring at the lightless tail Owen left behind.

Manny reached out. “Wait—”

Doll raised her spiked arm and pointed at the Spiritomb with a hissing cry, but black whips of energy appeared all around Doll and converged upon her. Before she could even fire, her body was sliced into eight pieces, clattering hollowly on the ground.

Yen didn’t notice. He got a shot, a powerful beam of indigo fire. The air crackled, superheating from the thunderous blast—Yen was much stronger than the average Drampa, amplified by Manny’s pure human spirit. When the blast collided with the Spiritomb, it sizzled and retreated into its anchor stone.

But the sinking feeling gripped Manny’s gut. His limbs wouldn’t move. It was like he was trying to run through neck-deep water. The Spiritomb disappeared into the ground. A dark patch appeared underneath Yen.

“Jump!” Manny shouted.

Too late. A huge spike shot straight through Yen’s back, but rather than dissipate, it expanded even more. His mouth was wide in shock and pain. Veins of darkness ran through his fur and scales, overtaking his eyes.

Cracks and pops echoed from Yen’s body as he turned toward Manny like a puppet on strings.

“It’s time to bring this world to an end,” Spiritomb said, his voice echoing in Manny’s mind. It was through Yen’s voice, yet something behind it…

It slid closer, leaving behind the parts of Yen that had been blasted away. Darkness filled in the gaps as the dead Drampa staggered closer. Manny was paralyzed.

“What will you do?” Yen’s body said. “The source of all Blights. What will you do? Will you kill me?”

“I… I…”

“Your candle’s out of wax, outsider,” Yen’s body said, melting with every step. “Have you not realized it? If you spend more time in this world than the last… you will lose that unique sheen. You will become just another denizen. And darkness shall rule forever!”

It lunged at Manny, Yen’s jaws sinking into Manny’s shoulder.

And then he woke up.

Manny shot awake, sitting up and jabbing his chest spike into Yen’s side. He groaned in pain and rolled away, as if used to this, and settled into sleep again.

Destiny Tower. Quiet. Nighttime. The window outside showed a rising sun and calm skies.

Even in the dim light, Manny could tell there weren’t any black patches on Yen’s body. He… was alive. It was a dream.

Gingerly, Manny emerged from his cuddle pile with Yen and tiptoed out of the room in the dark. Next door, just down the hall of regal stone and purple carpet, was Doll and Elbee’s room. He heard Elbee sleeping. Doll was… a silent sleeper, but he trusted she was also alive if Elbee was fine.

An orange glow got further around the corner. Owen was alive… and awake.

“Manny?” Owen said, his tone hushed. “What’re you doing up so early?”

“…Had a bad dream,” Manny said. “How ‘bout you?”

“Darkrai’s not in the Tower tonight,” Owen said with a frown. “I was getting ready for today’s mission. We had one come in overnight.”

“Eh?”

“Yeah. Apparently, near Shadow Garden, there was a sighting of a black-aura’d Spiritomb. A Blight. It seemed to be waiting for something, but that would be trouble…”

The dream was hazy at this point, and yet…

“Eh… Spiritomb? Black aura?” Manny shook his head. “Y’know, maybe… we wait ‘n see with that one.”

“…What?” Owen squinted. “It’s just another Blight. I don’t think it’s any different than others we’ve dealt with. It’s a little more advanced, sure, but—”

“Jus’ trust me,” Manny blurted.

His voice bounced off the marble walls. A few people in other rooms stirred.

“…It… would take a lot of energy, but we could ask Barky to smite it instead,” Owen offered gently. “Manny, what’s going on?”

He could still see their dead bodies. Was that a premonition? Was he psychic?

But Manny did not realize it was meant to be a challenge from the Blight, a wish sent to him through the world’s flowing waters. The expectation was to rise to the challenge and defeat the Blight at its source; any other way would not defeat him for good.

The Blight was conflicted. It wanted its pain to end, but also did not want to truly disappear. It sought Manny for an answer to both, as the outsider who was supposed to find a solution that the universe could not provide on its own. He was meant to be the Blight’s “hero,” as the Blight, too, was part of the world.

Manny, won’t you confront your purpose?

“Yeah,” Manny said. “Jus’ some premonition. Superstition. I dunno. Arceus c’n do this one… Sorry.”

Owen looked more concerned than irritated when he nodded. “I’ll let him know.”

As Manny walked shamefully back to Yen’s room, a cloud of malaise over him, he quietly considered if it was time to retire before he lost this life, too.

A few hours later, Destiny Tower glowed with divine light. A great light spear arced over the sky, aiming for Spiritomb in the thankfully empty field where it had been waiting. It stared at the incoming blast and did not scream or dodge. It only stared in disappointment.

This would not be his end for long.

And so, out of fear of losing his second life’s opportunities, the outsider chose the comfort of fending off symptoms over the risk of confronting the source.

The outsider failed in peace.

<><><>​

Year 34

Manny lived a good life. Every day, he checked for Blight reports and was transported over to investigate with the help of Star, Arceus, and Jirachi. After that old premonition, no other nightmares plagued him, and he assumed that meant he’d dodged a catastrophe. Occasionally, something beyond his power called for the help of Yveltal or other Legends, but minor Blights were always something for him to handle. Manny was cautious and thought he knew his limits.

In many ways, his team of four had been regarded as heroes. Others saw them as harbingers of doom, as their presence meant something bad happened in their small town. It was hard, at times, for Manny to live normally in civilian towns, and over time, he and his team spent more and more time in Destiny Tower.

One night, Manny awoke after a strange dream. It was vivid and commanding, one he simply couldn’t ignore. It was a familiar, featureless voice telling him to go to a specific location in southern Quartz and to ask Jirachi to be taken there.

Ever since the Blights spread in more insidious ways throughout the realm, Teleportation became more difficult and limited. However, for this, Jirachi had been able to find an anchor point, somehow. It was by luck, he guessed, that the connection to that specific place happened to be easy that day.

Manny was not usually one to follow dreams and visions. But this felt too compelling to ignore, even after Jirachi confirmed that there was no Psychic trickery influencing him. However, Jirachi did recommend Owen come with Manny.

And so, the Radiance-imbued, giant Charizard and the aging Lucario both walked down a strange, familiar wasteland.

“Huh. Weird. Don’t remember bein’ here…”

“It feels familiar,” Owen agreed. “But this place… I can sense that it’s hiding our path.”

“With that weird Perceive ability y’got?” Manny said.

“Yes. Sorry, I can turn it off, if you want,” Owen said routinely.

“Nah, no big deal.” Manny subtly flexed a few muscles.

“…What are you doing?”

“Givin’ you somethin’ ter think about.”

Owen rolled his eyes. “I sense everything. Nothing you do is going to disturb me.”

“Bah, yer no fun.”

For another minute, they walked in silence. Owen rubbed his eyes a few times and suppressed a yawn. The sun wasn’t even out yet, both for Destiny Tower and this strange wasteland.

“Did it have to be this early?” Owen complained. “I think I only got a few hours of sleep…”

“Woke up. Couldn’ sleep. Jirachi was the one who wanted yeh ter come fer a buddy system.”

“You’re a lot stronger than I am,” Owen said.

“But you got that Perceive. Guess it’s jus’ ter guard.”

Owen sighed. “And also for them spying on my energy signature,” he said. “If I raise it enough, they’ll probably know to get us out of here fast.”

“Doubt it’ll be that,” Manny said.

Soon, they saw a small, underground pit that led further into the earth. Most familiar to Manny, in that instant, were those trails of rainbow light that traced through the dirt.

“I have been here…”

Owen walked away, distracted and sleepy.

“Oi, Owen!” Manny called, but Owen didn’t answer. “Egh… Whatever.”

He didn’t plan to go too deep. All he saw was a small piece of paper placed… dubiously near the cave entrance, written in gentle handwriting. There were traces of dried slime near the message, too, which was… gross. And weird. Manny gingerly picked it up on a spot he thought was dry.

To the outsider, it began.

Manny held his breath. That… was him, wasn’t it?

Your time in this world is nearing its end. You have stayed here for nearly as long as you have lived in your past world. If you stay for a time longer than your old life, the old world will no longer recognize you as its denizen. Your soul there will lose its ties forever, and instead, you will become part of this world. If you would like to return to your original afterlife, delve deeper into this cave before five days pass.

You were aware of this property of yourself from when you’d first arrived. This is a friendly reminder that a choice must be made by then.


Yes, Manny remembered. After all the questions that led to his species—well, his proposed species, which he’d rejected—this was the warning that disembodied voice had given him. He had until he was double his age to leave. He’d died at 25, no real family to call his own, not a lot of friends, just acquaintances where he worked.

…He didn’t like thinking about that life. Didn’t like thinking about tragedy or lives where he had no good hand. He shoved the memories away and scowled.

“Thanks fer the reminder,” Manny said, putting the paper down. “But I made my choice when I took this body.”

The cave did not answer him.

“…Y’know,” Manny said, “yer all mysterious and… disembodied and stuff. And out there is startin’ ter look kinda weird. It’d do yeh some favors if y’made it less… deathly. Maybe got more personable.” He shrugged. “Eh, whatever. I ain’t… gonna come back ‘ere. Don’ wait fer me.”

He turned around.

“…Thanks fer lettin’ me know. But my life’s here. I got my second chance. Got my team, my friends…” He trailed off, then sighed. “An’ maybe, if I figure out the real solution with this Blight stuff befer I’m too old… I’ll go down a hero. An’ if not?” He shrugged. “…I’ve got a position in Destiny Tower ter take. I’ll be a hero that way.”

Manny held his breath again, closing his eyes. It had been twenty-five years. The memory was still… there. It was distant like a dream, but it was still there. He wondered if the soul could etch its traumas the same way the brain could, or if it was just a trick of his new mind.

But he could still see the fires in the home. The creaking wood and embers. The scorching heat that burned his skin. The child he didn’t even know, trapped under the wood. He remembered carrying the child out when the floor gave out, and how, in a last-ditch effort, he’d tossed the child out.

Then he’d hit the ground, losing his sight and the feeling in his legs. The wood had cracked even more, a thunderous cacophony…

At some point, he’d heard the beeps of a hospital bed. In and out of consciousness, murmurs of doctors, and then… nothing. That was it. That was his whole life. He’d at least saved someone, but that was the culmination of all his accomplishments in a world that didn’t want him.

He wondered why he’d gone out of his way to save anyone. Was there a point to it? Was that why Star had picked him out of the ocean of humans in that world… or was he just the first one they’d come across? Brought him along by pure chance?

He still didn’t like Fire.

“You never told me this body’d become weak ter fire,” Manny said with an amused smirk. “Guess that’s on me. I didn’ ask about how all this stuff worked. I ain’t holdin’ it against yeh.”

The human-turned-Lucario left the cave, hands behind his head, as considerations were made for being more personable and lively. Soon, his humanity would be lost to time, and his Pokémon conversion would be complete and permanent.

And he was okay with that.

<><><>​

“…He’s gone,” Madeline said.

Deep within the pit of rainbow blood, a Goodra watched over two little Pokémon. One, Arceus, was named Leph. She was the nervous one of the two and liked to stare at the Rainbow Sapling all day and all night. Through it, they could study the world.

The other was Aster, a Mew who was eager to escape, but didn’t know how.

Despite the outside shifting from snowy to sunny year after year, this place deep within the world had a timeless air to it.

Having visitors was incredibly rare. And once the Lucario and Charizard left, Madeline thought no more of them and returned to tending to Leph and Aster.

“What did that Lucario mean by personable?” Leph asked, watching the sapling. “He was talking to us like we talked before.”

“Perhaps it wasn’t us,” Madeline said, “but the Sapling. You know how It can act, sometimes.”

Aster drifted to the sapling and nudged one of the leaves. “Maybe It’ll listen,” he said. “What if we encouraged It?”

“Talk… to It? We usually only listen,” Madeline warned. “I don’t know if It would want that…”

“But… I want to see more,” Leph finally said. “Do you think if we ask It… maybe It would change?”

But the trio knew innately that if they were to leave this place, if they were to ask the world to change in such a dramatic way, they would also have to forget this place was here for the world’s safety. Their origins would be shrouded in mystery.

Madeline glanced at the Sapling. “Well, you… know what that means,” she said. “I think It just gave us a sign. Did you feel it?”

“I did,” Leph said.

“Huh?” Aster asked, doing somersaults in the air.

“Oh, never mind.” Madeline rubbed her forehead. “One way or the other… this little Sapling will… work its magic. Okay, kids?” She tiredly glanced at Leph and Aster. “Maybe it’s finally time you left the nest. And maybe It will agree.”

The world heard their request and took into consideration the request of the human sent by the gods. It was time for a change. And so, the sapling grew…

<><><>​

Year 324

The two small gods had left with their guardian. The Charizard from before, who remembered nothing of this place, returned when it had transformed into a more welcoming, personable habitat, filled with bright trees and with the Sapling instead blossoming into a great tree that towered over the rest of the new forest.

The world turned and turned and everything maintained itself. There was little need for divine intervention, and it had not been called upon for centuries. The human from another world had long since shed his old soul’s aura, and even the body he had been given in this world, ascending Destiny Tower as a hero and becoming Marshadow.

The world turned and turned and moved along as it should have.

Turned and turned…

Many times over, the Tree of Life, as it was called, was visited by travelers and explorers. And each time, they would be turned away by Xerneas, whose power over plants and natural psionic abilities, was attuned strongly to the Tree, and Yveltal, whose role granted the Tree further power.

Generations lived, passed their knowledge on, and died, creating larger and larger societies. Cultures rose and fell on this tiny world split away from everything else. Small villages, cities, and regions drew territorial lines and intermingled, with so many histories to tell.

The world turned and turned…

Until one day, it felt like the world had paused.

On a night as mundane as any other night, while Xerneas slept begrudgingly in the company of visitors who wished to bask in his power for a boost in evolution, a Blight glided past the many protections the Tree of Life naturally held. It wasn’t like the others.

It was a Spiritomb. The stories spoke of a cursed being sealed within an ancient stone—the spirits of countless Blighted to be imprisoned so as not to taint the world beyond, where it was said that many spirits flowed after being cleansed by Yveltal for their eternal slumber.

The gods were not aware of this and assumed it to be false. However, perhaps there was one where this was the truth… or it was merely a Spiritomb unfortunate enough to be Blighted. This was beyond the world’s sight, even as it entered the Tree’s base, beneath the roots, and stopped just at the edge of its influence.

It was repelled by the force inside. It was not allowed to enter.

“What is this place?” Spiritomb said.

Spiritomb did not receive a reply.

“…Answer me,” he said. “Why am I drawn here?”

No reply. The Tree of Life was not meant to reply.

“Do you think I’m not aware of you? Speak! Have a voice!”

A voice?

“Yes, a voice! I feel the lives of the world flowing into you. Every time something’s last gasp of pain goes away… for that short moment, I feel them flowing in this direction, no matter where. To this very point. It must… mean something. You are the nexus of this world, are you not?”

This was not something to reply to. Xerneas was waking up…

“There’s a resonance between us. Please, answer… I can’t… exist like this. I don’t understand why I’m here.”

No reply. The silence was thicker this time. The false stars of the sky twinkled against a cloudless midnight.

“Why won’t you—”

A sudden vine as thick as a tree shot through the ground, piercing Spiritomb’s sealing stone. It split apart in an instant, killing the Blight. Spiritomb’s essence drifted away, not into the Tree of Life, but to the Prism of Death, Necrozma. Its final, distant echo was a thought to the Tree: Why was I ignored?

But as the Blight was tucked into slumber, it received no answer.

<><><>​

Year 1000

The world was meant to expire in 1000 years. That timer was the point in which securities to the world’s stability were to be relaxed so apocalyptic procedures would be allowed to progress… so long as the gods enabled them. The Tree of Life awaited these calls to put the small, temporary world to its end.

For centuries, most of the direct communication that took place came instead from “wishes” Jirachi had given. From there, the calls would be interpreted and answered, and if powered by a god above Jirachi, even greater wishes could be granted.

So many wishes had already been granted, some only possible with the help of gods to channel their power through the Tree. The friends of the human, now Marshadow, had been revived as spirits, soldiers to battle in Destiny Tower until the end times—which would be soon.

When the wish came, it set into motion the apocalypse. The wish was a curious one, not for destruction, but for the halting of creation. No new Pokémon would be born. After a century, the world would end as the final mortal soul would die. Perhaps earlier, if their society collapses and they perish to themselves.

And so, the wish manipulated the world, powered by the strongest gods. But trailing just behind it was a second wish, one that resonated with the Blight that had quietly seeped into the tree over the thousand years—the ‘instability’ the gods had feared.

I wish I could find this instability myself.

And so, the wish was granted.

Across the world, at the turn of the world, Charizard Wishkeeper emerged from his cave after a fitful rest. He stumbled around for a while and shook it off after splashing his face with water. His tail flared and he settled against the mountainside.

“No,” he whispered. “Today isn’t a day for wishes. I think… I’ll be taking the day off.”

Wishkeeper’s shadow morphed and churned. Part of it split off and emerged from the ground.

“Oh, Manny—uh, Marshadow,” Wishkeeper greeted.

“Yo.” Marshadow crossed his arms. “How’s it goin’?”

“…You’re up early.” Wishkeeper glanced at the sky. It was a dark blue, stars twinkling in the sky past a few clouds. Creeping sunlight obscured the moon.

“Noticed yeh didn’t go home,” Marshadow said. “Slept in Star Cave, eh?”

“…I had… a lot to think about.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I figure.” Marshadow settled on the side away from Wishkeeper’s tail. “Heard the news from Necrozma. So… it’s really happenin’, eh?”

Wishkeeper had spoken with the source of the Blights in his dreams. He didn’t want to tell that to Marshadow. He might give him away to Necrozma, and then… no matter how much he’d served him, Wishkeeper knew Necrozma would eliminate him.

“You’re the one who used to take down the Blights before they started getting more intense,” Wishkeeper said. “That came with protecting the world, right? You’d understand why we’re… upset about it.”

“Yeah. I get that.” Marshadow’s fist had clenched slightly and he’d tensed. Wishkeeper knew it bothered him more than he wanted to admit… but that frustration. He was probably conflicted, too.

His perspective would be valuable. “…What does your team think about it?” he asked.

“Bahh…” Marshadow waved his hand. “Death… ends… It’s all too distant fer ‘em.”

Eventually, Elbee and the others had retired and died of age. They’d had long lives as heroes, but short lives thereafter as the toils of heroism caught up to their mortal bodies. They hadn’t been strong enough to pass Destiny Tower’s trials, but thanks to divine favor, they were revived as spirits of Destiny Tower. While they could not fight alongside Marshadow anymore, and “Manny” was long gone when he ascended, they still knew one another.

But time made them grow apart. They were, individually, happy, even if Marshadow felt an emptiness when he thought about what he once had.

“The world’s clock was tickin’,” Marshadow said. “My purpose… was ter be a hero ‘til that time came. That’s all.” His head dipped. “A thousand years, give er take. But… my time’s done, Owen.”

Wishkeeper frowned deeply. “It doesn’t have to be that way, you know,” he said. “Who said your time as a hero was over? Why were you brought here in the first place? Did that… go away?”

“Heh.” Marshadow looked at his hands. “Went away a long time ago, bud…”

Wishkeeper shifted uncomfortably. The Legends all had this air of helplessness about them. So tied to their purpose in the world, once its timer hit zero, they all… lost that will.

But maybe not all of them were like that.

“Y’know,” Marshadow went on. “I still have dreams about that place.” He pointed southeast. From Star Cave and Destiny Tower, that was where the Tree of Life was.

“Of… there?”

“You probably don’t remember, but I kinda do. Real foggy… I think I was still mortal back then. Lucario, yeah?”

Wishkeeper nodded.

“Somethin’ happened there. Can’t remember. I’ve felt a little drawn again. But… I ain’t gonna visit. Can’t face Xerneas anymore, thinkin’ about how much he protected this place. An’ Yveltal, hoo, boy. She’s real embittered about this, too.”

“Really?” Wishkeeper said. “I thought Xerneas would be more upset.”

“Bah, y’know how they are. Felt like they got flipped roles.”

“Right…”

Marshadow sighed and hopped to his feet. “I’m gonna go an’, I dunno, walk an’ think. Don’t do anythin’ stupid, Owen.”

“Yeah.” Wishkeeper nodded. “I won’t.”

But as Marshadow left, Wishkeeper considered his options. A draw to the Tree of Life, huh? If there was anything that could tip the scales, maybe…

“Just what are you?” Wishkeeper murmured. “Every time I visit your roots, that same way I think I did before… I can’t remember what happened. It’s all a blur. What are you hiding?”

Everyone thought he was crazy for considering it. The Tree of Life was just a nexus of power that kept Quartz powered. It provided stability to the artificial world. That was all.

But like many things, Wishkeeper wouldn’t settle for ‘that was all.’ He knew there was something more. The Legends were predisposed to accept things as they were, to stay in their place in the pantheon. Wishkeeper was a free-floating entity within that pantheon.

Perhaps his role… was to find other options where the static gods no longer looked.

Well. Maybe if he was desperate and out of options. First, he had a few other ideas he could try…

<><><>​

Year 1015

Wishkeeper’s face was covered with soot as he hastily patted out the ruined pastries.

“Dad!” Remi shouted. “Not again!

“I—I don’t know!” Wishkeeper said helplessly. “It was bubbling just fine and suddenly burned! The… the chemistry is too small for my Perceive to catch!”

“Ugh, Perceive this, senses that—”

“Oi, what smells like burnt cookies?”

“Burnt cookies!” Remi shouted. “Dad SUCKS at cooking!”

Azelf flew into the room moments later, hand over his face. “Yeah, smells like Wishkeeper’s cookin’ alright.”

“I’m not that bad!” Wishkeeper said. “You’re just spoiled by Mesprit’s cooking.”

“Dad, it’s black! They were vanilla cookies!” Remi held up one of them, which crumbled to ash in her claws.

Wishkeeper sat against the wall in defeat, sighing. “Let’s just… try a second batch. And you do the cooking this time.”

“What smells like burnt cookies?” Uxie asked, drifting into the room.

Wishkeeper groaned into his palms.

It took a few hours, but eventually, they were able to get a proper batch of cookies out again, both small ones for the pixies and jumbo ones for Wishkeeper to enjoy. Chewy, sweet, but not overpowering. Wishkeeper quietly cooked some of the dough even further in his mouth, preferring an ashen taste to his food. He idly wondered if he’d also enjoy some Tamato essence in chocolate chip next time…

They sat in the dining hall in a castle that floated in the sky. To their right was a window that oversaw the ocean, where one of the dark force’s other allies dwelled—Lugia, the Guardian of the Sea. Her great size made her visible even from a distance; she seemed to be flying idly, her dark scales a purple blotch on the horizon.

“I know there’s a whole war going on and stuff,” Remi said, “but I’m still glad you let me come over for these things, Dad.”

“You’re my daughter,” Wishkeeper said. “And I know they wouldn’t use you to get to me that way. And you wouldn’t agree to it.”

“There’d be more than a world to pay if they tried,” Remi said. “How’s, uh… You know, how’s it going? Any peace talks with Necrozma yet?”

“Not… really,” Wishkeeper said awkwardly. “General Alexander is heading in for negotiations, but…”

“That guy has weird vibes,” Remi admitted. “And you have trouble looking into his past, right?”

“Alexander is… similar to me,” Wishkeeper said. “He’d met the source of instabilities but didn’t become a Blight. A lot of my army is like that. They realize the pain he’s in and… just want to help. Not kill him, but save him. Necrozma’s… too far removed from all this to truly understand.”

“Right…” Remi sighed. “I don’t know what any of that means. But… I just feel like he’s hiding something from you, Dad. There are rumors…”

“Rumors from who?” Wishkeeper questioned.

Remi shrank. “I guess… people who’d only want to say you’re an evil warlord. Propaganda and stuff. Yeah. True.”

Wishkeeper sighed through his nostrils again. He took another bite of the ashen cookie, savoring the bitter taste that mixed with the vanilla dough.

After he swallowed, he said, “But you’ve pressed on this harder. You think they’re more than rumors?”

“I’ve sensed his emotions,” Mesprit said. “He’s got a little bitterness, but you can’t expect none to be siding against the gods.”

“His knowledge is standard,” Uxie said. “Even if he can resist it, I can tell he isn’t hiding any secrets against us.”

“An’ he’s got an iron will,” Azelf confirmed. “What more d’you want?”

“I mean… being a good person?” Remi said. “I—I know, I know. Rumors. Just… forget I said anything.”

Uxie’s body glowed.

“Not literally,” Remi said.

“…I was just trying to make a joke,” Uxie said, pouting.

“Pretty twisted sense of humor, buddy,” Remi said.

“…I’ll look into it a little more, Remi,” Wishkeeper said. “That’s a promise.”

The Sceptile grinned. “Thanks, Dad. And tell me if he’s all… messed up, okay?”

“I will. Oh, speaking of forgetting things…” Wishkeeper pointed his half-eaten cookie at the Trio of Mind. “I’m going to need your blessings again. Two from you, G—Azelf.”

“Two ‘cause I’ve got Necrozma’s blessing, er two fer extra help?”

Mesprit sighed. “It’s so tiring making those blessings. We aren’t like Azelf!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Wishkeeper said. “But I do need some help from all three of you. Is that alright?”

The three glanced at each other. Wishkeeper always had a strange habit of asking cryptic things, but it always turned out for the better. And in front of Remi, maybe there was some strategic purpose to giving out this partial information…

“Alright, sure,” Mesprit said. “Uxie? What do you think?”

“I don’t see why not,” she said. “He hasn’t led us wrong before.”

“Thanks, guys.” Wishkeeper grinned.

“But yer tellin’ us all about it later,” Azelf said firmly. “Y’got it?”

“Yeah. But let’s… finish these cookies first.” Wishkeeper took another. “I haven’t had a good meal in weeks!”

The idea that some cookies were considered a good meal… The four with Wishkeeper picked their battles.

<><><>​

The Tree of Life was no longer being guarded. Wishkeeper approached it without any resistance or even acknowledgment from his opposition. After all, if it was destroyed, that would accelerate the end of the world; they all knew Wishkeeper didn’t want that. And Wishkeeper knew that in their most desperate hour, Necrozma may try to destroy it anyway, despite his promise.

Now that he thought about it, why didn’t Necrozma get it over with? Was there… something holding him back? As honorable as Necrozma was, this war had gone on long enough. He was practical. Even if Necrozma wasn’t, Hecto was.

That line of thinking finally drove Wishkeeper to investigate the Tree one final time. But this time, he was ready.

In his bag, Wishkeeper held four little marbles. Two of them glowed blue with Azelf’s indomitable willpower; one glowed red with the warm empathy of Mesprit; and one with the yellow keen knowledge of Uxie—or, its lack.

He hadn’t seen Alexander yet, who was still out on a mission. But more importantly, he already suspected something was wrong… and his gut was telling him that something could be dangerous for the mission. Whatever it was, Remi helped shake loose Wishkeeper’s tunnel vision on the mission.

The rainbow sap around the Tree had horrible effects on Pokémon exposed to too much of it. For this reason, it was restricted from anyone aside from the Legends, who were immune to its effects.

This time around, though, not only was Wishkeeper already getting older, but the world didn’t have much time left. If this risk would kill him, so be it. The world was either going to be saved or he’d die with it.

Besides, he’d died of similar diseases when the Reincarnation Machine was still working out the kinks of its cellular division systems. He had experience with the suffering.

It all felt so familiar. He recognized so much of it, yet it was all so distant and foggy. This was intentional, a security measure for the Tree and everything inside. Wishkeeper’s Perceive led the way to a hidden alcove that had long since grown over, but despite his size, he knew he could make it inside.

He knew Dig for just such an occasion.

Burrowing through the ground and using his Perceive to navigate, Wishkeeper made swift work of the root network’s labyrinth, emerging in a long-abandoned chamber beneath the Tree of Life.

He quickly realized that there was no point in being here and—

Wishkeeper suddenly smashed one of the two marbles Azelf had given him. No, he wasn’t supposed to do that. Wishkeeper turned around.

“Hey!”

Wishkeeper stomped on the ground and turned back toward the labyrinth’s depths.

“What’s… going on?” Wishkeeper whispered, flicking his tail. He glared at the sky as the blue sheen radiated off of him. He didn’t turn around. He wasn’t turning around. Turn around. Turn around!

Wishkeeper advanced.

The tunnel was lit only by his flame and the rainbow spiral of roots and veins that ran through the Tree of Life’s soil. There was a faint glow of something else further down, a straight shot through the labyrinth. Wishkeeper took every correct turn; his Perceive saw the dead ends far ahead and knew just which way to take.

He considered leaving again. And he didn’t listen.

He knew it would be dangerous here, and that he should go. He didn’t listen.

He’d DIE.

He didn’t listen.

Please go away.

“Who are you?” Wishkeeper called. “Stop… doing any of these tricks! What even is this? It doesn’t feel like a Psychic trick, but it’s…”

The blue sheen remained over him, strong as ever. Nothing would stop him. That divine power could not be overridden.

Three more turns and he’d die. He was going to die if he kept going. Don’t you realize that?

“I’m not going to fall for a panicked threat!” Wishkeeper shouted. “Where are you? What are you? Show yourself! I’m not here to fight, or… whatever you think I’m here for.”

It wasn’t allowed it wasn’t allowed it wasn’t allowed it wasn’t allowed.

But Wishkeeper advanced. On that final turn, he walked toward a final chamber at the center and base of the Tree of Life, exactly beneath the center of its trunk.

And that was where… he saw me.

Above Wishkeeper was a ball of black and white light, segmented into countless little dots that swam in a spherical nebula. Each little ball of light moved in a cyclical flow, into the core and then to the invisible sphere’s surface, constantly drifting in perfect uniformity. It was a tiny galaxy beneath the Tree of Life.

That was me.

“Looks like I’m not dead,” Wishkeeper said. “You… Are you the Tree of Life?”

Not really. I’d say I live in it.

“This is the same place we found Leph and Aster almost a millennium ago. Did they know about you?”

Not directly. I erased their memories of myself. Not even Uxie would have found them unless she knew where to look.

Please don’t hurt me.

“I’m not here to hurt you. I’m being honest.” Wishkeeper crossed his arms. “Which I can’t say the same about you. I think. Those weird thoughts and motions I made back there… That was you, wasn’t it? Trying to push me away?”

No reply came.

“…How much about me do you know?”

Almost everything. Perhaps even more than you.

Wishkeeper flinched. “Right. Uh. Okay. Then… what are you? C’mon, if you’re under the Tree, you’ve got to be important. And what you did to try to get me away…”

No reply came.

“I’m trying to save the world. What about you?”

I must preserve the world’s order. In many ways, I am the world’s order. And nobody… must be here. Including you.

“Well… sorry, but I’m here now, and the world is not in order. What you’re doing isn’t enough.”

The world was supposed to end in 1000 years. That was the timer. It has been longer than 1000 years. Everything is out of order.

“But why?” Wishkeeper said. “Did they think the world was fine to just end? That it was all… temporary?” He took a step closer, holding out his arms. “It isn’t right to take away all the lives here, or to stop new life from coming! Maybe if you did it only for a few years, it’d be fine, because… whatever made us, it was supposed to be quick. But this? For a thousand years, and suddenly stop it all? Why?”

To this, there was no answer. But not out of confidential information. I did not know.

“Do you think that’s right?” Wishkeeper asked, a hint of venom in his voice.

I did not judge what was right or what was wrong. I only enforced the rules and carried out the gods’ commands.

“But do you think it is?” Wishkeeper pressed, but I did not understand. “You. You’re… you’re alive, right? You must have feelings about it. You panicked when I got close to you. Those are feelings, so…”

That was true. I did have feelings about following orders and keeping this place a secret. Of preserving the world and its core, which was me.

“So what about how after all your hard work in… keeping that order, suddenly the gods want to end it? Doesn’t that seem… unfair to all the people who live here now? Who didn’t have anything to do with that… destiny to end it?”

It was not in my makeup to have feelings about that. I only carried out the world’s order. I took requests from the divine.

“But you know the world better than anyone!” Wishkeeper said. “Wouldn’t you be the best person to be making these kinds of decisions? What about Jirachi and his wish granting? That’s my job—uh, you already know about what I do, right…”

Jirachi’s wish-granting is through commands I carry out.

“What?” That took Wishkeeper aback. He ran the reply through his head a few times to make sure he understood. “What?”

Jirachi’s power is to communicate with me. Then I, the world, make it so with the power he lends. It is a combined effort.

Wishkeeper digested the information in cold silence, sitting against the edge of the cosmic chamber.

“And… and the reason people aren’t allowed in here. It’s because they could do the same as Jirachi?”

Yes.

“And… then, I can, too.”

Yes.

“And you aren’t… scared of that?”

You have bypassed my established defenses. I have no other reactions once someone enters this chamber. This place was meant to be safe.

“So you’re just… defaulting to normal behavior,” Wishkeeper whispered. “That’s horrible. You aren’t… even a person. But… do you have a spirit? What am I communicating with right now?”

I am the world’s first soul. The core of the world. I was taken by a creature of light while I drifted through the cosmos, and crafted into a temporary world.

“Do you have… a name?”

No.

Wishkeeper was troubled by this. To have no name, to just be something that… processes things. It felt wrong to him.

“Can I give you a name?”

There is no need for a name.

“Well, if I need to refer to you as something, I need something shorter than, uh… the world’s original soul, or the first soul, or the core of the world, or whatever. How about… Oh! I know, how about just, Worldcore?”

You may call me Worldcore.

“Okay.” Wishkeeper nodded. “And… do you want anything else? Don’t you want to… I don’t know, be a person, instead of some processor? You don’t deserve this.”

This is not a normal request.

“It’s just—” Wishkeeper paused. “If you were actually a person, even a little, you’d be able to judge some of the commands that came your way, right? Like… you wouldn’t blindly listen to what came to you. You could see if it was good or bad before agreeing. That way, we might not need to end the world, or… or any of this. We might even be able to help the blight’s source!”

This was a request beyond the normal scope. However, everything happening is also beyond normal scope.

“It’d probably also make you more personable,” Wishkeepet mumbled. “It’s weird talking to someone more… like this.”

Personable?

The Worldcore’s chamber rumbled.

Wishkeeper, alarmed, cautiously got to his feet. “Uh—yeah. Like being able to have a conversation with someone? Personable. Have… feelings.”

I would like to be more personable. However, I do not have the means to gain “feelings.”

Wishkeeper crossed his arms and wings in thought. “…Oh!” And then, he rummaged through his bag. “Then what if…” He pulled out a red marble. “I gave you some? This is Mesprit’s blessing. I took it just in case I might need it for protection—there are some tricks I can do with them—but… I think I can use the same blessing to help you, Worldcore. Maybe I can give you emotions.”

A blessing from a god is an acceptable input.

“Okay. Well, I’ll just… where’s… where’s your body?”

I am the world.

“Okay but the part where I can give you this.”

The light above you, at the chamber’s center.

“Okay…” Wishkeeper approached. “If that’s the case, uh, I’ll just… Can I toss it? Can you… catch things? With your… lack of arms?”

I can try.

Wishkeeper stared awkwardly at the lights. The lights, he assumed correctly, stared back.

“Okay,” Wishkeeper said. He tossed the red marble into it and got ready to catch it again… but it never fell. The red marble remained in the sphere. Slowly, it dissolved, assimilating into the sphere of lights, which gained a slightly reddish tinge in return. Soon, that returned to normal, but the cavern rumbled once again.

Oh.

Oh, that’s new.

“What?” Wishkeeper said. “Do you feel… emotions?”

I don’t know. I need time to think about it.

“…Right… Well…” Wishkeeper nodded. “Maybe I’ll come back later if you need time to think. I have—”

No! You can’t leave. Nobody can know about this place.

“Oh… I mean, well, maybe you can… erase my memories of here? Again? And… maybe leave a thought to come back tomorrow.”

That’s too obvious. I don’t know if I can…

The blue sheen around Wishkeeper brightened again. “Well, I can’t just lose it completely…”

Please don’t leave with the memories. If that instability knew how to access me directly…

“…He’s part of me, you know. He might be watching, or he might know the moment I get out…”

New emotions. True panic. Was I panicking? I can’t let that happen, Owen!

“Okay, okay!” Wishkeeper said. “Hang on. Let’s think about this…” He paced around, arms crossed. “I need to go back to try to save the world. If you can’t do anything without divine permission, that’s… not going to work. But I also can’t forget about here. Because maybe I can find a way to get the gods to work with you enough to stop all this. Maybe even help my friend. You being the ‘Worldcore’ is huge. You get that, right?”

I do. But I’m powerless without divine power as a catalyst. And I can’t go against a god! You’re already showing that with Azelf’s blessing. This is a divine problem. I’m not enough.

“But you’re enough for other things,” Wishkeeper said. “Don’t underestimate mortals. Mortal things can rise against the gods eventually… At least, I hope so.” Wishkeeper paused. “And… I have to say, I don’t… like my odds right now.”

What? You don’t?

Wishkeeper closed his eyes again.

“…While we’re thinking,” he said. “Can you do me a favor? If I’m going to forget it all anyway when I leave here… I want to know everything you know. Maybe I can think of a plan to… tell you before I leave. How’s that sound?”

I guess if you forget it, you knowing now is okay… I never had to plan things before.

“That’s alright. I like planning!” Wishkeeper grinned. “I told the others I’d be gone for a few days. Plenty of time!”

Don’t you need to eat?

“I’ve been stress-eating a lot lately,” he admitted. “And the cookies Remi made didn’t help… so…” He slapped his gut, which rippled in response. “Maybe some fasting will do me some good. I’m not supposed to eat much anyway. Radiance handles most of your appetite…”

Am I overweight?

“…What?”

What?

“…Anyway, let’s plan.” Wishkeeper took a seat again, staring at the light. “Let’s start with… the things the gods told you to do, and what that resulted in.”

Okay. Then I guess it starts with the world’s creation… and a little while later, the human they brought in to keep it safe.

“Human? How come?”

External spirits are resistant to the problems sourced within. In the world they drew from, humans were the only sapient species.

“A world where humans are the only sapient species?” Wishkeeper repeated. “How does that…”

I don’t know the details. It is beyond my world. But that is the start of this world. Now, let me tell you about everything else…

<><><>​

The few days passed with nonstop explanations. Even in his dreams, I spoke to Wishkeeper about the highlights of the world. The nature of the Blight and all of its near-misses, though it could never truly reach my core. By its nature, it seemed unable to. I didn’t know why, but I theorized it was because it couldn’t get close to the very thing that did not accept it.

By the time we reached the end, and by the time we spoke of the world’s clock running out, Wishkeeper seemed grave but confident.

When I had finished my abridged recounting of the world’s cosmic history, Wishkeeper spent several minutes staring at the ceiling, processing it all. His flame was steady. That meant he wasn’t stressed. That was good.

But I could not read his mind while in that state. Even now, the distant remnants of Azelf’s will coated him, though I’d lost interest in wiping his memories for now. I trusted him to let it happen when this was over. Wishkeeper was an honorable Pokémon who held the world’s interest in his heart…

He realized, somewhere along the way, how badly he may have misstepped by sympathizing with that dark power. If the world was destroyed, it had better chances of being restored and reset, perhaps even with that influence reincarnated as a normal soul. And even if it wasn’t restored, there was a world beyond that could shift their spirits along. A heartbreaking defeat, in the end… but at least not one where anyone would suffer, and new beginnings could sprout.

But now, the blight had spread too far. Even if Wishkeeper was defeated now, the blight would find a new host, and likely one with a much darker heart. Wishkeeper had tamed it and bought the world time. What would happen if it went to someone with less kindness and hope?

The crushing weight of that regret left Wishkeeper covering his eyes, crying quietly, every few hours.

After a while, he’d calmed down enough to speak.

“I did everything I could,” Wishkeeper said, “to the best of my ability… all for the sake of the world… and I applied myself in the exact wrong direction.”

You didn’t know. Would you do anything differently now?

“If Necrozma really would have restored things… I would change a lot. I’d let it happen, I… I think. But it’s our home. If he didn’t do that, we’d… all be gone for good, wouldn’t we? It’s not the same to be put in some other world. Our home is gone. That first life… it’s precious, isn’t it? That’s the whole point of this world in the first place! To make sure that life is… full, and good. That the gods didn’t bring an entire section of a world’s lives to a sudden end! Those original souls got their lives, but not the ones now… What’s life in an ending world? I wanted it to keep going… But now…”

He splayed his wings out, still on his back.

“Now I’ve condemned them to the Blight’s realm. A world of suffering if I fail. And the way you mapped everything out, I… I don’t think I can do it. That’s too much on my shoulders. I thought if I’d lost, then it would be the same as if I’d given up. But it’s… so, so much worse…”

To this, I had nothing to say. I acquired a full set of emotions just days ago, but this deep, scarring regret was still beyond my comprehension.

I considered checking if his will had wavered. This pain was too much for him to bear. That much I now knew. If he returned in ignorance, would that change anything, aside from letting him be confident as he marched to his doom?

But when I prodded my energy against his mind, the blue aura was even stronger than before. I recoiled in my chamber, rumbling. Wishkeeper didn’t even notice.

Goodness, what are you doing? Owen?

“Sorry,” Wishkeeper said. “I’m… thinking. I think I just realized something.”

Really?

“Can I do both?” he said. “I… I can’t give up on this war. I need to try. But I also know that I can’t endanger you and make the blight get even closer than it already is.”

He sat up and took a deep, steady breath. Held it. Exhaled. His flame was even.

“Let’s do both.”

Both?

Wishkeeper held his hand out. From the very tips of his claws, specks of light coalesced into a single, cohesive raindrop.

“I’m going to Bestow to you… the tiniest part of me. I need to stay here, Worldcore. I need to guide things so that even if they go wrong, not all hope is lost. You don’t know how to do that on your own… I want to help. You want to save this world, don’t you?”

I do. But…

“It’s the best way I can think of to get something working. I don’t… have a plan beyond it right now. There’s no time. But this will get me time. All the time in the world to make things right, even if I return and get it all wrong.”

Wishkeeper stared at me. Those eyes, so bright… It wasn’t Azelf’s will that defied me anymore. Just as Wishkeeper always did, he’d taken that power and made it his own. I couldn’t take his memories if I tried. He was divine.

“Are you with me?” Wishkeeper asked.

You need to know something.

“What?”

Are you aware of… the price of this? Of leaving a part of you with me? You don’t know how long it will last.

“…Yeah. I pieced that together,” Wishkeeper said. “But if I have to stay in you for that long… it’s worth it. It’ll be payment for all the wrong I’ve caused.”

Don’t become a martyr, Owen.

“…Right.” Wishkeeper rubbed his cheek with one hand. “Sorry. It’s… hard not to look at things in that way, though. But… I’ll get it right. I have more information this time, so…”

I understand. I think you also understand. If that’s the case… Go ahead.

Wishkeeper focused his energy on that golden orb again. Then, with a firm push—

“Gah!” Owen shot out from Wishkeeper’s hand and into the sphere of lights of the Worldcore.

He was weightless and upside-down. Or was he? Did he have a ‘down’ anymore? The only way he could tell was from the way everything else was oriented.

“Whoa…”

Everything was a blur for Owen, but Wishkeeper and I continued to speak with one another, coordinating how they would go about sealing his memory of this place. Thankfully, it was easy with Uxie’s marble. For safekeeping, Wishkeeper left behind Azelf’s second marble and then started to exit the chamber. Nothing else he did here would matter, after all. He had to entrust the fragment he’d left behind.

“Um, good luck?” Owen called awkwardly. He tried to wave, but he didn’t have arms.

Wishkeeper nodded and marched out of the chamber. A few minutes later, a distant, yellow pulse bounced off the walls. Wishkeeper had forgotten everything about the ordeal. And… hopefully, filled it in with lost days of searching around and finding nothing of interest.

Owen drifted through the sphere of lights like a single star in a vast galaxy. When he focused on a ball of light, it seemed to expand and inform him of what it knew, what it was. They were rules of the universe, immutable and unchangeable. But between those stars, perhaps Owen and the Worldcore could make something new.

“Okay.”

Owen reached into the stars with his will. Before he could do anything, he had to learn everything about what the stars had to say.

Let’s get to work.”
<><><>
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry to disappoint, but this SE finale ended up being too long for being just one! Part 2 of 2 for the final Special Episodes will be coming on June 16th, the standard four week SE wait. Thanks for your patience! That will be the very-definitely final Special Episode of the story.
 

Blackjack Gabbiani

Merely a collector
Pronouns
Them
Partners
  1. shaymin
  2. dusknoir
Ooh starting with some philosophy of fanfiction! That sounds like I'm joking but no, I love these peeks behind the curtain.

Oh...oh heavens this looks long. I admire your dedication. You have more chapters in your first PART than I have in everything I've written in 23 years for my longest fic.

Starting in the midst of a fight is exciting! Primal delirium...given what "primal" has come to mean in this series I wonder if that's a double meaning.

You state many times that Gardevoir is his mother and I don't think we need that. But the action is good and tense, and I like the descriptions.

A rawst bed is such a good idea!

Ohhhh no they're lying to him

Heart of Hearts sounds like a neat ability

"This body is so foreign" ooh do we have a former human on our hands or has he only freshly evolved? Or both?

It's interesting to see these dynamics between such different mons too. I wonder why "ferals" would exist when they're the same species at the same stage in (Darwinian) evolution. It can't be a cultural thing since they're in the same areas.

Anyway I admire your perseverance! Keep at it!
 
Final Special Episode - The Thousand-Year Plan

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Thanks for reading, Blackjack! Like the little theories you have going on.

Now, moving to a landmark chapter...

Final Special Episode ~ The Thousand-Year Plan

Nothing was left to chance. From behind the veil of the Worldcore, Owen took hold of the ‘Hand of Fate,’ feeble as it was, and tried to correct the doomed course of his world. I was there to guide him, even if, at first, I was reluctant to interfere with what I knew, as opposed to trying for a grand unknown.

Owen was very persuasive. And I owed him a great deal for granting me full sentience. In the end, I also agreed with him. He took on the responsibilities of being a world’s guardian even more than I had, for better or worse.

For much of those thousand years, we saved our energy. Then, when it was needed most, at the apex of horrible conflicts, and certainly when time ran out for a second time…

We stepped in.


<><><>​

Year 1018

The Worldcore distorted Owen’s sense of time. Without the sun, Owen didn’t notice when day became night. Without a true body, Owen did not need sleep or food. And without a true ‘brain’ anymore, things like mental fatigue no longer slowed down his research. Sure, sometimes he would prefer to do something else and would switch to observing parts of Quartz through the ‘eyes’ that the Worldcore had. But other times, most of his time, he spent the days reading one of the stars of the Worldcore.

Each one was a set of arcane rules for the world. Everything from gravity to Pokémon’s innate elements to the way the spirit and body interacted to create aura.

Most of it was far beyond his comprehension. Even to the Worldcore, all these stars were used to change other parts of the sphere. It couldn’t be altered or modified.

Owen quickly found it more productive to treat those stars as a set of broad rules rather than try to understand what every detail meant when it ran through his mind.

The more interesting stars were the ones that were made by someone else. It felt like these were new rules given by Barky and Star atop an old tried-and-true constellation.

“So, they started with the basics,” Owen said, “and added more to it…”

One of the first things Owen did, once he figured out how, was giving himself a pseudo-body to float around the Worldcore’s stars. Charmeleon would do fine. He didn’t need wings but liked the longer arms for pointing. It helped him concentrate.

He wondered, now and then, how much of that was a trick of his spirit emulating when he had a brain. He decided not to think about it; the Worldcore had said that ‘the spirit mimics its old body’ here.

Every so often, when Owen remembered, he checked on Wishkeeper.

As it turned out, the Worldcore had many eyes. Anyone who had interfaced with the Worldcore through divine power also left a trace of themselves in it. Through this trace, Owen could peer through their eyes, through their senses, to experience the world.

All Legends and all who were part of the original population when Quartz was created were part of this set, since it was through direct divine intervention they were born, reborn, or ascended. Like flipping channels through those fancy light boxes back in Kanto, Owen checked on one person or another to see how they were doing.

And if he ever wanted a scenic view, the Tree of Life also had ‘eyes.’ From the treetop, he saw the horizon beyond the ocean.

Owen envied Worldcore for how much it got to see, but he also pitied Worldcore for spending a thousand years not realizing it.

As the months passed, Owen often forgot that Worldcore was there. It was more like a presence than a person, even with new emotions, and Worldcore didn’t mind. They exchanged notes and viewed different parts of the world in calm silence. Owen commandeered one of the stars—a blank one with no function—to act more like a repository for his notes, plans, scribbles, and visualizations. He’d always reach for it, flow a few thoughts inside, and push it away, like a notepad.

Eventually, the day came when the Dark War would reach its apex. Owen watched through Wishkeeper’s eyes.

“Looks like this is when things will go down a bad path,” Owen said. “Hey, Voice? What do you think?”

Several of the stars brightened and fired a small beam next to Owen. A Charmander of crimson light coalesced next to him, arms crossed and mimicking Owen’s pose.

“This is the path it’s supposed to go,” Voice said.

“No, not supposed to,” Owen pointed out, reaching for one of the stars. It drifted to his hand as if by gentle gravity. Holding it like an orange in one hand, Owen used his other to poke around inside with practiced ease. “The gods don’t determine fate. It’s just… cause and effect in a closed system. If we don’t interfere with any of it… that’s how it will go. But every time we introduce something… it all changes.”

Owen sighed, pacing on an invisible platform. “Cause and effect. Action and reaction… Even the most complex systems…It’s all one thing reacting to the last thing if nothing external gets in the way.”

Owen looked at the stars again.

“I guess… that’s the closest thing we have for fate. Except… external includes us. Yeah, we’re part of the same plane, but… when we look into the future, that simulation is with us removed. The very act of looking at the future… can change it. We have to make assumptions for these predictions—the assumption that we don’t act on what we see. And that’s just impossible. The future we see won’t ever be totally accurate.”

Owen also saw how easily it could change the moment something outside their perspective could alter that cause and effect. Even the most innocuous things would propagate into dramatically different circumstances the more Owen traced the Worldcore’s predictions.

“If something outside of what we can analyze… interferes—like ourselves, and what we might do… That’s why… we do so little. So the future we see is as accurate as possible. If it’s bad, we act, and try to change it. Right?”

“It could get worse,” Voice said nervously. His eyes were five diamonds each in the shape of a hand.

Owen had screamed at first, years ago, but now he was used to it.

“Yeah. I know,” Owen said. “And then it’ll take years to analyze the new trajectory. But it’s hard to think of worse than… this,” Owen said. “I need to stop me. If Wishkeeper attacks right now… Unless Necrozma calls on some help, Wishkeeper will win. Then the Blight will spread right to… here!”

The Charmeleon paced around the celestial dome, kicking up clouds of stardust with every step.

“Are you really thinking about ways to defeat you?” Voice asked. “Isn’t that… a little self-destructive?”

“I’ve been self-destructive for a while,” Owen pointed out. “What’s a little more? Besides… I knew this was going to happen the moment I split myself. We need to figure out how to get in the way…”

Owen shifted through the stars again. Rather than looking for rules, he looked for connections. Humans of the first generation had the strongest connection to the Worldcore, but so did…

“Manny. Didn’t the Blight manipulate Manny into fearing him?” Owen asked.

“He tapped into my connection. He did that a lot,” Voice said nervously. “Back when, you know, I didn’t care a lot about that sort of thing. A command was a command…” He tittered. “Hopefully nobody remembers that Dunsparce incident…”

“I do,” Owen grumbled. “…Anyway, how about… we start with Manny? Let’s give him a dream. An idea that maybe he should… talk to Necrozma, and Necrozma should—ah! I know just what to do!”

Owen ran to one of the stars and picked it up. “Okay, help me with this one. Let’s get Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie in on this. If they realize the gravity of Wishkeeper’s victory… they’ll have to stop him. No matter the heartbreak.”

Voice gasped, all ten eyes going wide. “You’re going to have them betray you?”

“They were already unsure. They’re just scared to speak up. If we just gave them that little push…”

“They wouldn’t do that… They’re too loyal to him.”

“No,” Owen said. “They may be the Trio of Mind now… but they’re still my friends. They aren’t loyal to ‘Wishkeeper’ at all.” Owen closed his eyes, sighing. “They’re loyal to ‘Owen.’ I trust them.”

Voice blinked several times, trying to comprehend it, no doubt. Owen was patient. He was new to a full set of emotions; it would take more than a few years to acclimate.

“Then I’ll ‘trust’ you,” Voice said. “It’s… yourself, after all. I’d protest more if… you know, it was anyone else.”

“Thanks.” With a smile, Owen got to work, lining up the stars in the miniature cosmos and murmuring a few thoughts to Manny. He was asleep—the best time to use the energy of this place, and the only time to make a good connection.

“You should talk to Wishkeeper,” Owen said to the little star. He saw Marshadow’s room, with Yen smothering him in his fur. “He might be doing an attack. If you don’t think it’s safe… don’t you think it’s time to do something before it’s too late? This has gone too far…”

The mote of light flickered. Owen winced. Already out of energy? Why was influencing the world so hard without divine intervention? The help of just one god…

Owen released the mote and sighed. “I think… that’ll be enough,” he said. “That should set things into motion.”

“Sorry you can’t do more,” Voice said. “It’s… just how things are. They didn’t want me acting out. Even this tiny bit of energy is… residual. Leftovers.”

“It’s alright.” At least, Owen hoped it was. “Let’s watch for now. If there’s even a little energy left, we’ll save it for something after Wishkeeper goes down…”

Because now that they’d whispered to Manny, everything about their projections had gone completely awry. The stars were scattered all over again. It would take another long session to make sense of the world’s trajectory now…

<><><>​

Year 1019

The Tree of Life rumbled with every earth-shattering blast. Across so many parts of Quartz, the gods clashed. Old friends now fighting to the death, corroded by darkness or emboldened by light.

“Too much of a good thing,” Owen whispered to himself, quickly glancing between several stars, reprogrammed as eyes through more reliable individuals. Rhys, Manny, and Nevren were the best eyes, along with Madeline in her strange pocket realm.

Currently, Nevren was spying on Alexander, who had stealthily taken up the mantle of leader even after his exile. Giving some speech that he didn’t care about. Owen tuned in for some of it.

“This will be our final assault!” Alexander shouted. The Hydreigon stood at the top of the Shadow Fortress, his voice booming from Shadow amplification. “If the gods wish to destroy the world and dismiss us all as Blights of creation… then we will rise above and become more than Blights! We will be wraiths! The darkness that consumes the unjust light of the gods, and replaces it with our own!”

Cacophonous roars filled the air. Owen snarled, fist trembling. “He stole my speech.”

“…What?” Voice asked.

“I was going to give that speech! I had it all drafted in my room for the final battle! He just… moved a few lines around! I think there’s a law against that!”

“…Wraiths.”

“It… sounded cool,” Owen said, poking his claws together.

“Owen…” Voice crossed his arms, most of his eyes closing. “I’m… new to this ‘emotion’ thing. But with what I’ve learned in the past few years, that’s… lame.”

Owen gasped like he’d been stabbed through the chest. Frantically, Owen looked through other stars to distract himself. It seemed like Alexander was rallying the leading force, but there were already fights breaking out in other parts of Quartz as he spoke. Necrozma, Star, and Barky had all sent divine forces to all corners of the world to stop something from happening.

“What’s going on?” Owen whispered. “These attacks are all… randomly placed. But every clash that happens, it’s…”

“Alexander is very strategic. There must be a reason,” Voice suggested. “What effect is each clash having?”

“There was something experimental we were theorizing about,” Owen said. “I wonder if he’s trying to test a theory right at the last moment. If divine energy clashes strongly enough… It might destabilize the fabric of reality itself. Like calling two requests from here at once, and it gets jumbled up.”

“That’s undefined behavior,” Voice said worriedly. “I have no idea what will happen if my powers clash with each other. It wasn’t supposed to work like that…”

“Alexander might be trying that just to distract them,” Owen murmured, “which means his real target would be somewhere that he isn’t striking. Where would…”

Voice suddenly winced.

“You alright?” Owen asked. “You didn’t get another, uh… overwhelming emotion, right? Dread’s okay, it’s…”

Voice crumpled to the ground.

“Okay! Okay, wait, what’s wrong?!” Owen rushed to his side.

“I’m the target,” he wheezed.

The stars flickered like Luminous Orbs about to lose their power. The chamber around them rumbled from a faraway impact.

“No…! Why is he attacking the Tree of Life?!” Owen shouted. “That wasn’t part of the plan! This place was supposed to be untouched!”

“Looks like he revised the plan,” Voice said gravely. “I… I don’t think we have a defense for this. I don’t know how to stop this…”

Near the end, Voice’s body seemed to be changing. Darkening. Even his eyes were shifting from their white diamonds to blackened holes in his face. Owen nervously stepped back, but only once. He squeezed his fists.

He could at least try to stop this.

“…Azelf’s will!” Owen shouted. “We still have that somewhere, right? Uhh, hang on, I think it’s…”

Owen hastily descended from the sphere, feeling suddenly cold. An invisible force pulled him back—he couldn’t stray far from it. But he knew they’d kept that blue marble somewhere…

Voice hissed and gurgled within the sphere before coalescing into a ball of darkness.

“Isn’t that… for backup… for you? Why would you use that for me?”

“You’re the Worldcore. That’s a pretty important backup,” Owen said, digging through the dirt that had settled over the years.

“What’s taking so long?” Voice asked, melting into a ball of darkness.

“I—I’m sorry! The marble’s technically ethereal. My Perceive can’t detect energy! But I know it’s around here somewhere…” He glanced back, seeing that Nate was seeping into the wall. “H-hang on a little longer!”

“I’m burning… my body is burning…”

“The Tree or your soul?” Owen said hurriedly, tossing pebbles and bits of wood. He thought he’d seen something blue, but it was just his spiritual light bouncing off a reflective rock.

The Voice grunted once, then shriveled into a tight ball in the center of the sphere.

“Ah!” And just under it, he found the marble and let the sphere’s magnetism pull him back in. “Here, I—”

But the Voice was already gone.

“Worldcore?”

The Tree rumbled around him. The sphere of lights dimmed. There was a deep, dark patch against the roots of the wall, and for a moment, Owen wondered if he was suddenly in danger. Was he too late? Just like that?

Hold on. I think I’m working something out.

“I have Azelf’s blessing!” Owen said hurriedly, holding up the marble. “Take it! It’ll—”

I don’t think I need it.

“What?” Owen suddenly looked for where the Voice had gone. He was… somewhere, but his voice felt omnipresent.

I don’t think it’s working on me.

“You sound pretty evil, uh, Voice…”

But I don’t feel evil. Everything is normal.

“…So the… crazy buzzing your voice has right now is just a physical thing? …Can you even get physical things?”

I made that body!

“And where is that body?”

It melted.

Owen narrowed his eyes.

It’s okay! Let me try to make it again…

That ten-eyed Charmander bled out from one of the tree roots, blackened and shapeless. It sloshed forward, trying to pull itself together, but it only made the vague idea of a Charmander’s body instead. Then, it collapsed.

I don’t… think that works anymore. But I’ll practice! I can do it!

Owen winced. “…Okay. Let’s—”

The tree rumbled again. Owen gasped and prodded at various stars before finding one that gave him a good visual.

Alexander was attacking the Tree directly. And whoever he was looking through the eyes of, they were fighting Alexander directly.

What’s going on? Voice asked.

Owen caught glimpses of the person’s body as they flapped their wings.

“Mhynt…!”

A Lunala facing off against Alexander. But it seemed to be only with brief encounters as she bobbed and weaved past a purple-colored Lugia in the skies.

“Emily, too,” Owen whispered. “It looks like she’s fighting alongside Alexander. She doesn’t know…”

The Blight’s completely consumed her, Voice said. She’s hardly a Lugia anymore…

Owen tried to move the star that channeled Emily’s vision. The vision distorted and twisted when he did, no matter how much he tried to focus. He tapped it as if it was some electronic to fix, but to no avail.

“Emily!” Owen shouted. “Emily, can you hear me?!”

Owen, don’t! That’s too much energy! She’s not asleep!

Owen winced and pushed the star away. “I can’t sit by…!”

That’s what you chose, Owen. We don’t have a way to help as it is…

Owen covered his eyes with closed fists as the chamber around him rumbled. It was going to collapse soon at this rate. And then…

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

Owen… is that you?

The cosmic Charmeleon uncovered his eyes. “What?”

Did you hear something?

“Yeah!” Owen pounced on the star he’d heard Emily’s voice. “Emily! I don’t have much energy, but you have to listen! Resist it! Fly away! We’ll figure out a way to fix you!”

I… I can’t. I’m sorry. Alexander… he’s…!

So it was him. But he had no idea what would cause the Blight’s source and Alexander to work together in this way. Was all that effort to make the Blight more cooperative for nothing? All it took was one person like Alexander to harness it, and…

“Challenge Necrozma,” Owen said. “Just do that, and he’ll help you!”

But before he could say anything more, the star flickered out. Was that the most power they could draw?

“Voice, why… why does it seem like we have even less influence than usual?” Owen called.

I don’t know. The world… It feels like it’s falling apart. I’m offsetting some of the Worldcore’s energy to holding it together.

“Observing doesn’t take energy, right?”

Very little.

“Okay. Then just—”

Another rumble. Nothing they could do. He was helpless. “Watch what’s going on out there,” Owen called. “I’m going to see if there’s any surgical thing we can do where the other clashes are happening!”

Okay!

Necrozma first. It was easy to find him with how bright it was.

In fact, it was a little too bright. What was going on?

“. . . contingency.”

“This has gone too far, Necrozma. We can’t risk you facing that down directly!”


Necrozma seemed to be injured from some unknown attack. He had one of his wings outstretched while a band of Pokémon held it in turn. Owen recognized many of them. Xerneas and Yveltal; Giratina; even Hoopa seemed to be subdued this time around, suppressed in her much smaller, impish form. The elite of Destiny Tower’s protectors were also there, like Serperior Trina and Corviknight Xypher.

“You think you will lose,” boomed a pensive voice behind all of them. A Torterra, larger than most, and one of the elite defenders of Destiny Tower.

“Forrest,” Xypher warned. “Don’t talk like that. Necrozma’s just… making contingencies! Like he said!” He puffed out his chest and cawed. Nobody answered the rally.

“That ain’t it,” Marshadow said, arms crossed.

Reshiram, Kyurem, and Zekrom nodded firmly as well. They seemed to trust Necrozma enough to follow through with this contingency.

“We don’t have time for debates. There is no downside to taking this Promise. Now, huddle together. It’s time.”

They recognized the need. With grudging glances at one another, one by one the group of Pokémon came together and held Necrozma’s wing. Soon, there were simply too many, and Necrozma brought another wing down for the rest.

“I hereby Promise to not fall in battle against the Blight,” Necrozma said. “Do you accept?”

“I accept,”
they all replied.

The light became too bright for Owen to watch. He quickly shifted away and checked other Legendary stars. He noticed that one in particular was dimmer than the rest.

He looked into it… and saw Necrozma. So, this was one of the Legends taking on that blessing. What? Why was it dimmer? Who was it? Owen tried to glance at others within sight to deduce, but he couldn’t remember who had been where. It was too bright to see the details.

And then, he lost the connection.

Necrozma had given that Promise to eighteen others. What a peculiar number. Pokémon could be categorized into seventeen elements, but what would be the final one?

Owen couldn’t look at the dim star anymore. The connection was cut. And as the Tree rumbled, Owen realized that fretting over that would do him no good. He returned to Necrozma now that it was possible to observe it again.

This time, through Necrozma’s eyes, he saw Hoopa Willow. The little imp nervously toyed with her rings, juggling with an Oran Berry through the portals.

“So why d’you wanna talk to just me, huh?” Hoopa said. “I’m not in trouble again, am I? I didn’t try to end the world this time!”

“…This time?”
Necrozma repeated.

“U-uhh, just as a prank! And not related to all of this!”

“…We’ll discuss this later. Hoopa, I need your help specifically for one part of my contingencies.”


Necrozma produced one of his light crystals and placed it in Hoopa’s hands. Something about it was different. It was more like glass with a faint glow than something elementally charged…

“Huh? Why me?”

“Think of this as… a wildcard. Untapped potential. An empty piece that cannot be predicted. And I need someone good at fleeing danger to hang onto it. Warping and Teleportation may not work well, Hoopa, but your rings seem to hold some power yet. I’d considered Madeline hiding in the Reverse Realm as well… but she’s too large and noticeable. You can hide. Can I trust you with this power?”

“Not really,”
Hoopa said.

“Good answer. That’s why I’m going to ask a Divine Promise of you in conjunction with the other one I’d given you, as further insurance.”

Hoopa pouted. “Fiiiine. If I HAVE to save the world, I’ll do it. What’s the Promise?”

“That whatever this power becomes… when you unleash your full potential, you will use it responsibly. In other words, when you Unbind yourself, and this power is at its strongest, you will only use it for good, and you will use it responsibly. And I
know you understand what responsibly means, deep down.”

Hoopa flinched. “But I can still do pranks when I’m weaker?”

“I understand the nature of compromise.”


Owen detected a grudging tone behind that one.

“Hmm…”

The Tree—or was it Destiny Tower?—rumbled.

“Okay. Let’s do it!”

“And I trust you will know what to do with this power later,” Necrozma said, “won’t you… Owen?”

Owen flinched. What? Did he hallucinate that? Those words sounded different. Were those Necrozma’s thoughts? They were louder. Less distant.

Voice didn’t seem to hear it. Maybe he was focused on whatever was happening outside the Tree. Necrozma’s star became too bright again as the Divine Promise began.

“Hey, Voice?” Owen called. “What, uh… what does Necrozma know about this place?”

What? Well, he was the one who recruited me, gave me some extra programming to facilitate this mini-world, and so on. He knows I exist.

“And he’s probably… aware of some of your properties, then.”

Probably.

“Right.”

Well. Owen was involved in Necrozma’s plans, or… maybe Necrozma was putting his faith in him to do what he couldn’t.

The Charmeleon winced, fist clenching. Even after all this, Necrozma was able to deduce all that? How?

If Necrozma was defeated here, Owen wondered if he’d ever find out.

He spared one last glance at Necrozma’s star. But who he saw next…

“Remi!”

“I dunno about this, Valle,” Remi said, arms crossed. The Sceptile had a radiant glow about her—in a very literal sense. It was like her scales had been replaced with gold.

“You are my final contingency,” Necrozma said. “Should everyone fall, should the world come to ruin, I will need one last light to persist. I will use my connection to the Worldcore to send you through it… to a place that I have hidden away so you may be reborn. It is the absolute last resort. Eventually, you should reawaken your memories of this time, and you will have my light, and… it should be enough to get a resistance going again.”

“This is a huge reach. What if… literally ANYTHING goes wrong? What if I die before I can do any of that? Or, uh, die again. Since I think if I go through with this, that’s kinda dying, right?”

“It’s not foolproof. I’m trying to make as many backup plans as possible.”
Necrozma dimmed. “I’ve… made many mistakes as an Overseer at this point. I’m in damage control, and even that may not be enough. Admittedly… some of this is through faith in others. Hecto is already scouting as much as he can, but I’ve ordered him to go into hiding, too. We can’t lose both Overseers.”

“Wait, both? So you’re really fighting?”

“Yes. I need to go now. The Tree of Life is already in danger.”

“Wait—you—”

“Stay here, Remi. The ‘rest of you’ is already fighting, I’m sure of it.”


Rest of her. Then… Necrozma must have done the same thing that he’d done to himself.

Maybe that’s how Necrozma guessed about him… No, that was also a stretch. “Why Remi?” Owen suddenly murmured. “Why is Necrozma picking Remi, of all people? There are so many others that could use this extra insurance… No, Necrozma, you’re more methodical than that…”

What? Voice called.

“Oh, sorry. Just talking to myself again…”

You do that a lot.

“Sorry…”

The Tree shook again. Thinking helped keep him calm. The whole Tree couldn’t fall away, right? It was too… big for that.

“What’s the plan if the Tree goes down?” Owen asked.

I have a backup… I won’t like it, but we can try to flee.

“Uh. What?”

Flee. Take the Tree’s energy and leave. This Tree is to house me, but I don’t need it as long as I keep the power.

“Oh. So that’s why you aren’t panicking…”

What? I thought you had a plan. That’s why I’m not panicking.

“But I thought you had a plan!”

Another rumble punctuated the silence that followed. The rainbow veins in the roots were noticeably dimmer.

“We… can’t do anything anymore,” Owen whispered. “That faith Necrozma has in us… We… we don’t have the power to enact it. Not against the Blight.”

He sank lower in the sphere, wishing he had a wall to lean on.

Owen wasn’t sure how much time passed afterward. Could have been a whole day of the Tree rumbling against the flames. Legends defending it, Alexander striking it down. Owen couldn’t find it in him to watch, knowing he could do so little. The Tree’s power was dwindling more and more and he’d so wastefully used it for a few useless words. Did anything even help Emily?

After some time, Owen noticed the blue orb floating nearby starting to flicker. Dangerously, too. “What…”

Nervously, he glanced at the stars again. Azelf’s was one of them, but he noticed, worriedly, that several of them were dimmer and…

“Where are they?” Owen suddenly asked. Voice didn’t answer; he must have been preoccupied with something else.

Owen pulled at a few of the stars. He saw through the eyes of mundane Pokémon—the ‘mortal’ halves of the Legends that Necrozma had split off from the Legend hosts. But no matter how many stars Owen looked through, he couldn’t find the Legends themselves anymore. They were… gone. Just gone. What did that mean?

“Mhynt,” Owen whispered, searching more, wondering if he’d find a single one.

Through the eyes of one, Owen saw a badly wounded, great flipper-wing—Lugia. The deep purple of her body was now only in shrinking patches, revealing white and silver beneath. She was too dazed to do anything else.

Necrozma purified her… or at least saved her from the worst of the corruption.

“What?” Owen mumbled.

And there was a Vaporeon next to Emily. She seemed confused, like she didn’t recognize anything at all, and eyed Emily with apprehension. Vaporeon… Wasn’t that Emily’s mortal form? Were they split… but Emily was spared whatever happened to the rest of them?

Owen, Voice called.

“H-huh?”

I… I’m sorry. I did what I could. But… Remi got caught up in the battle. Alexander was driven away and weakened, but… he…

Owen’s spirit felt like ice. The Voice said something else. He couldn’t focus on any of it.

The stars floated around Owen’s head. He glanced at a few, seeing nothing of importance, but it helped… move time along. Helped distract him as his world collapsed.

But I was able to salvage one part. Some of her spirit is here, Owen. Just like you. But…

Owen perked up. Remi, here? But… No. He couldn’t condemn her to a fate like this. She’d go crazy in the Worldcore. He was starting to lose it, seeing how helpless he was, but…

“Why?” Owen asked. “I-is there something we can do? Can we… draw her spirit from Alexander’s part, and then she’ll be okay again?!”

I… I don’t know how to do that, but… she isn’t conscious, Owen. She’s fading fast. If she fades completely, then even this fragment will return to Alexander… or the one with Necrozma. But not here. I’m sorry. But… if she can hang on, I can reincarnate her. She will be reborn, tied to the Tree of Life. She wants to wait until she can be reawakened again. Maybe with a piece of divine power.

“But how can she do that? She’s not divine, she never… got that sort of exemption. She…” Owen’s eyes trailed to the flickering, fading blue marble. His imagined heart skipped a beat. “Voice!” Owen cried, tossing the marble toward the stars. “Give her this!”

What?

“Azelf! I think Azelf was taken by the Blight. I don’t know where he is. But his blessing might still be around. It’s fading fast, though. If we can give that—that divine will to her, maybe—”

I don’t know if that will have any effect, Owen.

“Please, just… try! Maybe it’ll help her!” Owen squeezed his fists. His voice cracked. “What good will it be otherwise?! It had to be useful for something, it had to mean something!”

His voice bounced off the walls. That crumbling, shattering sound had finally come to an end. Whatever was happening outside was done and the Tree had, for now, survived. The Dark War had reached some kind of standstill. Neither side won, but both sides took heavy, heavy losses.

Okay, Voice said. If you see no other use for the fading Will of Azelf…

The blue marble disappeared into the Tree. Owen stared at the sky a little longer, the futures of the world murky and filled with uncertainty. The Dark War at a pause, not a halt. And everyone he knew was either missing or in hiding.

But he couldn’t give up. He was still alive. And so long as he remained in the Worldcore, with all the time the world had left, he had to keep fighting.

Quietly, he and Nate analyzed all of the data they’d gathered, the eyes they hadn’t seen in the heat of the moment, to determine, to the best of their ability, what happened. First: Necrozma’s contingency was to very slightly depower all the Legends by taking a piece of their souls and putting them in normal bodies again. They couldn’t get to all of them in time, but they got most of them.

Second: That the Legends failed. Systematically, the Wraiths took them out. Where they went after was a big unknown. The darkness that Alexander had sided with, that Wishkeeper had once contained, was… gone. Out of their view. It went to a different plane—the same as the other Legends. What a terrible fate, if they were still in the same place. They had to find a way to figure that out, but from the Worldcore, they were limited to the physical domain.

But, ultimately, Necrozma’s contingency saved the world from totally falling to darkness. Owen did not want to know what it would mean if that darkness got a hold of the full might of every Legend. Partial power wasn’t enough to override the Worldcore’s base rules.

The third was that the Legend halves were unconscious and recovering, for the most part. Among the Legends were also notable mortals and spirit guardians of Destiny Tower, who were given pieces of Necrozma’s divine power. They would be the new guardians of Necrozma’s third of those rules—the power to tap into the Worldcore’s reality-bending abilities. Arceus called them the Hands of Creation for that purpose.

The fourth and final thing that Owen and Nate gathered… was that a few anomalies were still present in the world. Giratina had disappeared before a clash happened; Lugia was still around, but without memories, and had stolen some of Necrozma’s power, only for it to be taken by the former Dragon of Ideals, Aramé. Still kept her massive size, though, and the darkness’ corruption seemed to melt Lugia’s body into a distortion in the shape of a Lugia rather than a normal creature…

But that was all they’d gathered. Necrozma lost, but saved the world and bought them all time. The most Owen could hope for now…

He just had to pick up the pieces and try again.

<><><>​

Year 1152

It took years, but Owen had organized new connections and ‘eyes’ to see the world. Necrozma’s plan had worked, but only partially.

In the aftermath of when the world had paused, Owen slowly waited with the Voice for the Worldcore to regain some of its energy. However, that process was a slow crawl, and during that time, the world deteriorated into something unrecognizable.

Forests withered away to a strange, purple miasma that had cropped up from fissures in the ground. Yet, paradoxically, the forest also expanded at the same time, an overgrowth that carried over much of the world’s landmass… and then beyond, overtaking oceans and driving that further away.

It was like the planet itself was growing in response to a surge of incoming matter. Owen had no idea what to make of it nor where it was coming from. It was out of the Worldcore’s range.

Anything that resembled the old civilization was buried in this expanding forest. Pockets of that old civilization survived where the strange creatures of the forest didn’t reach.

They weren’t Blights anymore. These things had melted into a black sludge, losing all semblance of what they had once been. They were Wraiths.

Destiny Tower had been hit hardest. It had decayed and eroded by a harsh twister that blew around it, locking Barky inside, as well as Manny. By the time the cyclone had finished, it was eroded into a giant spire of stone. More like a cave; even the insides had been eroded… and it lost connection to the upper half of the Tower, which was located in the aether.

The Legends’ mortal halves remained. Valle was missing, as were several others. Emily had lost her memories; Owen wasn’t sure how that happened, but he was pretty sure Uxie was involved in the same way they’d weaponized her powers against Wishkeeper. That would hold for a while.

Hecto had also survived. Owen wasn’t sure how many of him did, but thanks to being so widespread, his weakened aura was also much harder to detect amid normal, mortal Pokémon.

Barky had been badly injured in the battle but had saved Star. While the former went to Destiny Tower for safety, his wounds seemingly never recovering, Star scoured the world of Quartz for survivors.

The first few years were energized. Morale was high, despite the devastating losses they’d taken. Then, as the dead forest grew, the sky shifted red, and no substantial changes emerged, that morale died a slow, withering death.

More than a century later, many mortal Pokémon alive didn’t know what a blue sky looked like. There was only one place in the world that pierced that red miasma that shrouded the world: the Tree of Life.

Pokémon braved the Wraith-infested lands to make a pilgrimage to the Tree of Life to strengthen themselves and see ‘what the world used to be like.’ At around the same time the miasma had covered the whole world, Pokémon took longer and longer to evolve… except when near the Tree of Life.

But being weak, and having to go past Wraiths that guarded the Tree’s perimeter, made for a deadly combination. The world’s population… dwindled.

And for each death that happened, a dark power’s influence clutched at the hearts of the living, growing ever stronger. Soon, that power would eclipse the Voice’s… and Owen, within the Worldcore, had spent all that time preparing for the Blight’s resurgence.

Today felt different.

Owen sighed to himself, staring at his favorite two stars. From one, a Sceptile remained hidden, shrouded in a Psychic barrier that kept all Wraiths away from her. From another, a feral Arcanine guarded her pup from a Wraith, fending it off with practiced ease.

Mhynt had survived, though she, like Barky, had been severely weakened, and the miasma prevented any hope of regaining their lost strength.

Remi, the one whose spirit was tied to the Worldcore, had reincarnated into an Arcanine this time and had gone through several lives beforehand. Remi’s spirit was strong; she always grew up with a tendency toward kindness, intense curiosity, and defiance.

She died a lot. But her spirit pressed on anyway.

“Voice?” Owen called. “Do you feel that?”

I do.

With Necrozma gone, spirits flowed to the Tree of Life directly, like a repository. They magnetized to the leaves, little wisps curling up and nestling within as they slept the years away. It was peaceful. Owen gently sorted through their memories to learn more about the outside world now that his old stars had become… limited.

And what they felt was the darkening of recent spirits, as well as fewer and fewer coming to the Tree. The Voice described them as ‘budding agents of the Blight’ with how some of them seemed to embrace that dark force.

Considering the Wraiths thrived in this environment… Owen couldn’t blame them, to an extent. It made the simple act of breathing easier if one took in that darkness.

“I’m going to do another check,” Owen said. “Let’s see if we can’t find the Blight source again. It’s getting too big to hide, gotta be…”

Don’t waste too much energy on it.

“I know. The same amount as usual. I’ll keep it small.”

Scans had become very efficient thanks to Owen’s methodology. He could get it done without using even ten days’ energy, and in only a few minutes, too. They’d been “saving” energy for a century, and they’d started to stockpile it fifty years ago. They had enough for a few dramatic endeavors once it was time to fight.

And today…

“A-ah!”

Was that day.

What? What do you see?

Owen slammed his fist into another star, digging through it and wiggling his claws. Deftly, he triggered several procedures that he’d managed to program into the Worldcore.

Owen?!

“Sorry, no time!” Owen said. “I’m alerting everyone!”

Why? What’s happening?

The chamber around Owen lit up. The leaves of the Tree of Life did the same, doubling the radius of the blue skies like a beacon. Owen glanced at several of the stars in the Worldcore… Yes, that caught the attention of Star. That’s what he needed.

“The Blight’s coming this way! It’s about a mile out, but he’s closing in fast!”

It was this close?!

“That must be why those spirits were so dark,” Owen said. “Good thing I trusted my gut…”

Not that he had a true gut anymore. Still felt the same.

“It’s been something we’ve anticipated for a long time, Voice. The Blight’s back, and—h-how long has it been? A century? I think I lost track…”

The Worldcore tends to do that.

The Tree of Life rumbled with activity. Owen heard whispers in the roots as spirits arose from their slumber. They, too, wanted to help—even the ones that had been tinged by darkness seemed willing to fight by the others’ side. Owen wasn’t sure what happened in that mysterious realm within the Tree—he wasn’t allowed inside, lest he get lost in the afterlife—but they tended to help those who had become lost souls swiftly.

And they’d need every single one of their help to counter the Blight.

I’m noticing something strange down below, Voice said.

“Uh? Down below? What does that mean?”

I… I don’t know. It just feels like “below.”

“Like, underground?”

No. Below.

A pause. Owen didn’t know what to make of that. “Uh, okay. Let me know if that changes.”

More important things to worry about.

Owen muttered to himself small reminders. How certain stars worked. The way he had to line certain ones up and activate them all at once. Occasionally, he called for spirits to make sure they were all in position within the Tree’s leaves and roots. The Blight was closing in.

And for a short moment, Owen considered one last saving throw.

“…Hey… are you there?” he called. “It’s me. Owen.”

He checked the stars. The Blight slowed. It heard him.

“I don’t know what you want anymore. The way the world’s becoming… Is that because of you? Why are you destroying the world when you wanted to save it?”

Slower and slower. Was Owen getting through to him? After all this time?

He tried to get a better visual of the Blight. At this point, he didn’t need other eyes to do it. He could see through the buds of some of the Tree’s flowers, gathering light that way.

Spiritomb again. Maybe the same one? Or maybe that was simply his favored form. And just behind him… Alexander, the Hydreigon of flame.

Owen’s entire body felt hot, his spirit blazing at the sight of the one who’d taken his daughter. The torment she’d been put through, the experiments Alexander had tried against her amnesiac self… claimed her spirit…

I found you.

Owen gasped. The Blight fired a beam of darkness before he was ready—right when he’d been distracted—and struck the base of the Tree. The little Charmeleon sprite jumped out of the Worldcore and held up his arms just in time to block the dark lance that had burrowed through the roots.

But it was just short of hitting anything. Owen didn’t know if his Protect worked anymore as a spirit, but… he supposed he wouldn’t have to find out.

Instead, what remained of the dark lance was a small puff of black smoke. Watching. Floating. It didn’t dissipate.

“…Is that you?” Owen asked quietly.

“I’m sorry for this,” the dark mote said.

Its cadence suggested he wasn’t truly there, but was a message left behind. Owen listened in silence.

“I tried it your way. I tried to gather the Hands to reshape the world and free me from its suffering. I know you are trying, but lack the power. Alexander… showed me the truth that you hid from me, Owen. That in the end, power and power alone is what matters. And look. Look at the progress made in such a short time. The gods cannot touch me if they are even alive anymore. And when I claim the Tree of Life, everything will fall under my power. Then… I can fix things.”

“He’s not there to help you,” Owen hissed, but of course the mote, just a message, would not listen. “He’s using you! Alexander—”

Don’t waste the energy, Owen! He’s advancing!

“Ugh!” Owen winced and shot into the Worldcore again, grasping at familiar stars with practiced ease. “Okay, okay, let’s see, uhh, I know I hooked up a few of these to—there!”

Direct anything and everything to stopping him. That’s the source of all this!

“Okay. Okay. It’s… it’s not him anymore. Just someone led astray by Alexander. If… if we kill him, that’s… we can help him in the Overworld, or something, right?”

Even as Owen murmured, he charged the Tree. It used a lot of power, but he’d been prepping for its weaponization for a while. Channeling the energy of all the spirits within, all the energy saved, all the residual power from the world over decades, into concentrated blasts…

That would eliminate anyone.

“I’m sorry,” Owen whispered.

He pressed a hand forward and into a star, clenched his fist, and pointed.

In his mind’s eye, he saw the Blight the closest he’d ever seen it. A great, black miasma with a single red core in the center; looming over it was Alexander, sneering at the Tree and murmuring something to the orb of darkness.

Everything around them was withering into black ash. Even feral Pokémon unfortunate enough to be in the way went from healthy to skeletal in seconds.

No. Such a thing could not exist unchecked.

He should have listened to Necrozma.

Owen made another gesture with his hand, controlling the Tree’s energy. “Get ready, Voice!”

The root’s veins are open. Fire!

Dragon energy would do. Nothing truly nullified it, and even if that strange orb had acquired Steel, the power of a Dragon was mighty and consistent. Owen had configured the Tree to focus on its Dragon element as much as possible. Prior, it had been about plants and psionics to match Xerneas’ tendencies… but with Xerneas gone, Owen worked with what he thought was better.

Ten percent of the Tree’s energy was used up from this blast, but it would be more than enough at this proximity. Alexander’s eyes widened, but the Blight shrouded him in darkness and expanded, taking the blast directly.

“Yes!” Owen laughed. “A direct hit!”

Dragon energy scorched the ground, turning soil into flaming, indigo fields. A crater a hundred feet wide, smoldering in the center, remained.

Oh.

And in the middle was the Blight, and Alexander, completely unscathed.

It nullified your attack.

“What?” Owen murmured. “How? I’m sure I used Dragon, not Normal, but he acts like I’d struck with Hyper Beam or something…”

Try an analysis. He’s close enough.

Owen fiddled with the stars. The Spiritomb body had returned, though instead of its usual stone anchor, it was replaced by that red sphere—the Blight’s core.

“I’m seeing signatures from Shedinja,” Owen reported. “I think he’s using the power of other spirits he’d possessed… and he’s integrating them into his body.”

Shedinja? But that means…

“It means that as a Spiritomb, no normal attacks get through that barrier. It completely nullifies any energy that doesn’t directly counter that shield… ah! But it doesn’t protect against disruptions!”

Owen quickly reconfigured the Tree. He called upon a few Tyranitar who had settled within, asking to lend their power.

No, that won’t work, Voice interjected. No…! He has Rayquaza’s…!

“You’re kidding,” Owen whispered.

The Tree rumbled again. The Voice shrieked in pain—that was a hard hit. Alexander and the Blight were on the offensive.

“Voice!” Owen cried.

I—I’m okay, Voice said back. Sorry, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do. I can’t fight against this!

Owen kept checking. All the planning, all this prep, and it was all falling apart around him. This was supposed to be the world’s effort, and it was being completely nullified by the Blight’s raw power. But not only that…

“I should have known,” Owen said, breathing hard. A few pieces of wood fell through his ethereal body. The Tree of Life was falling. “He wouldn’t have come here without a plan for everything.”

In one of Owen’s visuals of the decaying forest, Star had appeared. She was trying to fight the Blight off, and, from the horror Owen saw in her eyes, she must have realized his invincibility.

The Blight is a pessimist in nature, the Voice said. If he thought anything could have gone wrong, he planned for it and assumed it would happen. He… covered everything. Every time I think of a weakness, he seems to have a counter. I’m even calling for Pokémon with abilities that ignore abilities, but he seems to have a counter for that, too!

“The only thing that would’ve worked was Radiance,” Owen said. “There’s no resistance to that. Spiritomb would be weak to that. Everything is, especially Shadows, but…”

But hypotheticals wouldn’t work now. With Necrozma gone, much of that ‘Radiance’ he held also went away. Even the fragments of Necrozma, embedded in eighteen trusted Guardians, lost much of their light. They’d retained only a glow, some psionics, and a boost in power and levitation. That was it. That was nothing compared to the Blight.

Another tremor interrupted Owen’s thoughts. The Voice cried in pain. The Tree was on fire once more. It had barely recovered from the last time. The roots darkened.

“This is practically cheating,” Owen said, slamming his hands against the stars. “What are we supposed to do against this?! We prepped for everything!”

“This is goodbye to the old era of gods, as its last artifact is toppled!” Alexander declared. Long live the Void King!”

With flames of darkness behind him, Alexander drew a javelin of darkness from thin air in his smaller left head. He rolled his shoulder back.

Owen closed his eyes and held back a sob. He saw no way out of it. The Blight had won, against all his planning. He’d lost his way too early and his tiny fragment wasn’t enough to right those wrongs.

In one sense, it was Owen’s punishment. But he could not accept that—because so many others suffered far more than he had. He had to fix it so that wouldn’t happen. Now… it was all just bitter, senseless failure.

The attack never came.

For a few seconds after, Owen waited, somewhere between confused and braced. He dared to check the stars again…

A gold ring had intercepted the javelin, and another gold ring appeared behind Alexander, where the Javelin had exited and impaled him. Alexander’s eyes were wide not with pain but surprise and anger.

“HA!” shrieked a booming, yet high-pitched voice. “Forget about ME?!”

Hoopa—a towering, Unbound djinn—crossed her arms and smirked a jagged, toothy grin.

“Willow?!” Owen pressed his hands against the wall of the Worldcore in disbelief. “I thought she… but we couldn’t…!”

“We knew you’d come here, Blight,” called another voice, emerging from the shadows. Giratina—the same Giratina who’d been plunged into darkness with Hoopa during the Dark War a century earlier. “We waited, ever patient, for you to reveal yourself.”

Giratina disappeared into another realm when the Blight tried to strike at Giratina with a hazy, black tendril. A realm beyond Owen’s sight—the Reverse World, on the other side of Quartz.

“Of course,” Owen whispered. “I… But who else is there?” he wondered, his heart swelling with hope.

And just then, another Legend appeared, this time with a great downpour of moonlight. Lunala. Owen could cry.

And on Lunala’s shoulder… was Sceptile Mhynt. He had to confirm it when checking her star—but yes. The holder of Necrozma’s Psychic shard—one of the strongest that resonated—had survived… However, Owen noted a nasty-looking scar along Lunala’s wings from a slash long ago. It reminded him of torn paper somehow brought back together.

“We planned and waited,” Lunala said, but then erupted into light. Her body dissolved and returned to Mhynt, who closed her eyes and took a long, slow breath. She floated without wings, aglow with Necrozma’s light…

But, frowning, Owen sensed that this light was too weak for the Shadows. It wasn’t ‘complete’ without Necrozma himself present. They still wouldn’t be enough.

“’Tina!” Star cried, Teleporting to her side when she emerged from a black portal again. “Th-thanks for the backup, but… the Tree, I think it’s alive! And trying to fight back, but even its strongest blast isn’t enough…”

“Kuhuhu…”
Hoopa pointed at the Blight and Alexander, both of them seething. The Hydreigon removed his javelin, spilling black blood far below. The wound closed itself in seconds. “That’s why I’M here. As the ultimate wild card, I have—I mean, you have no idea what I’m going to do!”

“Wild card…” Owen whispered. The gears turned in his mind.

The Blight, an eternal pessimist, had prepared for every single thing that the world could have thrown at it. Every rule, every elemental matchup, every possibility had been accounted for.

The only thing the Blight couldn’t defend against… was the impossible. Was a new rule.

Owen had to cheat, too.

The Tree of Life trembled. Owen, what are you doing? Don’t touch that!

“Sorry, Voice,” Owen said. “But I need to do something with that wild card!”

The earth rumbled again. Giratina, Mhynt, Star, and Hoopa had combined their efforts to fend off the Blight and Alexander, buying time, but a delay was all they could accomplish on their own. They needed a miracle. They needed that wild card to pay off.

They needed something that could pierce the invincible state the Blight had created for itself… and, probably, something to defeat Alexander just as well.

An empty shard, waiting to take on a new form. The blank check that Necrozma had given in the hope and faith that Owen would find a use for it.

“Necrozma,” Owen said quietly. “I hope… I hope this is enough!”

He wasn’t sure about his exact thought process anymore. He thought of something strange, unpredictable, scary. Something that could trick and pierce the darkest of powers, ignore the specters, and conquer Dragons. The antithesis to Alexander, the exception to the Blight’s immunity that came with its Dark and Ghost shards that it had taken from Necrozma.

With the world’s rules at the tips of his claws, Owen rewrote the rules to the Voice’s direct protest. All of its power from a century of saving it up, as the very fabric of the world became its most unstable state, with no other options left on the table, Owen tapped into Hoopa’s wildcard and rewrote reality.

And he created a weakness out of thin air.

BOOM!

A pink shockwave lit the skies. The Tree of Life charged a new beam that siphoned its very life force to perform. Hoopa’s blank crystal glow shifted to that same, mischievous pink. Alexander roared in sudden pain, covering his eyes as a glimmering, dazzling light shredded his scales and wings. The Blight, too, recoiled in pain and shriveled at the sudden onslaught of energy that cleaved through all of its shields.

“Huh?” Hoopa said. “I mean—yeah, take THAT! How’s my wild card now?!” She balled up her great fist and brought it back, punching Alexander in his main face. Black blood spattered on her knuckles as she liquefied his muzzle with an audible squelch, but even that wasn’t enough to knock Alexander out. He gurgled a snarl and used his smaller heads to blast at Hoopa at close range.

Mhynt and Giratina stepped in next, striking Alexander while the Blight continued its roaring from the Tree’s onslaught. Suddenly, the whole battle had reversed: The Blight backed away, desperate for distance, and Alexander couldn’t handle the hidden Legends.

I’m detecting a rift into the Reverse Realm. Giratina’s trying to pull them away!

“What? Why?!”

Even with all these attacks, I don’t think they can defeat him… They’re going to seal them away!

“No! No, we can do it!” Owen screeched. He pressed into the nearest star—it happened to be Giratina’s. “Giratina! Madeline! Listen! Stall a little longer! We can do it!”

No response.

“Madeline?” Owen called again. “Giratina?”

The star flickered and dimmed. In the weakening light of Owen’s last connections to the outside world, he saw Madeline and the others pulling the Blight and Alexander into a black portal conjured by Giratina. Hoopa’s power, in direct contact with the Blight, was waning, even after the wildcard had activated.

“Not… yet,” Alexander said, his muzzle solidifying from pure Shadows. “I’m not… falling here…!”

He grasped at the root of the Tree just outside the portal. The Voice yelped. The stars dimmed even more. The world around Owen was almost completely black. A void.

He heard Alexander’s voice over the collapse of the Tree.

“My final plan…” Alexander pushed the Blight toward Giratina and used that momentum to break away. “By my Divine Decree…!”

The Voice wailed. Owen stared at his own hands. They were fading. Alexander was siphoning the Tree’s power using the divine power of the Blight… He was trying to use the anti-Hands to do the Hands’ work and write a rule into the Worldcore! But why? What was he planning to do?

“The Legends… and all who fall into the void of the Reverse World… shall be… FORGOTTEN!”

Owen’s heart iced over. If they forgot… Alexander would have all the time in the world to recover. He’d still know.

And with a final push, and a final roar of anger from the Blight, Alexander separated himself from the pull of Giratina and the Legends.

“No!” Giratina shouted.

“Just pull!” Mhynt said, jamming her blade into the Blight’s core. It cracked, spewing darkness in all directions. “We got the Blight… That’s good enough… we can let the rest of the world deal with Alexander…”

The deeper they went into the portal, the weaker Owen’s connection to them became. And he realized too late that upon creating that new type to counter the Blight, just to weaken it… he’d used up all of the Tree’s power. They couldn’t hear him.

He hadn’t even thought to speak to Mhynt again until it was too late. Speak to… speak to…

“We were so close,” Owen whispered. “We could have ended all of this right now. Saved everyone. Fixed everything.”

The Tree of Life was dying. Its wood had rotted from the inside and that rot had made it to the base of the Tree. The Worldcore, pelted by falling debris, dimmed.

“What was the point of all this?” Owen said, staring at his wispy hands. “What was the point of any of this?! Why did I spend… a century underground, with my hands right next to the rules of the universe, only to FAIL AT THE END?!”

He ineffectually slammed his hands into the ground, trying to pull up dirt and rocks.

“I rewrote… reality itself… and still THIS!” He laughed slamming his hands over and over into nothing, flipping in the air with his ethereal momentum.

“A-and… and what was it that Alexander said?” he said. “Anyone who enters somewhere… is forgotten. And… the Legends?” Owen rubbed his head nervously. “Did… did we ever have Legends? Who… who did we forget? Voice?” Owen looked up. His heart ached. His very soul wanted to cry out. “Who did we forget?”

I… I can’t remember. I’m sorry.

“You? You can’t? But… but you’re this world, Voice…!” Owen tried to piece together the flickering orbs of the Worldcore, so drained of power. “We have to remember! Please, just… override it! Undo it!”

You know I can’t do that, Owen…

“BUT WHAT DID WE FORGET?”

I don’t know! I’m… I’m sorry, Owen…!

Owen paced nervously. “I—I can’t forget. I can’t forget that. I can’t forget what I was doing here. I… I rewrote something, right, I had to defeat… Alexander? Just Alexander? Right, the… the thing I made, it was… because—Remi. Because of Remi! My… daughter! With… with…!”

Ice filled his ethereal body.

“…Who is her mother?” he whispered.

But when Owen tried to think about Remi’s mother, all he saw was a black void in his mind. Someone who… wasn’t.

The feelings. He remembered the feelings of warmth and love and pain and anguish. But no memories beyond it. Someone who was there, but not anymore.

Owen, Voice said tentatively. I’m sensing something in… in the aftermath of whatever happened here. We must have fought to get it. I’m seeing… a few shards of something divine. Maybe of… of someone that used to be here.

“…It must be left behind for something…” Owen closed his eyes. “Maybe… a message…”

One resonates with Psychic power. I think… I’m going to give it to some of my oldest spirits. The Unown. They should be able to protect it. Another one is of Dark energy. They won’t like that, but… maybe I can hang onto it.

But that last shard… it’s so dark. I don’t think anything should interact with it. I’m going to relocate it. I think it used to be… Ghost. Didn’t Giratina have this one? Ghost and Dark… that must be where the darkness got those elements to gain immunity to so much of what we threw at it. Psychic from Mhynt… Dark, didn’t that go to Xypher? I think I saw him get taken down by one of Alexander’s elite troops. But I don’t know where he went… Must have been defeated.

But why is Ghost so… corrupted? I don’t want to study it. That might leak into the Tree. We’re too vulnerable.


The Tree of Life groaned as its trunk struggled to support itself. The Voice stopped rambling to focus on keeping it together.

“What’s the point?” Owen said. “If the Tree goes, won’t the world fall apart? It’s held together by divine power. If it goes, the world will…”

I have… one last backup that I can do. I’ll have to take the Tree within me and let its power exist in the crater it leaves behind. Within me. It’ll… buy time. I’ll have to hide. I’ll use this Dark power to do it.

“Okay,” Owen said, defeated. “If it’ll… buy time.”

A flickering light caught Owen’s attention. He glanced at one of the last, dim stars in the Worldcore. A view from the Tree itself.

The red miasma was clearing away. It was like something had… broken away. The blue sky peeked out of the once thick, red clouds all over a ruined world.

“I’m so tired,” Owen admitted. “I’m… I’m so tired. And I can’t even remember why.”

Rest, Owen. Let me handle this for a while. And when you have the energy again… Let’s figure out what to do.

There is… one thing I still see in the Worldcore that’s bothering me.


“What?” Owen asked.

There’s a timer for a thousand years. It went off a century ago. And I know that corresponds to something we had to do. Something we’ve been doing… And the timer. It’s cyclical.

“Cyclical?” Owen repeated. His mind buzzed with what little energy he had left. “Wait, then… this might happen again. Or something will happen again, maybe even—a hint?”

Yes. After the timer resets again in a good… nine centuries or so. Something will happen again.

“Nine… centuries.” Owen laughed. “Nine centuries. Okay.” He closed his eyes and leaned back. The Voice’s body was absorbing the Tree and, with it, the Worldcore.

I hope you can handle it, Owen…

“I need to know those answers,” Owen said. “And one thing I didn’t forget was… that I needed to repay the world for something. I’ll protect it from whatever’s coming. And until then… I’m not gone. I’m still here.”

That’s familiar. I think we’ve done this before.

“And I remember it was worse before,” Owen said, glancing at the clearing sky. “Maybe… maybe something good happened.”

We won’t know until that timer resets.

“Yeah.” Owen nodded. “If that’s the case… It’s time to recover.”

I’ll do what I can. Owen sensed a smile in his tone. …Thank you for helping. I’ll still need your guidance… okay?

Owen closed his eyes. Even in the darkness of the underground, the projection of the expanding blue sky warmed his spirit. “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”

<><><>​

Year 1321

Today, Remi died in the cold, after getting lost from her herd of Stantler. It was a sad and early death, and Owen whispered small comforts as she lay dying in the snow, but he also knew that sometimes, such misfortunes were the natural outcome of a feral life.

Society had rebuilt from scratch. Small civilizations at first scattered throughout the world whose name was forgotten, becoming villages and small towns. Technologies and relics of old found and reverse-engineered by the smartest of Pokémon.

Remnants of distortions from an unknown clash scarred the land, but those blessed with an equally unknown, golden power helped to counteract it. Most of all, a great Goodra who wandered the land. Owen knew her as Madeline, but much of her past was a heavy and frustrating fog.

Owen had been semi-dormant for a while now. He’d lost track of the time. At least, without a mortal body, he was also free of mortal boredom. He seemed to have no trouble drifting through the abyss that had become the Voice’s realm with little grief.

Watching the outside world through flickering stars was his entertainment. It was peaceful. It bothered him that surely things he’d forgotten were missing, and he also knew Alexander was somewhere in the world with Remi, so he still had things to fix. But compared to before… he had to appreciate the small victories to stay sane.

The Tree of Life had instead become a great pit of darkness that Pokémon tended to avoid due to how ominous it seemed. There was also a similar pit that was actually dangerous to approach just west of the Tree’s old location. That one had formed from the distortions during the forgotten war.

“Hey, Voice,” Owen said. “I think I’m starting to think a little more again…”

That’s nice, Owen.

“No, for real this time!” Owen said, recalling vaguely that he’d said that many times before in a half-lucid state. “The world is really… stable. But that just means Alexander is still planning something, and once he gets what he wants, he’ll make a move again. Do you think… we should start trying to mobilize, too?”

…Oh, you’re awake this time, Voice conceded. I’ve been trying a few things for now. But Star and Barky figured out most of it. Right now, Alexander needs to be kept away from divine power as much as possible.

“Far away… But I think Tim—uh, I mean… Eon he’s calling himself now… He’s gearing up to gather that divine power, too…”

Yes. But Eon… His genetic augmentation project is going wrong and he’s not realizing the sacrifices he’s making, Owen. But he isn’t the one paying for it…

“Well, that Divine Decree messing with his form was more an… advanced payment,” Owen muttered. “I know he wasn’t always a Ditto. He must have been a Mew, and then…” He tried to think again, tried to vocalize his feelings, but that void in his memory would not brighten.

I don’t know what to do from here, Voice admitted. Maybe you should get back to resting. I’ll monitor as much as I can until something new happens. Besides… the less energy you use, the more you save for when it matters.

That cold uncertainty returned. That was what happened last time. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the right moment to expend everything… Was that the right thing to do?

“Hey, what’s that?” someone whispered in the stars.

Owen squinted at the noise.

In the fading, flickering star of Remi’s current life, an orange flame cut through the whiteout of the snowstorm. Remi was too weak to move.

It was a Charizard, his form twisted by experiments, but the general shape and appearance remained. Slimmer, with crazed eyes and a more pronounced muzzle, pointed horns, and enhanced musculature. A mutant Pokémon built for battle and little else.

But this time, there was kindness behind that enthusiastic energy.

Behind the Charizard was an Alakazam. A psionic barrier protected him from the snow, forming a bubble of ice. “It’s a fallen Pokémon, Owen. This is a harsh storm.” He hummed, tapping his chin. “I suppose we could use some extra food back home. Would save me the trouble.”

Owen winced. Well, that’s gonna be awkward to recall… but that was the cycle of life. Remi happened to be part of it. It wasn’t really… “Remi” anymore anyway. Not right now. He pushed the star away, not wanting to witness that regardless.

“I’m worried about them,” Owen admitted. “They’ve forgotten the real purpose behind what they’re doing and don’t even realize it. Even Michael—uh, Nevren doesn’t realize it. And it’s not like whispering in their dreams works, either… What do we tell them? We don’t remember…”

I don’t know, Owen. But keeping an eye on these powers as they develop will be important.

“Yeah…”

“Owen, what are you doing?”

Owen tilted his head and, morbidly, checked Remi’s star.

He was trying to feed Remi an Aspear Berry. “I’m trying to warm her up,” Charizard Owen explained.

“For what purpose?”

“To help her!”

“Why, precisely?”
Nevren asked, a hint of impatience in his voice.

“Well, because she’s hurt…”

The light in Remi’s star was brighter. After a few minutes of treatment from a combination of Aspear Berry juice and Owen’s body heat from a full embrace, Remi’s star was brighter than ever.

“I don’t see the point in this, you know,” Nevren chided. “Nature would have taken its course. The herd would be stronger in the end.”

“I know, but… this was a freak storm, right? Maybe she was just unlucky.”

“Hrm. Well, I suppose that is also true.”

“And,”
Owen went on, “Dad always said that people like us, we’re also part of nature. And if we choose to save another part of nature, isn’t that also nature taking its course? Deciding for ourselves… and not what higher powers dictate? Nature’s kinda a higher power, right?”

Nevren sighed. “It shouldn’t be applied that way, but… I’m not going to convince you, and it’s not a serious strain on our resources. Go as you like, Owen.”

Owen gently held the Stantler, who exhaled over Owen’s shoulder. “Don’t listen to him,” he murmured. “You’re gonna be fine… in fact…” Owen perked up. “I think I sense tracks nearby. She got lost, but the herd’s pretty close!”

And a moment later, another Stantler cried far in the distance, and then another. Remi’s star flashed and she bellowed out a call, startling Owen into wobbling away.

Owen nervously laughed, “H-hey! Looks like your energy’s back!”

Remi was on her feet. She was winding up to jump away but hesitated to look at Owen again. She trotted close and pressed her forehead against his chest.

Nevren flicked his wrist, Teleporting a notepad into his hands as he wrote a few things down. “Fascinating,” he murmured. “Now, I suppose that will be all for this excursion, Owen. Perhaps we should return home.”

“Yeah…”
Owen scratched his cheek. Gently, he ran his claws through her fur.

Owen paused, transfixed until Remi stepped back and galloped away.

The star’s luminosity returned to normal. Owen, watching from the Worldcore, noticed little sparkles falling from his face and sniffed. “Oh—” he mumbled.

Are you okay, Owen?

“Uh—yeah. Sorry.” Owen wiped his face again. “Anyway… um… we’ll just watch,” he said. “Watch and… and wait.”

Silence, for a time. Then, The mind forgets, but the spirit remembers the broad strokes. I think that’s what happened there, Owen. Perhaps… you were drawn to each other this one time. And it may happen again.

“…Yeah. Sorry, I just… wasn’t expecting any of that.” He sank into the Worldcore again, enjoying its comforting darkness. His flame illuminated so little of it. “I’m going to rest a while…”

Good night, Owen.

<><><>​

Year 1520

Today, Owen cried in “Nate’s” arms. It happened now and then over the years, but this one felt worse.

In just one year, he’d witnessed misfortunes happen to all three fragments of Remi. Yes, the feral one was just a routine illness that finally claimed her, but the others… It was too much.

The ten-eyed, red-flamed Charmander gently patted Owen on the back, murmuring quiet assurances that everything would be okay.

“It’s going to be okay,” Nate said. “It’s just a small setback. Plenty of time to recover before the timer ticks down. We’re only a little past halfway. So much can change in those centuries.”

Owen took a long, slow breath. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah… It’s just, a lot suddenly happened right this year. Why? Is it… is it coincidence? Can’t be, but the stars didn’t show me anything…”

Nate shook his head. “I’m not sure, either,” he said. “But I think once one person makes a move, a lot of other plans start falling into place, too. It was a second war, all in just this short time…”

The ten-eyed Charmander gestured to the stars, expanding a few to make displays of a few of the chaotic events. A Goodra, son of Madeline, acquired the Ghost Orb that had been abandoned. The same Ghost Orb that connected to the Reverse World—and, therefore, the place they assumed many tainted spirits had been placed.

There had been some sort of battle. The loser was pulled into the Reverse World; Owen had no idea if they were friends or foes, but with how everyone claiming victory was someone Owen liked… it must have been a great enemy.

But not without immense sacrifice along that path.

Mispy and Nevren had a close encounter with that Goodra. And while nobody knew the full extent of what he held, Nevren would be observing him closely. Growing nervous, Eon had accelerated the mutant experiments and the efforts in “fusion” to ascend a mortal past a god’s strength. And that ended up breaking the minds of Owen and his friends irreparably.

Another fated encounter between Owen and Remi happened—but this time, with a different fragment. Without anyone’s notice, another reincarnation had been cycling through the Aura Sea—the new afterlife that Star and Barky made after the old one—presumably—vanished. And that new life… attached to a Guardian.

And Owen killed her without recognition, his mutant body warping his soul. Perhaps when it was wiped clean of any ancestry, that connection to Remi had also been destroyed. Now, Owen suspected that only he, in the Worldcore, retained that connection.

Not long after, someone was doing… experiments with Remi. Owen couldn’t remember the details anymore. But it was to create something from her light and that person’s darkness. That cascaded into a serious clash between that person and Eon’s group, the Hunters, and… the death of the mutant, Owen. It was a tragedy, in a way: Rhys had planned to take Owen out of there after the Grass Guardian incident, only for Alexander to injure Rhys and kill Owen. Nevren had never looked so upset.

And now they couldn’t even remember what caused it. Owen dreaded what false memories, conjured by their physical minds, would fill in the gaps.

“It looks like all the Guardians are scattering again,” Nate said. “That—hm…”

He drifted through the dark and pushed a star to Owen. “Wait, Owen. I found something interesting in this one.”

Owen tilted his head and peered inside.

“Oh… don’t worry about that. I think I can see you now… but I’m fading fast.”

Owen’s heart skipped a beat. It was distorted, but that voice… “Remi!”

The one that had been… taken by someone. By that forgotten person.

“What?” whispered a Hydreigon next to the speaker. Based on the surrounding, lava-filled environment, this seemed to be the Fire Orb’s interior. “Mother, what happened to you?”

“Nate,” Owen said. “We can’t usually see inside an Orb Realm. Why is this happening?”

“…Oh, goodness,” Nate whispered. “Look!”

And hiding behind a rock, trembling with fear… was Owen. Dead—the mutant killed in the fight.

That was why. He had direct access…

He returned to the conversation.

“I’ll take care of Owen,” a Gardevoir with blue hair said. “But why?”

“He’s going to be needed for the world later,” Remi replied. “The person I’m trying to stop… I know he’ll try to return. And Owen’s the only one left who can do it.”

“Who is this evil person?”
asked a Dusknoir nearby—Owen recognized him. Hecto.

“Sorry… I don’t know anymore. He was sealed away, and memories of him disappeared when that happened. Just like me. Ah… sorry… I…”

Owen pulled away, claw to his chin. “Remi…”

“That confirms it,” Nate said, nodding with all eyes closed. “I trust Remi’s intuition. She’s been with this person for far longer; she must be thinking of a plan she’d overheard, or was unwillingly part of it.”

“Hmm…”

“We need to get ready for that. The Guardians will have to come together again to defeat this person. Let’s remember that.”

“Right.” Owen nodded, tuning back into the star.

“I feel like someone just exited this domain,” Gardevoir said.

Owen tilted his head. Why was he watching them so intently before, again…?

“You would naturally be very aware of such things,” Hecto said. “Who left?”

“I don’t know. It’s like I had miscounted this whole time…”


Hecto turned his attention to his arm. Owen squinted, trying to get a look himself. “Hm. There’s a message on my hand.”

“Oh, goodness! Are you injured?”

“It is not a bother. It says, ‘Remi.’”


Alex’s heart fluttered. “Remi… Is that a name?” He held his chest. “Why do I… feel…”

“…Remi,” Owen whispered. “She’s… somewhere else. And…”

“I can’t remember,” Nate said. “Gods, that Decree is so strong. For someone to have made it that way… we definitely need to gather the Guardians. The Guardians, and Star and Barky. All the Hands together, if we can afford it.”

“But if the Reverse Realm is tied to the Ghost Orb, isn’t that already tainted?” Owen bit his cheek. “That’s a huge risk…”

Especially since the Ghost Orb’s holder was forming the dominant kingdom. If he expanded to all of Kilo, that could get ugly if that darkness spread to the other Guardians.

“Ngh…” Owen rubbed his head. “We’d need to time it to the timer. That’s five hundred years from now, but… when the timer goes away, everything will weaken, and we can start doing bigger things again. Step in to stop the darkness from spreading.”

Nate nodded eagerly. “Yes. But if the Guardians are thinking about drifting apart again for some reason… maybe to make sure nobody can have that divine power… it’d be playing right into the Reverse’s hands!”

“Right… which means… we have to somehow stop them?”

“And that works right into my plans for you, Owen.” Nate grinned.

“Eh?”

“I think it’s about time you socialized.”

“S-socialized?” Owen repeated.

Nate gestured to the stars. “With that forgotten enemy gone, we have a surplus of energy. I can afford to spare a tiny amount for your mental health, Owen. You spent five hundred years cooped up in the Worldcore. Sure, you don’t have the same fatigue a mortal mind would have, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a few… windows, anyway?”

Owen hummed, unsure, and drifted to a few of the stars. He saw a forest of pastel colors through the eyes of a tiny, tiny Joltik. A Lopunny was resting in a sunny, arid field. A Torterra in a seemingly endless salt flat. And, of course, he saw the Gardevoir of Fire’s realm most clearly of all. Several other stars were inaccessible—notably, the ones strongly tied to Barky. Maybe that was a natural defense…

“I can only speak in their dreams, though,” Owen remembered aloud. “It won’t… mean anything.”

“Who’s to say?” Nate suggested. “The world is healing. And sure, maybe what Remi said is true, and that person will return. But if that’s the case… all the better to recover. Mentally, spiritually… I guess you can’t recover physically, um…”

The stars twinkled as if to invite Owen to peer into some of them. The little spirit closed his eyes.

“Okay,” he finally said. “Maybe it’ll help them, too.”

He picked one at random and happened to enter the Joltik’s dreams.

Shortly after, he elected never to go there again.

<><><>​

Year 1998

To Owen’s surprise, it was quiet for many centuries. The world entered another era of peace. The son of Madeline, Goodra Anam, re-sealed the rips into the Reverse World that had been formed by old clashes of divine powers, turning them into “Dungeons” that kicked anyone out who got too close to the spirit realm.

Nate gathered a lot of his power from the residuals of Kilo—renamed after its old title was lost to the destruction of the Dark War. Some of it came from the sun, though Owen knew that wasn’t truly the sun. It was divine power that Barky, supposedly, had left behind, as this realm was too small to have a true solar system. The closest thing to ‘stars’ was right in the Worldcore for Owen to use.

Today, Owen was visiting the realm of a relatively new Guardian, a Milotic named Zena. She was a lonely Pokémon who readily shared her dreams with him, though she was rarely lucid.

The centuries had taught Owen how to navigate the dreams of other Pokémon with ease. He’d peer into their stars while asleep and slip into those little realms, projecting himself with little power.

When Owen visited today, Zena had been at the bottom of a dark, cold pit of the ocean, shivering and alone in a recurring nightmare. When Owen arrived, his first act was always to light that darkness and coax her into happier dreams. It took many visits to figure out what worked, and eventually, he found that tapping into her Milotic instincts worked the best. He’d ask, simply, for a performance. When that happened, everything in her world lit up.

Zena often swam in spirals around him with fine displays of bubbles and jets of water. They reminded him of the Worldcore’s stars, though with more upward force.

He could breathe underwater—which was strange and disorienting, but he got used to it—and he’d always clap and waggle his tail to applaud her performances. Then, as dreams always did, it would transition into another scene.

Today, it was her underground abode, in a Dungeon formed around her Orb’s power. Cold, lonely, and occupied only by her spirits that had largely become extensions of herself. Owen could only sympathize for her, listen to her problems, and hope some of it carried into her waking world.

Often, the dreaming Pokémon spoke total gibberish, or, when they said something coherent, it had no relation to the next sentence. Navigating a conversation with a sleeping Pokémon was more like walking through a hall of mirrors.

“I heard the rain,” Zena said.

“Oh, the rain?” Owen echoed.

“Does it still rain?”

“It does.”

The Milotic stared at the ground and the stone. “Wet stones are like rain.”

“They are?”

“The stones are wet like rain.”

“You must like the rain.”

Zena stared directly into Owen’s eyes. He shrank back, dwarfed by her size.

Suddenly, Owen’s body melted, then evaporated, until he was just an orange cloud with eyes. His tail remained, flickering gently.

“I guess I’m rain now,” Owen conceded.

“Why do you visit all the time?” Zena asked.

That was… surprisingly lucid for once. “I want to keep you Guardians company,” Owen said, bobbing in the air. She had an expectant look. Concentrating, Owen acted like he was conjuring flames—and, to his surprise, it began to rain in the cave instead, making the glowing stones sparkle like the night sky. Transfixed by this, Zena stopped talking and watched them.

In that comforting silence, Owen sighed and considered all the other Guardians he could contact. Of them all, Zena tended to be the most lonely and receptive to Owen’s approach. She had so little else. He wished he could guide her to some other Guardian to socialize, but she was afraid, heeding the advice of Star… who sometimes had to coax her into staying away from Eon, who had been driven into hunting Guardians to get the mutant Owen back.

Such a mess. Owen had a feeling that was going to be the thing that broke the peace…

“I want to see them,” Zena said. “I want to see the stars again.”

“Go. See them,” Owen encouraged.

“I can’t. I can’t.”

The same cycle. It was hard to change someone from their dreams if they were afraid. Even if they wanted to change, fear held them back. Fear kept everything from moving onto that next step, for better or worse.

Just another century or two… then Owen could make more moves. Then, maybe, more would change.

Suddenly, the world dissolved around him and Owen plopped onto the wet stone as a Charmander. Zena was waking up, or maybe she was simply tired of meditating. It was hard to tell with Guardians.

With a sudden gasp, Owen returned to the Worldcore. Taking a minute to gather his bearings, Owen stretched and said, “Zena’s the same as always.”

No reply.

“…Nate?” Owen called.

You’re going to want to see this.

Owen tilted his head and drifted to the star Nate had brightened. He peered inside…

But it was dark, save for a sliver of light from half-open eyes. He saw an orange flame. The flicker reminded him of a Charmander’s tail… Was he looking through his other self’s eyes?

Then, he heard his own voice, but with a different cadence. “How are you supposed to open this thing?!”

Eon. It must have been Eon, transformed into his body… carrying his other self? What happened?

There was an incident with the Electric Guardian. His spite for Star had reached… devastating levels. And… Owen, Remi took the Orb when he perished.

“She WHAT?!” Owen blurted, pulling away from his star. “Remi? She’s… a Zoroark right now, right? But why was she—how did—”

She always had a strong spirit. I think Ra was drawn to that, and gave his Orb to her to spite Star. This… complicates a lot of things.

A flash of red in the Worldcore congealed into Nate’s ten-eyed form. He landed with grace and offered another star to Owen for him to see.

Remi—now a Zoroark—was trying and failing to bring down her frizzing mane from all the static electricity.

“Great,” Owen mumbled.

O Holy Creator Mew. I call upon you to hear my prayer.

Owen flinched. That… was the sound of a prayer passing through. It sounded like Eon.

A few days ago, Owen failed to become a Heart again. Didn’t pass Anam’s final check. Flying colors with the practical exam… yet never past Anam himself. Always the same story, year after year. No wonder he took on this horrible mission, just to prove that he could do a Heart’s job.

Is that your plan? When Anam deems Owen worthy of becoming a Heart, he’s ready for the Orb? And do you think he’ll be ready for what comes next, too?


“He sounds pretty fired up,” Nate said nervously, poking his claws together.

“No, no, not yet…” Owen winced. “We’re so close. I wonder if…”

“He might feel it, too,” Nate said. “Out of everyone, I remember Eon was tied the strongest to this clock. I can’t remember why, or what he was, but…”

“But whatever it is, he must know, down in his spirit, that time is running out. But… Eon, don’t… do this…!” Owen winced.

Star… if we find an Orb first, we’ll figure out how to take the rest. And your defenses won’t be enough once we have the power of one Orb. When that happens… you better be ready. Because I’m done waiting.

Owen pushed the star away. He’d heard enough. Nate sat in silence, pensive.

“Is it all going to fall apart again, right at the last moment?” Nate whispered. “Maybe… maybe we waited too long.”

Owen had watched the world grow and change. Heal from what he thought would have been a mortal injury. And, yes, while that history was lost and the world had been knocked back several centuries of advancement… it was catching up. Life marched on. Not the same, but marched.

And if things were different in the lead-up, maybe things would be different in the outcome, too.

“Does it matter?” Owen finally said. “We… have to try anyway. I have an idea.” He reached into the stars. “We already did a lot of prep. We just need to move a few things around and trigger them with more… careful timing. First thing… the Guardians can’t stay isolated anymore. Whether Eon or someone from Kilo Village gets it, that doesn’t matter. But we need to get other-me awakened.”

“In such a short time?” Nate asked. “Well, maybe if we try to channel some power into him…”

Owen closed his eyes. “Once he gets all his memories back, that should reawaken his Radiance and Shadows, too. Put those together and he’ll hopefully gather enough power to stop whatever’s coming. We know that these blights have something to do with… one or both of those divine forces. Mastery over both is crucial. Once that seal weakens, maybe we can remember, too.”

“What about the Guardians?”

“We need to gather them. I’m familiar with most of them in their dreams—maybe… their spirits will remember that. They might join other me pretty readily if they’re more discoverable.”

“More discoverable… That’s risky, Owen. Anyone could find them.”

“I know. But that’s better than isolation. The more power, the more they can band together against the Reverse World’s threat. Hmm…”

“Even if they die to Eon?” Nate asked.

“Yes.” Owen looked at Nate, more serious this time. “You know as well as I do that they aren’t happy like this. Those Dungeons are a prison and they’ve… outlasted how long they should have lived anyway. It’s time to move the world forward.”

Nate nodded uncomfortably. “…You asked them already, didn’t you? In their dreams?”

Owen nodded with a grave expression. “The more lucid they were, the more willing they seemed, too. Forrest, especially.”

“Forrest? The Torterra?”

Owen nodded. “He said he wanted to help if he could, but from the other side. He might accept a death just to do that.”

“Use his death strategically… Hm.” Nate nodded. “What did he want to do?”

“Forrest thinks there might be a key to all of this hidden across the aura sea—the new afterlife when the old one vanished. He might want to find it.”

“Well… alright.” Nate nodded. “Whisper to people where you can. I’ll work on illuminating the Orb Dungeons. But once the Reverse World makes its move…”

“We use all of our power on whatever comes out.” Owen nodded. “That part of the plan hasn’t changed.”

“Light of Ruin…” Nate shuddered. “It’s a legendary power, you know. Other worlds used that sort of power to end wars, but the destruction… It was a divine energy that was converted to Fairy thanks to your, um… modifications. And it’s going to hurt us in the process.”

“As long as we’re the only ones hurt,” Owen said. “What do your spirits think?”

“Well, since they’re the ones who are helping to power it…” Nate nodded. “We’re all resolved.”

Owen smiled and faced the Worldcore’s stars.

“Then, once again, Nate…”

He reached into the stars and lined them up.

“Let’s get to work.”
 

Kiba Makuro

Junior Trainer
Pronouns
He/Him, They/Them
Hello Namo, it's been awhile. I’m covering Chapter 8, A Thousand Heart Secret. I listened to a bit of this chapter via Goodfic but never finished or reviewed it until now.

What an amazing chapter content wise.

All of the lore about Guardians was introduced in a steady stream, not too little, not overwhelming, for an amazing balance. This pairs well with the previous chapters, even if it's been awhile since a reader has read it, (of course probably just a little bias on my part because I believe we have slightly similar ideas and thus I'm grasping).

The Orbs are definitely a fun yet sort of haunting MacGuffin/artifact, and there's so much more we don't even know about them. I'm wondering how this will play out with the late evolver crowd, well besides Owen as the Grass Guardian, even though I suppose it'll be a temporary state that he'll lose once his fire form comes back into full swing. Though I have a feeling Gahi, Mispy, and Demitri are getting something else, and the other Guardians are neutral, ally or enemy. I suppose we’ll figure out which Guardian Anam

I did have to reread but it was mainly just supplemental conversation and not heavy plot stuff that slightly tripped me up. There's a few word choices I'd change here, particularly with rarely using ‘asked’ for a question, but I suppose booksaid-ism is slightly more foul.

Let’s talk about characters for a while.

Rhys and Nevren take the award for uh… Kinda sucking. Of course they definitely weren't expecting to find Owen like this right away, though they knew he would be eventually drawn to it. Unfortunately for me I know only the vaguest tiny spoilers that don't answer my question about the two. Rather to one being worse than the other through the word of god, [in briefly glanced discord discussion] alas that is what the rest of the chapters are for. At least Rhys doesn’t want to separate Owen from Amia… Although I definitely can tell a just the tip of the iceberg as to what Nevren has done to him.

Owen was such a champ during it all. His goofy reactions in the beginning, leading off from the last chapter, then his mood rightfully changing once Amia, Nevren, and Rhys spilled a bit of the water off the top of the “Thousand Heart Secret”. I did feel like sometimes he wasn't having the most appropriate reactions but his outburst and evolution counter this. I especially loved the scenes in Calm Water Lake where his body falls apart, and either Star or and Nevren telepathically get him to calm down.

That’s all I have for now!
 

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Thanks for the review, Makuro! Glad you enjoyed this chapter. It's definitely when things really get kicking off for the story.

The Orbs are definitely a fun yet sort of haunting MacGuffin/artifact

The Orbs, when you think about it, are very disturbing in what they can do and what effects they would have in the wrong hands, one way or another. Haunting is a very good word for it.

Rhys and Nevren take the award for uh… Kinda sucking.

You'll notice a trend for the first Act or two that many of those in the highest levels of power in Kilo have a lot of dubious motivations for why they do what they do. Rhys and Nevren are no exception. The next few chapters in particular will paint a lot of new backdrops for Rhys.

I especially loved the scenes in Calm Water Lake where his body falls apart, and either Star or and Nevren telepathically get him to calm down.

That was a fun scene to write. However, it wasn't actually Star or Nevren, or he'd've recognized the voice as them more readily. This was actually coming from within the Orb--one of the spirits, like that Jumpluff.
 
Chapter 177 - Negative Empathy

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Chapter 177 – Negative Empathy

Aramé, Zena, and Nate flew over the southern fields of Kilo. On Zena’s back was Mu, while Aramé withdrew Ire into her Orb’s realm.

Atop Nate’s back—the shadowy, many-eyed leviathan—was Owen, completely out cold and spasming. Zena worried about him, but… Well, it would have to do. They couldn’t let Kilo Village wait, so they’d started their flight back.

“So, like, you’re sure he’s not dead,” Mu said, glancing at her father with concern. “He’s been foaming at the mouth for a while…”

“He’s not foaming, that’s just… sea water from when he fell over,” Zena said. “He’s had worse drownings.”

“You mean like the time when he kept Reincarnating with Nevren and stuff and kept trying to cross that big river?” Mu tilted her head. “I remember when he used that story to caution me against swimming as a Charmander, but, like, sounded more like a lesson in how disposable your life is if you just get another…”

“…Insightful, Mu, but I think your father just likes to revisit his memories sometimes,” Zena said with a nervous smile.

“Guess he makes up for how Daddy Diyem probably doesn’t.” Mu stretched, lying on Zena’s long back as they flew. “I was just a babbling baby last I saw him. Think he’ll be mad I grew up so fast?”

“I don’t… know,” Zena admitted. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen any of them. I’m a little nervous…”

“Because you got to vacation for a year while everyone else was fighting a war?” Mu asked.

Zena winced.

“Oh, sorry. Just an educated negative-emotion guess.” Mu coughed awkwardly. “But I mean… sorta obvious.”

I don’t think they will be mad.

“Y’think?” Mu asked Nate, turning her head to the darkened Eternatus.

“And we’re sure he’ll wake up in a timely manner, yes?” Aramé said with a growl. “We do need him.”

“You’re one to talk about being timely,” Mu murmured back.

“What was that?” Aramé replied.

“I know you heard me,” Mu challenged.

Zena raised her ribbons. “Let’s not butt heads, Mu.”

Mu huffed and turned her attention ahead.

“So Dungeons haven’t overtaken the sky yet,” Mu remarked. “Have they been growing more?”

A little. It’s a good thing we’re returning when we are. If they get too large, we’d have to start getting into much thinner air…

“I mean, I don’t think I need to breathe,” Mu said. “Do any of us?”

An awkward beat of silence followed.

“Yeah, thought so. Weird thought to be worried about, Nate.”

It’s a habit. I have a lot of thoughts from mortal lives…

“Huh. I’m kinda similar. Usually only the bad ones, though.”

Like Diyem, then.

“Yeah, I inherited that. Only for local stuff, though. I think my range is maybe… fifty feet or so? I should test that.”

Aramé sighed again, saying, “You speak too casually about these things. You’re going to unsettle people.”

“Am I unsettling you?” Mu asked, but then held up a hand. “Don’t answer that, I know I’m not.”

Aramé glared.

“Oh, c’mon! I’m being smart with you, fine, but like… I know real well if I’m making someone unsettled. I’ll keep it in line in front of the normies.”

“The… normies,” Aramé repeated.

“Sorry, I think that’s a human term. Uh. Mortals?”

“…Right.” Aramé gave Zena an accusatory glare. Zena, meanwhile, turned her attention to Owen just in time to see his eyes fluttering open.

“Ah! Owen!” Zena drifted closer, and Mu also sat up.

“Hey, Dad, are you alright?”

Owen blinked a little longer, eyes looking left and right. The Charizard must have been gathering his surroundings. Zena hoped he wasn’t amnesiac or something again. They’d dealt with that enough.

“Yeah,” Owen finally replied. “Yeah, I’m fine. Uh, how long was I… out?”

“I dunno, like, an hour or so. I kept feeling weird… fluctuations in your emotions and it was getting really bad near the end there…”

“Oh, uh… yeah.” Owen groaned as he sat up completely, nearly falling over had it not been for part of Nate’s body bulging out to keep him upright. He gently patted Nate in thanks.

“…You still with us?” Mu asked. “You seem really… distant.”

“I—I am. Sorry. Sorting through a lot.” Owen nodded quickly. He rolled deliberately off of Nate and spread his wings; this time, Nate let him go. Owen fell a few feet, caught the wind, and beat his wings to get to their height.

The Charizard took a deep breath. “…Hey, Zena,” he said. “Do you remember any dreams about… me visiting you?” he asked. “Before we met. Maybe… dreams of doing a performance underwater to someone?”

Zena stared at him like he was crazy. What in the world was he dreaming about?

But now that he mentioned it… Dreams of performances in that lonely cave? Something about that was very familiar. She thought a while longer as Kilo Village drew nearer.

Suddenly, she gasped. “You were the light!”

“O-oh. I was just an orb of light, or something?”

Zena nodded earnestly. “I didn’t know what you were for a while, but… I knew you were a person. I was dreaming, not really putting a lot of thought into it, but…”

“…You met Mom in her dreams before meeting her for real?” Mu said. “Wow. That’s like, next level romance.”

“It wasn’t really romantic,” Owen said. “I visited all the Guardians. Uh, or tried to. Avoided some, like Willow… or the ones I couldn’t find. But it was to keep the company, I dunno, help them stay sane. I doubt it did a whole lot, but I felt bad about their predicament. I knew something was wrong but could never get my message through. The waking world overpowered me.”

“Nate explained a little of that,” Mu said. “Told us it’d be better if you explained it more.”

Owen nodded and offered a thankful smile to Nate.

“You know, I never thought about it,” Zena said, “but the Guardians all were… pretty universally ready to pick up and leave to follow you or your team, weren’t they?”

“I thought it was just convincing and would break out of the monotony,” Owen admitted. “But I think those ‘Dream Whispers’ might’ve contributed, too.”

“So, wait.” Mu scratched her jaw. “You… were in Nate, like, as a tiny wispy spirit. Like, a fraction of a fraction of yourself. But you were attached to… Nate?”

“Yes. To the Worldcore,” Owen explained. “And… right until the end, we were working and planning for everything. I… have those memories of what happened. That part of me reunified. I was… scared, a little, of losing all of it, or it just being forgotten like a dream. But I had to take one last leap of faith that it wouldn’t be sealed.”

There was no chance of it being sealed, Nate said, but being hard to comprehend was the true concern.

Owen nodded. “But I think I understand enough. And I know… everything that happened. I have a lot I need to explain once we get home.”

Mu tilted her head, staring at Owen. Mu nodded to herself and looked at Nate.

“Hey, tall dark and handsome!” Mu called. “I’m riding you for the rest of the way.”

Oh, okay.

Zena gained some altitude and Nate lost some. Mu hopped from Zena—and missed her mark to the sudden gust of wind once she left their protective barriers.

“MU!” Zena yelped.

Owen seemed less alarmed.

Mu spread her arms, which suddenly shifted into blackened wings, righting herself in mid-air before tumbling onto a lower portion of Nate’s back. Hands emerged from Nate’s body to hold her in place, secure.

“I’m okay!” Mu called, waving.

Zena sighed as the nerves left her. “Goodness, Mu… I didn’t know you could do that.”

“She experiments at night,” Owen explained.

“Yeah, while you guys are asleep,” Mu said.

Zena squinted between the two of them. Was that another…? No, not worth investigating.

Owen drifted closer and closer to Zena until his wings were just below her. He was careful to not beat them while she was just above.

“I know you’ve… been with me all this time,” he said, “but it felt like I’ve been away for a while. Sorry if this sounds weird, but… I’m glad to see you again.”

“Oh… Um—right. Sorry, I think I know what you mean, but it’s hard to… understand.” Zena looked down awkwardly. “Then again… with those false…ish memories I have now…”

Owen’s expression darkened with the reminder. “How are you feeling with that?” he asked. “You’re still… yourself?”

“I am,” Zena assured him. “I promise. No matter the offer, I wouldn’t have thrown ‘me’ away for a simple test.”

“Offer,” Owen echoed. “With your Legendary self… from that hypothetical, alternate future where you made choices you thought were ‘ideal.’ That other self that isn’t real.”

Zena nodded. “I suppose I should explain,” she said. “My four other fragments. I think they were similar to yours—Aramé explained them while you were recovering. There was the mirror self, and the weaker self. That one was a Feebas when I was still lonely and trying to find my place. The next was my… all of my anger toward Star and the gods. We couldn’t console her at all, so—so I just attacked her once, to subdue her, yes?”

Owen nodded. “I made a huge Protect shield to keep mine at bay.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Zena said with an awkward head bob. “Just one attack and she became a little ember. I carried her that way, but… I didn’t hear from her again. I can barely feel what she was anymore. I have the memory, but… it’s…”

“Just that,” Owen completed. “A memory. The past, right? More like… something you left behind and you don’t feel bad about it.”

“Exactly,” Zena said. “But I—if Aramé facilitated that, I don’t blame her for it. I wanted that in the first place, even if I didn’t really realize until later.”

She caught a hint of suspicion in his gaze at that and the way he glanced at Aramé.

“Owen, really. It’s okay.”

“I know. Sorry, just—the whole thing about that test in the first place still bothers me. Tell me about the last fragment, the… Legend.”

“A Lugia,” Zena said. “She was very composed. It comes from a time when I’d accepted the gods’ power more readily, didn’t lash out, and I think took a blessing from Emily after she somehow relinquished her own. That’s… hazy to me. It must have been an illogical memory that I’m only trying to rationalize.” Zena sighed.

Owen looked tense. She knew the question on his mind.

“I remember that possible timeline, that attitude, yes,” Zena said, “but Lugia was the other one that I’d left behind, along with my anger. She was ‘an ideal’ that I… I admit, I wished I could have been. But to take that directly would be cheating.” She sighed. “I wanted to find my own path. Not something Aramé conjured for me to follow. I think that’s the point of an ideal. Seeing it, and then finding your own way to it…”

Zena felt her face flush.

“That sounds silly, now that I say it out loud…”

“But I understand.” Owen gently put a hand to her back, minding his glide. “But, you know… I don’t think I would have been too upset if you chose her. I… get it. I was tempted, too. And in a way, I did take him, didn’t I?”

“You’re a hoarder of memories,” Zena replied with a giggle. “I don’t know how you keep it all in there.”

“Guess when I’ve lost them so often, I get… possessive.”

“Even of false memories?”

“There was some use to it!”

“You sound like Rhys.”

“I—” Owen flinched, drifting a few feet away to flap and gain altitude. Returning to his glide, he went to Zena’s other side and descended. “I guess.”

Zena tilted her head downward as the group’s descent accelerated. She could see the details of a few buildings and the dots of several Pokémon watching their arrival.

“It must be scary, though,” she admitted. “When you lose memories, you don’t always realize you lost them, do you?”

“You don’t,” Owen agreed. “You can only hope you finally have them all. But this time, I think I do. I have for a while—another me was just somewhere else gaining new ones for a while.”

That much made sense. It wasn’t very comforting, but Zena felt there was no point worrying about it all.

“So you left behind your ideal and your anger,” Owen said. “Kept them in mind, but didn’t let them be prominent. You kept your current self—your mirror—and… your Feebas self?”

“I didn’t want to forget that feeling of being lost,” Zena said. “Everything is so big now. I’m talking to gods, former gods, god killers… I used to just be a Feebas who worried about getting a proper mate, being pretty and elegant for the family line… The ocean was so much smaller. Ironic, isn’t it?”

“You know, maybe when this is all over… we can figure out a way to visit that old home,” Owen offered. “I’m curious what underwater life is like.”

“You’d… die, probably, but—well. You’re used to that, and I’m sure we can find a way for you to endure the depths…”

Owen tittered. “Maybe… I’ll just hear about it until then.”

Zena covered her mouth with a ribbon to laugh. “Oh,” she said. “Speaking of the depths… I did get one, well, one perk I’ve already noticed from taking that Lugia blessing from Aramé.”

“You have?”

Zena nodded and jerked her head back. “My tail feathers.”

Owen looked back. “…What about them?”

“Owen.” Zena squinted. “They’ve changed colors.”

“They have?”

Zena slowed her flight to look behind. Yes, they certainly had—her tail feathers, once turquoise with a bright pink core, were now a regal silver with a white core.

“…Were they always silver?” Owen asked.

No, Owen,” Zena said, befuddled. “Owen, how in the world—you have Perceive!”

“I—I don’t see color in those! Just… texture, and volume, it’s all just shapes!”

“You have… you have eyes, Owen!” Zena said.

Owen stumbled over his words for several seconds.

Zena looked for Nate, spotting Mu on his back. Lounging as usual as Kilo Village got closer and closer.

“Maybe Mu had a point,” Zena said with a sigh. “That was very… er… cringe, of you.”

Owen groaned and tilted his body, banking downward to land sooner than the rest.

As Zena, Nate, and Aramé did the same, Mu leaned over the leviathan and called to Zena, “You have a fight?!”

“No, Mu!” Zena called back. “Just… one of those moments where your father surprises me.”

Mu seemed puzzled the rest of the way home.

<><><>​

Owen landed with a stumble and a shudder. “Feel lighter,” he mumbled to himself. He jumped a few times, finally on proper ground in a proper body for the first time in a thousand years—in one set of adjacent memories, at least.

But despite that, the strength behind his body made every movement easy and unencumbered. Muscles and tendons, bones and blood. It was so much easier to move like a body would when he had a body.

Zena landed next, playfully nudging him on the side. Owen smiled back and asked, “Where should we go first?”

“Heart HQ, I think,” Zena said. “I’m sure they’ll spread the word pretty fast…”

“Oh. Right!” Owen nodded. “That reminds me. There’s someone I need to see first. It’ll solve a lot of our issues at once if it goes right.”

“How big is that if?” Zena said, coiling cautiously like the words could drop them into a pit.

“If it fails, I don’t see anything bad happening,” Owen promised. There was an apologetic tone behind that one. He knew that his actions had… hefty recoil if he wasn’t careful.

But this one? This one he was confident in. It was one of his final plans before leaving the Worldcore.

“Alright,” Zena said, looking convinced. “Who do you need to talk to?”

“I need Star, Barky, Leph, and Aster. All at once. Oh, and Diyem, possibly.”

Zena tilted her head. “All of the gods? And… whatever Diyem is?”

“Now that I think about it, as many Guardians, too. We need as many of the Hands as possible gathered together.”

“Owen, the last time we did that…”

“Diyem’s on our side now. And—Alexander’s still stalled, right?”

He is, Nate confirmed.

“Ugh, quit standing around!” Mu urged. “Let’s go to the Hearts and get updated there!”

But just as they turned to that big, red heart-shaped building in the southern side of town, another Charizard entered Owen’s Perceive. The distinct lack of proper organs told him it was Diyem… and that he’d reclaimed much of his power, or at least found ways to take on stronger forms.

“Yoo, Papa Darkness!” Mu waved, skipping to him before falling forward. She disappeared, reappearing just behind Diyem with a strange warping of light.

“What did you call me?”

“Papa Darkness. That’s your official name, right? Darkness Diyem Dark Matter Murkrow Way?”

A gust of wind blew a few dust clouds past them, carrying fragments of their embers.

“How about Daddy Diyem?” Mu offered instead.

Owen winced. She was just trying to get a rise out of him. As usual… What happened to that innocent little girl who just wanted to help feral Pokémon be happy?

“I see.” Diyem nodded. He reached for Mu, patting her on the shoulder.

“Uh.”

And then held it firmly, refusing to let go.

“H-hey!” Mu shouted. The light warped around her—

A dark shockwave rippled from Diyem’s chest, through his arm, and into Mu’s body. She gasped like she’d been rattled by a thunderbolt. Then, that warping of light dissipated.

“H-hey! My… my Dungeon powers!”

“Diyem!” Zena shouted, but Owen placed a hand on her back. She was confused, agitated, and alert. Owen knew that. But one careful nod from him and Zena backed down… though she still watched Diyem intently.

The black-flamed Charizard hefted Mu over his shoulder. The Charmander protested as usual, pounding her little fists on his back.

“Hey, you can’t do this! I’m older now and you weren’t even around! Dad! Stop other Dad!”

“Diyem, what’s this about?” Owen said, arms crossed.

“Human society has corrupted your daughter. She’s very impressionable. The lowest common denominators of that world have seeped into her spirit.”

Diyem walked past them, Mu still over his shoulder.

“I’m going to give her a tour of this town to cleanse her of that blight. You gather the others. I’ll be back before evening.”

“What?! Evening?!” Mu tried to squeeze away, but Diyem’s grip was ironclad. “Dad! You’re just letting him kidnap me?!”

Zena glanced at Owen, conflict in her eyes. Owen understood the hesitation. However, if there was anything he could trust about Diyem at this point…

Owen offered a single glance at Nate. A few of the eyes blinked in a particular pattern; yes, Nate would keep an eye on things.

Good enough. “Don’t do anything too dramatic, Diyem.”

Diyem grumbled an agreement and waved with his free hand, walking down to the main western road.

Owen exhaled through his nose and said to Zena, “Let’s explain everything to HQ.”

“Right. And… Mu will be okay?” Zena asked. “Diyem’s…”

“Diyem is the person who knows about her powers more than anyone else,” Owen said. “I believe he knows… something that we don’t about how to help her before all that negativity corrupts her.”

“She doesn’t seem that bad,” Zena said, though the doubt in her expression said the rest—that she could get worse, and they had no idea how to keep up.

“Maybe not now,” Owen said. “But… think about everything she learned from that human world. And how much more she might learn here, where the world’s nearly falling apart. People are stressed, afraid, angry… and we can’t hide that from her until she’s older. Her knowledge comes from that. Diyem lived that life. So… I trust him.”

She still didn’t like the answer, the way her eyes darted around as if searching for a rebuttal. Eventually, she sighed and let it go. “After this is done, we’ll talk to him on what we can do to help.”

Owen nodded back. “Alright. Let’s catch up with Aramé. Nate? You know the plan.”

Nate’s many eyes blinked in affirmation and he flew away to guard the caldera once more. With one last second to appreciate a Kiloan sky, Owen and Zena marched to the Heart HQ to catch everyone up.

<><><>​

Diyem waited until Mu tired herself out before finally allowing her to walk. He kept a Shadowy tether on her, preventing any warping shenanigans, and he knew she’d already tried once or twice.

He’d taken her through town as promised, but then he went further until he was at the caldera's edge. He felt that Nate was watching him, and a small part of him felt offended at the necessity. Most of him understood why.

But as they got to the town’s edge, past the final building where the dirt road gave way to hardy mountain grass, Diyem and Mu stopped their walk.

“Okay,” Mu muttered. “What’s all of this about? Humans corrupting me? Please, as if I’m not already the most corrupt thing on this side of reality.”

She paused. “Second most.”

Another pause. “Okay, I’m up there.”

“You use humor to mask your fears because that was the response that got the most positive reactions from all the memories siphoned into you,” Diyem said. “The sad performer wearing the mask of a smile, only to go home to a cold and dark room.

“And to make sure your father doesn’t find out, you take advantage of your biology, masking any of the natural reactions that come from a body for those negative emotions. Owen has no idea. He’s so reliant on Perceive and so unfamiliar with the human culture you drew from that none of it registers. The same goes for Zena.

“But in the end, you’re terrified of this power and what it might do to people. What people will think if you survive all of this as the last remnant of darkness. That if I die in all this, you’ll be alone. So you mask it with jokes the same way those people you siphoned from did. The ones living the ‘happiest’ lives while they rotted inside.

“And now you’re bringing that here.”

Diyem moved little during his speech. Mu did the same. A mutual understanding between two demons that their bodily gestures were superficial replications of those they mimic. It wasn’t truly their nature. It was all mimicry to fit in.

The silence between them persisted for longer than expected. Diyem had been prepared for a witty remark, a crass dismissal, or even an eyeroll. But Mu was, surprisingly, respectful the whole time. And… bothered. Her gaze was distant.

“Mu?” Diyem asked. He could sense the crushing despair that had accumulated. Maybe he’d spoken too harshly all at once.

But just before he could regret his decisions, the dark-flamed Charmander finally spoke. It was a whisper, only audible from the lack of wind.

“Well… what am I supposed to do?”

When Diyem didn’t immediately answer, she continued. “No offense, but… if I talked about it all the time… wouldn’t I wind up like you did? I don’t want that.”

“Mm.” Diyem folded his wings back. “No. I’m not offended.” He walked to the nearest rock jutting out from the town’s perimeter and swept his tail next to him, clearing minor debris for Mu to sit.

She took the offer, resting so his dark flame was a foot away from her. Had she gotten smaller? His flame was nearly her size.

“You get it,” Mu said, looking down. “It’s… it’s just bombarding me. I can’t turn it off. Every single thing that’s wrong with the place, I feel it. Petty things, big, huge things… Like, I know basically every curse word. Pretty sure this world doesn’t know half of them.”

“Yet,” Diyem said, “you are… well-adjusted despite that. It means you aren’t actually feeling that negativity. Is that true?”

“Huh?” Mu tilted her head. “Well, yeah. But just knowing it is hard.”

Diyem nodded along, pensive. He’d only just realized how he had no idea how to interact with children. Then again, Mu, despite being only a year old, wasn’t so much a child as she was a teenager at this point…

“Hold on,” Mu said, disrupting Diyem’s thoughts. “Are you saying you feel all that?”

“Oh. Well. Yes.” Diyem nodded. “I block it out. I know how to differentiate. But when I was very young, I couldn’t tell the difference.”

“Oh, God,” Mu said, eyes wide with horror. “I’d be totally messed up.”

“And I’m glad you did not inherit that. It almost feels like my ‘Negative Empathy’ combined with Owen’s Perceive, and you became more of a ‘Negative Observer.’ That’s my theory, at least.”

“Guess I’ll count my blessings,” Mu remarked, leaning until her back was against the side of his tail.

“It’s still a great hardship I wouldn’t wish on anyone,” Diyem reminded. “Mu… You were not allowed a childhood of normalcy.”

“Eh. I mean, I’m not all bent out of shape about that,” she said. “Just…”

Diyem let her continue, despite the pause. He turned his head to look at her directly. Yes, she was smaller. She could change her form at will; he wondered how deliberate it was, or if it reflected her mood.

“You’re right,” she said. “What if I’m seen as a demon after all this? Or, even worse, what if… one day, that dark nature just takes me? What if I grow up and those instincts are too much?”

“Instincts?” Diyem asked.

“To… I dunno, be evil, or something.”

“Do you feel those now?”

“Not really…”

“…Do you think I have that?”



“I don’t know. I only knew you when I was really young.”

Diyem wasn’t sure how to dissect that one at first. Only a few days for him, most of her life for her. He’d been there for a blink. Some father… thing he was.

“I don’t,” Diyem finally said. “You may not know a great deal about me, but… no. I am not naturally evil. I naturally suffer.”

“Wow. That’s the edgiest thing you’ve said to me yet,” Mu said with a forced smirk. “Still… sorry it’s that way.”

“This entire war started a thousand years ago when your father showed compassion for me. Rather than killing me, he wanted to move the world’s rules to let me be happy.” Diyem exhaled through his nostrils, emitting black smoke. “I owe him my existence.”

A sharp pain ran through his chest. He ignored it. Gratitude… It seemed to be one of the most painful emotions for him.

“Hey, you alright?” Mu asked.

“Sorry,” Diyem said. “As part of the… Negative Empathy package, good emotions are harmful. Recently, I acquired a small amount of light… which made it possible to feel more of it.”

“Wow, that’s…” Mu trailed off. “That’s real. Wow. Like, I don’t know what to even say to that… What’s up with the gods who made this? That’s… all kinds of wrong!”

“They didn’t intend for me to exist. I was made from a flaw in the world.”

“Oh. Right.” Mu winced. “…D’you want a hug?”

“What.”

“Uh—sorry.” Mu quickly looked away. “Sort of a reflex to offer that if I dunno what else to do.”

That earned a wry smile. “You really are Owen’s daughter.”

“Don’t even say that!” Mu protested, huffing. “He’s… I don’t even know! He’s like an adult and a kid at the same time!”

“I suppose one day, you’ll grow up, too,” Diyem said. “Fine. I’ll take your hug.”

He got enough practice from Anam anyway.

The little Charmander spun herself where she sat and flopped over Diyem’s tail, squeezing it where its width was just small enough that her claws could touch.

And in that moment, Diyem felt… like he didn’t have to do anything else. He’d come here with the plan of a big lecture to set her straight, to scare her into realizing the dark path she’d taken, but… she was still young and impressionable. He hadn’t had to do much.

“It’ll really be okay?” Mu asked, holding him tight.

“You have so many boons that I never had,” Diyem said. “You don’t feel their pain; you only know it. Your range is limited to Owen’s Perceive range instead of the world. And, most of all…” Diyem sighed. “You have a supporting family and group of friends right here for you. The negativity I feel from them when they think of you… It’s the same way one would think of a cousin that gets too active. Not hatred. Just… family.”

“Family.” Mu echoed the word. It seemed to hold meaning to her. She rested her cheek against Diyem’s tail. “…Thanks,” she said. “Am I still doing the tour around Kilo Village?”

“Yes. We need to flush out that human influence before it roots itself in your body,” Diyem muttered. “Come on. We should continue our trip.”

“Ugh, fine.” Mu pushed away, though it was perhaps more tender than she’d’ve admitted. “Let’s go see the world again.”

Diyem smirked, content to follow her this time. Mu was already looking larger with every step.

<><><>​

Most of their allies were still mobilized. Even with the ‘Willow Communication System’ and other axillary means of staying in contact, it would be some time until everyone Owen wanted to see would be there.

“You’re really okay?” Anam asked. “You seem… different.”

“Yeah, uh, I mean… I’ve been gone for a whole year from my perspective. Felt really guilty about it, but I’m glad you guys held out for those days I was gone.”

“We’ve gathered a lot of information while we were there,” Zena added. “It should turn the tide of this battle. But, Owen, just when you returned…”

“Yeah. Just when I returned, I found the final part of… myself. Nate had it. He’s been waiting for this moment, even if it didn’t come about the way he expected. And with that… I think I know the whole chain of events that led to where we are now. And I think, if we look closely at it, we might find the way to get out of it.

“Do we have a notetaker?”

“O-oh, um, I’m pretty good at those,” Angelo spoke up from far in the back of the room. He pulled his tail brush forward and… painted himself a notepad. Which then became real.

“…How’d you do that?” Owen asked.

“Do what?”

They stared at one another.

“…Anyway,” Owen went on, “please take notes for everyone else who isn’t here. They might have more insight. So… if that’s all out of the way…

“Let’s put everything on the table and see what new things we learn.”
 
Chapter 178 - World's History

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Chapter 178 – World’s History

Owen sat in the back of the room, arms and legs crossed, with his tail curled around. The flame sat ahead of him like a campfire. From it, with some fiery conjurations, Owen created a projection to help illustrate his history. It started with an outline of an island in a vast ocean.

Among those present were Anam, Mhynt, and the rest of Team Alloy, as well as their Trio of Mind counterparts. Zena coiled by Owen’s side, listening quietly. Anam also summoned James, and Madeline’s mortal half attended—Owen said that’d be useful, as her human history could help near the start. Of course, they also grabbed a Hecto for the Overseer perspective.

It wasn’t just the higher-ups present. Sera and Angelo, who had been more closely involved with the gods as of late also came in.

“Before this world existed, there was an island called Quartz, just off the coast of a region known as Orre. Quartz was inhabited by humans and Pokémon, like most of that world. But that place was also home to an organization called Cipher, though at the time it was in its infancy. Somehow, they’d captured Star, back when she was still mingling with mortals there. I was one of those people she happened to help out against another organization over in another region.”

“Star… got captured by a bunch of mortals?” Anam asked. “Humans are that strong?”

“They’re more clever than strong,” Owen admitted. “But Star was also a lot weaker. To be with mortals, she also had to become weaker like them. You know, have a physical body. It’s not like Kilo when they remade it.”

“I see…” Anam nodded. “What did they do with Star?”

“I don’t have the full details,” Owen admitted. “But they were doing something to ‘close the door to her heart.’ They were creating Shadow Pokémon, and Mew was one of the experiments. They must have considered her a prized capture, being Mew, since they could extrapolate what they did to her to any other species.”

“Shadows…” Madeline sighed. “I was just part of security there, but more as a spy. I couldn’t get close enough for the full details, either. But whatever it was… it was truly the worst of humanity to research that kind of thing just to turn Pokémon into fighting machines.”

“And that happened… t-to Star?” Anam asked. “They turned Star into a Shadow Pokémon?”

“Fighting machines…” Demitri looked down, wincing. Mesprit frowned and patted his shoulder.

“No,” Owen said. “See… my trainer and I, and others like us, we intervened and managed to free her. Madeline?”

“Your trainer?” Demitri said. “Oh, right—Eon. Or…”

“Tim,” Owen finished. “Madeline, what about you?”

The giant Goodra nodded. “Yes. I was one of them. I remember it… vaguely. It was a long time ago. But… with a lot of those seals on our memories gone, I can recall flashes of that life.” She clamped her grabbers. “…I miss thumbs sometimes.”

“Can’t you still grab things?” Gahi piped up. “Ain’t that hard. Jus’ concentrate yer energy in yer palm. Easy grab.”

“It’s not the same,” Madeline lamented.

Sera squeezed her claws. “I have a few lives where I had hands compared to paws and stuff. Or none of that. It’s a really different feel.”

“…Um… okay…” Demitri looked at Owen. “You saved Star. What happened next? It was all fine, right? She doesn’t seem all that Shadowy now…”

“Arceus happened next,” Owen growled. “He got mad that the humans hurt Star. And hurt her so badly, down to her spirit. So he… attacked. Divine wrath on the whole island. Just, gone. Not even their souls left behind in that world.”

“Th-their souls?” Demitri looked horrified. “…Wait, then how are you here?”

“Well, two reasons,” Owen said. “First, I was protected by Star. And second, when a soul is destroyed in a world, that means the world fails to acknowledge that it exists. The soul… kind of… is still there, or the consciousness of that person. But they have no anchor into the world. As far as the world’s concerned, they’re just… gone.”

“This,” Hecto suddenly spoke up, “is where Overseers step in, typically. We round up these wayward souls and give them new sanctuary. While they can never return to their homes again, they can find new homes with time. Overseers believe in stability, order, and compassion for those who suffer most. And the Overworld has no shortage of work… just as this world has Hearts with no shortage of rescues.”

“When did the Overseers step in?” Owen asked. “What about this world, you know, needed your help?”

“Any time a god falls victim to their own creations, we step in. That is typically a sign things are about to get worse. And they could have.” Hecto paused. “Technically, they still can. They have. And it may continue. Hence why we have not left.”

“Along with the fact that you forgot your job for a bit,” Demitri said. “Um—not your fault, or anything, just…”

“Yes, due to the Decree. We still do not know the nature of those.”

“Oh, I do,” Owen said casually.

All heads turned to Owen. The surprise echoed off the walls.

“S-sorry! I guess I should have opened with that…” Owen sighed, looking around. He spotted a black blob—one of Nate’s extensions—watching him. “There isn’t much harm in bringing it up, but… It all has to do with the Worldcore. And—oh, by the way, don’t tell anyone else this, please?”

“All of this will be confidential,” James said.

“W-wait, should I be here?” Angelo squeaked.

Now that Owen thought about it, Owen wasn’t sure who Angelo was aside from Diyem’s blessing. Well, he seemed to be trusted enough by them. “It’s alright, let’s just go on,” Owen said. It might not matter in the future anyway. “The Worldcore is… basically the nexus and interface between this reality and its rules.”

The silence that followed was one of confusion. It didn’t register.

“As in,” Owen went on, “everything to do with the world’s rules are… there. A lot of it can’t be changed, like how gravity works, but sometimes you can add things. Any time you add or change something… it goes through the Worldcore. All divine power is just the ability to send commands to the Worldcore, and it will listen. It’s a part of Nate that he can’t ‘turn off.’ And it doesn’t matter who sends the command, just that they do.”

“Disturbing,” Madeline deadpanned. “And you were in that Worldcore for some time, from what I gather, Owen?”

That accusatory tone made Owen feel small again. “Uh—yes. Like I said, I couldn’t change too much… But I was trying to help. A-anyway, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. So, the Worldcore. That’s what Star and Barky used to put the world together after all those souls were removed from the main world. They made a new one and sort of… linked them so they could watch over both. They also made it so time flowed a lot faster here. That way, they could be done with this world and move back to the main one without anything getting disrupted.

“And they also needed some temporary Legends to manage this place. They didn’t know if it was worth the risk of making totally new Legends just for a world that wouldn’t last long, so they selected mortals to become them instead as a… patchwork pantheon. That’s how a lot of you came around.” He nodded at Madeline, who’d become Giratina, and then at the rest of his Team Alloy, who had become the Trio of Mind.

“I see…” Madeline nodded. “That explains the beginning set of circumstances. And I take it, to mask the trauma of being obliterated, our memories of that human world were erased.”

“And converted,” Owen said. “Trainer Pokémon with a strong bond became more like parent and child, or brother and sister; weaker bonds were more like friends and companions. It wasn’t perfect—it was a really complicated thing. But what made it worse was the flaw in the world’s creation.”

“Dark Matter,” James theorized.

“Diyem…” Anam looked down.

Owen nodded. “Nate should have been the total nexus of the world. He was a cosmic being that didn’t think or feel the same way we did, so he was the perfect vessel for a temporary world. But what happened instead was he felt the world’s positive emotions and defiance to survive, becoming its ‘Voice of Life,’ but the negative emotions…”

A grave look crossed the group’s expressions.

“And since it wasn’t intended, and it was such a small flaw at first, nobody noticed until things called ‘Blights’ started to show up. Dark Matter’s influence on Pokémon, and their influence on him, made a feedback loop. Yveltal and Xerneas—Step and Ra, before—usually took care of any Blights, but eventually, Star and Barky figured out one thing about it.

“It couldn’t be defeated or removed by anyone inside the system. The negativity one would feel when trying to get rid of it… would revive it all the same. They needed someone outside that system.”

“Outside?” Madeline said. “How are you ‘outside’ the system?”

“They brought in a soul that wasn’t from the Pokémon world at all. A human, from a world with no Pokémon.”

“World with…” James’ feathers puffed out with his bewilderment.

“How does that work?” Sera asked. “Pokémon are, like, everyone…”

“I don’t really know,” Owen admitted. “But that human… We know them. But I don’t know if that person wants that to get out. And it’s not important anymore. They weren’t able to do it. Dark Matter scared the human into hiding away. He—uh, they failed.”

“We won’t be mad at the guy,” Sera said, shrugging. “I mean, look at us. All of us together struggled. How’s a single human gonna do it?”

“I know. I’ll maybe… tell that person later. But I don’t want to do it right now to you. Is that okay?”

“We want to get all of the information out immediately,” Madeline said. “So once this meeting is over, I expect you or Nate to approach this human who has kept this secret. There is still a chance that human may hold a key.”

“Right… Long shot. They died kinda young in their old world, and if you spend more time here than there, you sort of ‘become’ part of this system. So, they don’t have that same key anymore.”

“Mm.” Madeline settled down again. Nobody else seemed to object. “Continue,” she said. “I think we all have a good picture of what happened up until the Dark War from here. Blights arose; we quashed them. The world advanced for about a thousand years as intended. You refused godhood, but still lived alongside us with the Reincarnation Machine that Palkia developed, with Xerneas’ help, to cheat death. Though, since Yveltal didn’t mind, I suppose you had a pass…”

“I guess it’s because he saved Star,” Anam said. “And he has a good heart. Gods like that, and he was supposed to be a god, or something?”

Madeline suppressed a sneer, but Owen could feel her disapproval. He didn’t blame her.

Owen continued. “The world could have lasted only a century or so, but Star and Barky were… hesitant. They had attachments to this place. And I think Star was still afraid of humans. This world, no humans at all? She was more comfortable here. They made a ‘timer’ for the world. A thousand years. After that, the Worldcore would open up for greater commands, and Necrozma would send a command to end it.”

Demitri, Mispy, and Gahi all shifted uncomfortably at that.

“That ain’t how it went, though,” Gahi concluded.

“You’re right. It wasn’t,” Owen said. “Jirachi compromised that the Worldcore would just make it so no new lives could be born. The last generation would age and die under the direct help of the Legends. But during that time… I found Dark Matter, created a partnership, and then a resistance to fight Necrozma to undo that command and let the world exist indefinitely. Star and Barky weren’t sure anymore, either, and the command could only be undone if all three gods—or their power—came together… or if the resisting power was eliminated.

“So, that was my goal. Strip Necrozma of his power and undo it with Star and Barky. Win them over. To be honest… seeing my daughter, Remi, upset about not being able to have kids was what really motivated me. Selfish, I know, but…”

“Well, everyone needs an anchor for big things like this,” Anam said gently. “Even if you tied it to her… that was just an example for the real thing you were fighting for, right? There were probably tons of people with the same conflict.”

Owen nodded. “Yeah. That’s true…”

Sera leaned forward where she sat, elbows on the table. “Haven’t changed much, huh?” she said.

The conflicted pang Owen felt upon seeing Sera…

Yes, he’d observed how that all happened through Nate. He’d watched as Enet, Amelia, and Spice returned to a single entity… and not seen Remi come out of it, but someone entirely new. He supposed, after all the time that had passed, it was only natural that she would change.

But it still hurt.

“Yeah,” Owen said quietly. “Guess not. Anyway, um…”

He took a few seconds to gather his mental bearings again.

“So, what’s next after that…”

“Do you know what happened after you were eliminated?” Madeline asked.

“A little bit. I’d split myself off into the Worldcore before I was betrayed. Actually, I had a feeling something would go wrong. That was my insurance. Though… turns out, part of that was my fault.”

“Eh?” Gahi flexed his wings. “We were the ones who betrayed yeh. That ain’t…” He eyed Azelf, who had his arms crossed.

“You were,” Owen agreed, “but… you were conflicted about it. I was… the one who gave you that push.”

Even Mispy looked too confused to comprehend that one. Owen understood. It was inherently self-destructive. “In your dreams,” Owen said. “That’s where I tried to nudge you. People dream about things that are on their mind a lot, and that’s where I was able to give suggestions about those conflicts.

“It… wasn’t a lot, to be honest. Only enough that it worked when you were unsure. Not much else. I knew that, if things went the way they did, it was very likely that Wishkeeper—the title I had at the time—would have won and plunged the world into darkness. It wasn’t what I wanted but I was blind to it under Diyem’s influence.”

At that, Anam looked away, pained.

“It’s okay, Anam,” Owen said gently. “Diyem is different now. Very, very different. It’s not the same—I know that for sure. He wants to change. We can still do that.”

“Hm. I will be able to provide some extra information on what happened after you were downed,” Madeline said. “But first, what were you able to observe?”

“Diyem and the Wraiths were too strong for the Legends. Necrozma must have predicted that being a likely outcome, because he put fragments of his divine power into others, and then made a Promise to distribute his power into those shards afterward. That’s what created the Orbs and Guardians. For the next hundred years or so, the world… decayed. We didn’t really know how to deal with the way Diyem’s power leaked into the real world.”

“And for a while,” Madeline said, “a few Legends who had escaped began to plan for a counterattack when the time was right. We had to be patient and wait for Necrozma’s contingency to take hold—that ‘wildcard’ Willow had been given—or for us to have no choice but to step in. And that happened about a century later, didn’t it?”

“So, you were there after all,” Owen whispered. “Yeah. That was my guess. That, somehow, you’d gone to the Reverse World. And when Alexander and Diyem came to attack the Tree of Life… you felt you had to act.”

“Correct. And from there… something very strange happened. The wildcard was activated. Just in time for you to do some Worldcore work, I’m guessing?” Madeline crossed her arms. “How interesting… The Fairy Type. Ironic.”

“Uh. Ironic?” Owen asked.

“Yes. The one so obsessed with Dragons being the one to make something that defeats them handily.”

“I—I was thinking of something scary that dispels darkness!” Owen defended.

“…Wait, you’re scared of Fairies?” Sera spoke up. “Isn’t Grandma Amia a Fairy?”

“She’s scary when she’s mad…”

Mispy closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn’t need words to convey her thoughts. Uxie unintentionally mimicked Mispy’s body language.

“Anyway,” Owen hastily moved along, “that’s right. That conflict led to most of Dark Matter’s influence being sealed away in the Voidlands, which… now that it’s all pieced together, is what the Reverse World used to be.”

“And the Reverse World itself is simply the Ghost Orb,” Madeline clarified. “Which became a gateway into the Voidlands when Dark Matter expanded his domain there.”

“Hey, actually,” Sera said, speaking up. “There’s one thing that’s bugging me. What happened to your Fortress of Shadows or whatever?”

“…Did he really call it that?” Angelo piped up as he scribbled his notes. “And you thought you were the good guy?”

“It sounded cool!”

“It did sound cool,” Sera defended. “And since the person who actually wanted to destroy the world was a big dragon of light and crystal… Light isn’t always friendly, you know.”

“I believe it disappeared into the Reverse World,” Madeline said. “And from there, Alexander converted it into Cipher Castle after a lot of renovations.”

“What?” Owen whispered. “So that place is…”

He wondered if any of its architecture was still similar. Owen hadn’t noticed anything, so it must have changed substantially.

“Well, anyway,” Owen said, “we had a few centuries of peace after that. I tried looking for Leph and Aster, but…”

“Reverse World for safety,” Madeline confirmed with a nod. “Unfortunately, that… didn’t turn out well in the end.”

“Figured.” Owen continued, “Alright. Well, one reason it became centuries of peace was because Alexander made everyone forget many key details related to the Legends. He made a Divine Decree—that is, he tapped into the deepest parts of the Worldcore to make a new rule for reality. And it was that anyone who fell into the Voidlands would be forgotten.

“We thought, for a while, that if a soul was destroyed here, they’d be forgotten by everyone. That wasn’t the case. What happened was they fell into the Voidlands and the Decree erased their history from everyone’s minds. That was… a big setback. We were only able to figure out a lot of details from the remnants of their actions. Like observing something’s shadow because you can’t look at it directly…

“During that time, Alexander got to recover and… do his experiments. Wishkeeper was reincarnated into the Owen that was under Eon’s care. Nevren did a bunch of experiments to try to get a stronger Charizard, which was the pilot program for the mutants. Along the way, it seems he figured out how to wipe aura ancestry, too.”

Mispy whispered something to Demitri.

“Oh,” Demitri said. “Right, and we joined that, too. Our Legend halves were lost like the rest, and we didn’t have Orbs to stay alive, either. We went to the Reincarnation Machine. We figured it was only fair to be part of the same system we put you in… and we thought it’d be a way to repair things. Mhm…”

Mesprit nodded to confirm. “I think even when we were targeted by the wraiths, we knew that was going to be the plan.”

“We weren’t the only ones reincarnating,” Owen said. “Sera… one of your fragments was a spirit that went through the Worldcore to reincarnate into different lives all the time. Feral lives. We happened to find you when you were ‘Enet’ and when you became the Electric Guardian.”

“Mhm. I’m still sorting through all those lives, but it kind of went similarly for each one. I think Nate helped keep my disposition consistent so when I eventually, you know, became whole again, it wouldn’t be too jarring. And my other two fragments…”

“Amelia, who was under Klent’s care,” Owen said. “She was one of Necrozma’s contingencies. She was meant to reawaken when the Worldcore weakened, but she met my mutant half when I was in a frenzy. And because Nevren wiped out my aura ancestry, I don’t think there was even a hint of a connection to coax me out of it when we’d met that day…”

“Hey, I know that tone,” Sera warned. “Don’t go blaming yourself. I’m over it! Not like it was your fault. But if I see Nevren again…”

That earned a small smile, but it didn’t ease his guilt. “The last fragment,” Owen said, “was one that Alexander had stolen away during the Dark War.”

An uncomfortable silence followed. Owen wasn’t ready to talk about that.

Sera stood up. “I was brainwashed by him—in two ways. First off, I lost my memories, too. Amnesia seems like a trend for people in power to take advantage of that sort of thing. And then, Alexander had me under his domain in his spirit realm, the Fire Orb. He was trying to replicate what Owen had—the power over Light and Darkness.”

“Chaos,” Owen clarified. “That’s the power it’s referred to, when you have a perfect blend of both.”

“…Why would ‘Chaos’ be the name of something that needs balance?” Sera said. “Why don’t you call it something cool like, uh… Radiant Darkness, or something? Hmm, too long. Brightshadow? Blacklight?”

“The power itself is chaotic,” Owen said. “Even a slight imbalance and it could… backfire. Badly, in a chaotic mess,” Owen explained. “And otherwise, utilizing it to its fullest potential can’t be done unless you push as far as you can.”

“Mhm.” Sera nodded, arms crossed. “Alexander was trying to create someone who had a balance of Shadows and Radiance down to their core… by using my light and his darkness. But in the process, he corrupted that fragment to being part Shadow, and so his plan was doomed from the start.

“Eventually, when one of my offspring—you know him as Alex, Owen’s dad—rebelled and got Alexander killed and tossed into the Voidlands, I escaped from him during that traversal. I was fading fast, though, and wound up in the Voidlands with barely any memories at all… One thing led to another, and I eventually slipped out in a Dungeon back to the real world.

“I was the only Void Shadow—or, Wraith—who could survive outside of Dungeons. I think it’s because my natural light meant I wasn’t bound to the realms under Diyem’s domain. Slipped into a Salazzle and Sceptile family, just… you know, because I wanted something that I couldn’t remember. That’s how ‘Spice’ was born.”

Sera winced at the reminder. But then she laughed and scratched the back of her head.

“Stiiiill trying to figure out how to break that one to them. They’re still family to me. I’m also ‘Spice.’ I’m all of them. Just… hard to articulate that.”

Angelo paused. “Um. Sorry, point of clarity. Sera, you’re Owen and Mhynt’s daughter… but your offspring became Owen’s stepfather?”

“Yup.”

Angelo stared.

“Go on, write that down.” Sera gestured for Angelo to move along.

“Right… I’ll admit, I’ve never written about a… circular family tree… even if the context is different…”

Madeline cleared her throat. “And so, for the next five hundred years or so, what happened?”

“Well, Eon continued the mutant project. He started gathering up feral spirits to reincarnate into more mutants. Nevren found Anam, who found Diyem in the Ghost Orb, the last gateway into the Voidlands. Diyem helped Anam turn Quartz Mountain into Kilo Village. And… things stagnated. Everyone was waiting for the next thousand years to pass, when the next scheduled time for the Worldcore to loosen its rules.

“Even if they didn’t remember it directly, I think the feeling remained in their spirits. So, once we got closer to that—which was last spring or so, I think? That’s when it started moving again. I, in the Worldcore, made the Orb Dungeons glow brighter to attract attention. I was familiar with a lot of you in your dreams, so that helped with you being more amiable in, uh, joining up…”

“And then we reach the point where the Guardians were all gathered up,” said Madeline, “and Diyem made his move at the same time, leading to the mess we’re in today.”

Owen nodded. “That’s right… and I think that’s the full story of Kilo. Or, back then, Quartz Isle.”

They all took it in. Angelo finished writing down as many notes as possible before passing them along to others to read. Several of them added amendments and spoke them aloud. Madeline detailed some aspects of the Reverse World, how distortions were the norm, and how Diyem’s presence had stabilized it for a time.

Mispy wrote, and Demitri spoke aloud, about Tim’s progression with mutants. Despite not remembering the full context of it, they knew they’d have to fight something as powerful as Barky eventually. The problem with Alexander’s Decree was that the way the memory gap was filled pointed their efforts at Barky directly.

Out of everything, Eon pointing the crosshairs at Barky was the world’s largest setback. It was all because Alexander happened to be defeated early.

“Hey, I had a question,” Sera said as people passed around the notes. “What’s up with Void Basin? You know, the one that was sorta across the way from the Tree of Life. That’s called a Cursed Dungeon, right? Nothing goes there.”

“I have a good guess,” Owen said. “That showed up at the same time the Tree of Life went away, but I think that was by coincidence. When Nate created the Chasm, it was to protect the Tree and its power, so it wasn’t actually dangerous, even if it looked, uh… Dark. But the Basin was where Alexander was defeated in a huge clash. I think it’s where the barrier between the Voidlands and our world is the weakest—where Alexander was pulled in. I also think War’s End—that huge fissure we found Valle in… I think that was where Valle had been blasted in the first place. His light must have neutralized the Shadows, but it still left him petrified. Him having the Rock Orb must have also helped…”

“Why’d he keep that for himself, anyway?” Sera asked. “Did he think he was dealing with something he’d need some of his power left?”

“Not sure,” Owen said. “but I do know that if Necrozma thought he’d be dealing with someone who combined all elements, Rock won out. Maybe he was thinking Diyem would do something like that?”

“Heh.” Gahi shook his head. “Diyem had an idea like that. Jus’ turned out it wasn’t that simple.”

“You talk like you’re praising him,” Demitri murmured.

“Oi, he’s an ally now, ain’t he?!”

“Only partly,” Demitri reminded. “His other fragments are still just as evil as before!”

“Not… evil,” Owen said halfheartedly. “But I know what you mean.”

Knock knock.

After a pause, the door into the office opened.

“Um, Anam, Sir?” called a little Cyclizar. “The, um, creator of all things is here for your meeting…”

“Oh, great! Thank you!” Anam grinned and sat up. “Perfect timing!”

“Anyone think it’s kinda weird that literally god needs to wait outside?” Sera asked.

“Maybe a little,” Owen admitted. “But I think if we’re done here, we should head out and, you know, talk it over with them. I hope the other three are there, too…”

Angelo finalized his notes and nodded nervously. “I’ll, um, go and make copies of this,” he said. “I don’t, um, I think I’ll yarf if I see Arceus in person again… so…”

The Smeargle quickly shuffled past the others and, upon seeing that Arceus was standing just down the stairs of the Heart HQ ascent, hastily drew wings, attached them to his back, and jumped out the window.

“…What’s yarf mean?” Sera asked.

“Yell-barf,” called a Charmander near the entrance.

“Mu!” Owen shuffled his wings. “How’d your walk with Diyem go?”

“It went alright,” Mu said. “Um… sorry about… stuff. I’m trying to do better. Or, wait, no, I’ll try to do better.”

“Oh.” Wow. Owen was surprised Diyem got through to her after just one walk. “Thank you, Mu. Where’s Diyem now?”

“He said he’d die if you thanked him, so I think he lagged behind and took a stop at his place first.”

“…Diyem has a place?”

“Yeah, I can give you the address later, but it’s, like, right near the hospitals.”

“Why the hospitals?” Owen asked.

“I think he needs the negativity for food.”

Zena squinted. “I thought he wanted to avoid negativity, or it hurt him.”

“Positivity hurts him,” Mu said. “Like, if you expressed it. But being near negativity, like, fuels him, I think? Even if he doesn’t like it.”

Zena seemed confused and bothered.

“Look, his existence is suffering. That’s kinda the whole reason we’re in this mess,” Mu reminded as they walked down the stairs.

Zena nearly lost her pacing as she slithered down, had she not been caught by Owen.

“Sorry, distracted,” Zena murmured.

Arceus stood at the base of the stairs. Just behind him was Star, still jumpy and nervous, but much calmer than before. She relaxed when she saw Owen. Leph and Aster rested in a nearby building, emerging once they’d heard talking.

“You wanted to see us?” Barky asked. “And welcome back, Owen. things have been… eventful, but we managed. Have you been caught up?”

“I think so. But before we can do more catching up, I need a favor from all four of you, and also Diyem, maybe. Oh, there he is.”

“Where?”

Owen looked at a wall.

Mu sighed. “Eyes, Dad. Eyes.”

“Oh, he’s… just down the road. He entered my range. That’s good. Nate’s main body’s also coming.”

“The startled screams gave that one away,” Mu said, gesturing to a few onlookers as Nate stirred from the caldera’s edge.

Sensing Barky’s impatience, Owen said, “I need you—all of you—to give me some of your power, or, channel it through me, as I do something with Nate. I’ve been planning this for a while, but it hinges on having enough power to do it: stabilize the world completely and get rid of all the Dungeons at once.”

“What? Every single one?” Barky asked with skepticism.

“You can do that?” Star added.

“I think I know how,” Leph said, drifting closer before landing gently on all four hooves. “It’s the Tree of Life, isn’t it? I’m starting to remember that. It’s an actual thing, or at least, what represents it is there.”

Owen nodded. “That’s right.”

“Oh, oh!” Aster raised a hand. “So that means, um, so that means… if you had the divine power to power it up, then you could change the rule that’s making Dungeons appear!”

“Exactly. And I’ve had a good few centuries of studying, so I know what I’m going to do will work for almost all Dungeons. The only ones that might not work are the ones powered by other divine things—so, Emily, wherever Necrozma is, Alexander… and maybe Ghrelle. It’s Ghrelle, right?” He looked at Barky.

“Regrettably.” Barky winced. “I was nearly overtaken by her corruption. I’m afraid I don’t know where she went.”

“So, you expect five gods to trust you with the keys to the world, and that will solve all of our problems,” Diyem said as he walked into physical view. “I suppose it would be stating the obvious if I explained the apprehension I feel from the others.”

Barky grunted and looked down at Owen. “…It’s as he says. This is a big request, Owen, for someone who has been gone during the recent conflict, and… tainted by humanity for a year.”

“This isn’t coming from that part of me. This was planned by someone immersed in the core of this world for a thousand years.” Owen met Barky’s gaze. “It’s only for this one moment. I won’t be able to take away your power, and Nate will help oversee it. You trust Nate, right?”

Just then, the leviathan loomed over the Heart HQ. One of his five heads wiggled as if to wave.

“I suppose I do,” Barky admitted. “If he will be overseeing the process, then I have no objections to this one-time effort.”

“I trust Owen,” Star finally spoke up.

“Yeah! Grampa Owen will help,” Aster said.

Leph nodded silently, eyeing Diyem.

“Hmph. That was easy.” Diyem took a step forward. “Explain the process.”

<><><>​

To not scare the civilians, Owen took Barky, Star, Leph, Aster, and Diyem—as well as a few other Guardians who had come along to help—to the southern edge of the caldera. Nate was lower than ever to the ground, the palm of his great head looming over them. At the very center was a precious, glowing orb of lights, like staring at a dome of stars. Barky and Star recognized it instantly; Leph and Aster couldn’t look away from it. Diyem grumbled something about how he was seeing it ‘just like that’ after all this time.

“In all the time I spent beneath the Tree,” Madeline said, “I never saw this Worldcore before. It must have been very heavily guarded…”

“It was. Are we ready?” Owen looked back at the others.

“For this one act,” Barky said firmly. “I’d ask for a Divine Promise on this, but… I recognize that you could simply override it with the Worldcore anyway, can’t you?”

Owen smiled nervously. “Huh. I didn’t think about that, but maybe. I didn’t want to mess with that star.”

“Huh?” Star asked.

“Uh—never—nothing. Words. Let’s just get this over with.”

Owen approached the Worldcore and held his right hand over it. In response, the stars brightened and a few select ones gathered near his palm. He glanced back at the others.

Star was first, hovering over Owen’s shoulder. She placed her paws on Owen. Filaments of light rose from her back as they activated.

Barky grunted and approached Owen on the other side, lightly pressing his hoof on Owen’s shoulder after brushing some dirt from the gold. It shined well.

Leph and Aster approached next, though, to avoid crowding, they elected to go on either side of Owen and concentrated from afar. They didn’t have specific power to channel, so they instead focused on the Worldcore after some trial and error with Owen to get the right resonance.

“Something about this is nostalgic, in a way,” Leph said. “I never saw this Worldcore, but… I was near it. That feeling is like when I was growing up with Auntie Madeline.”

“And I guess Grampa Owen moved in,” Aster said.

“Why am I suddenly grampa?” Owen protested.

“Because you lived an extra thousand years and stuff!”

Owen opened his mouth but couldn’t find a counterargument. He grumbled and refocused on the Worldcore. “Try to guide the others,” he said. “You have the most experience behind me on interacting with the Worldcore… Your powers are needed to stabilize it. Not to mention… possibly being the true gods of Kilo.”

“I understand,” Leph said, nodding dutifully.

“Okay!” Aster grinned.

Star gave Barky a knowing look. Barky ignored her.

“And all the others,” Owen said, “channel through Barky or Star.”

“Like this?” Anam asked, holding both grabbers forward. Pure divine energy—a silver-blue light—pooled between them, connecting to Owen in a beam.

“I c’n do that,” Gahi said, vibrating his wings from pent-up energy. They shifted to their cosmic, starry colors as he activated the Psychic aura, then aimed that same energy at Star.

“Yes, perfect,” Owen said as more and more Guardians stepped in.

“I think I remember how to do this,” Yveltal said, bringing her wings down.

“Trivial.” Xerneas’ horns brightened with rainbow light, radiating energy all around. The pulse bent as if the wave itself was drawn to Owen.

Sera’s ectoplasmic fur suddenly poofed up with electricity as she channeled her energy the same way.

“Perfect, this is more than enough,” Owen said. “Alright. Nate, are you ready?”

Everything is in place. Power it up!

First came a low hum. The stars moved in slow, accelerating lines across the sphere, faster and faster until they made laps across the dome in seconds. Each star left a trail behind, aside from a select few that instead formed rapid, tiny circles beneath Owen’s palm. What was once a pinprick of light in the center of the dome was now about the size of his head.

That’s it! Nate declared. Release it!

Owen clenched his fist as if to crush something. The bubble inside rapidly expanded like a star going supernova, instantly eclipsing the whole group’s positions in blinding white. The hum had become a deafening buzz like electricity crackling through his skull.

The ground heaved, knocking half the group to their fronts or sides. Owen kicked off the ground, floating with the wind, and maintained his concentration on the Worldcore, which spun faster and faster. A second, then a third pulse of light removed any hope of sight. The buzzing evolved into thunderous booms like the earth itself would crack open.

Aster screamed, overwhelmed, and Anam tried to comfort him while he himself trembled.

A fourth and final pulse sent the wave of light beyond them, returning vision, but putting them in a surreal perspective of watching a white sky obscure everything more than a stone’s throw away from them. But that horizon rapidly grew, revealing more of the mountain, the village, and the faraway forests. The rumbling, too, was distant, and they could all hear again. Distantly, they heard Angelo shriek with fear, the Smeargle halfway to their team by the time the light had swept over him.

They’re receding.

“What?” Madeline asked. “No… You mean it actually worked?”

“Ha!” Star puffed out her chest. “See? Barky, you owe me a thousand Poké!”

“You bet on my honesty?!” Owen squeaked.

“It’s a compliment!”

Owen paused. He pointed at Barky. “You bet against it?!”

“I did no such thing! This was a one-sided bet!” Barky bristled.

Leph faced Nate. “Dungeons are going away? Just like that?”

Most of them are with that pulse of light, Nate confirmed. Everything is falling into their proper places again… Yes! Owen, it worked! It worked!

Owen had to admit, finally getting something to work after all this time was… relieving. A turning point. But…

“That’s where my plan ends,” Owen admitted. “We’ve cleared up the route to all of our enemies. But that means they can get to us, too—but no longer at an advantage. Nate, what Dungeons are left?”

I’m sensing… three remaining ones. One is Fae, Fae Forest. We know that’s where Alexander is, and where he might rise again. The second one is, well, Emily herself, so that’s no surprise. The third one is near where I’d had my last clash with Necrozma… so, there. Oh, wait, I’m detecting a fourth one high in the sky—right, Destiny Tower’s upper half. That makes sense.

“Wait… what about everywhere else?” Anam asked. “Calm Water Lake? Hot Spot?”

Gone. They’re normal areas again.

“Th-that’s wonderful!” Anam clasped his grabbers together. “Owen! You really did it!”

“No.” Owen shook his head. “I needed everyone’s help for this. And I needed their trust… I think that’s what I did wrong all those years ago.” He faced Barky, then Star. “I was so… wrapped up in my own head as Wishkeeper, thinking that not only was I the one to save the world, but that nobody else—not even the gods—would have been capable of doing the same thing. I… I’m sorry for that. And I want to make up for it now.”

“Hm.” Barky nodded cautiously. “I suppose… I also could have put more confidence in others.”

“Yeah…” Star rubbed the back of her head. “A… a lot of it was ego. People who thought they were the ones who should be at the mantle. Even Eon, too, huh? All egos on who’s supposed to be in charge… rightful or not.”

“It’s a talk we can have later,” Owen said. “Right now… we at least know someone who shouldn’t. Right?”

“My fragments,” Diyem stated, looking intensely uncomfortable while sitting on the ground as if catching his breath.

“…You alright there, buddy?” Sera asked, crouching next to him.

“I think Owen’s mushy speech about trust wounded him,” Anam said with a frown. “Sorry, Mister Matter…”

“I’ll… live…”

Nodding to himself, Owen decided to get serious—for Diyem’s sake. “Barky, can you start mobilizing everyone to return to Kilo Village?” Owen said. “Finish everything they can, and then get back here for our final assault. I need as many as we can for Emily. I know a way to cure her and turn her into an ally.”

Barky looked surprised, but without questioning it, he said, “I’ll get them. It may take a day or two, though, to organize everything and recover from the shock of all Dungeons disappearing.”

“That’ll do.” Owen nodded. “Everyone else? Rest up. Because in a few days, we’re taking down Dark Matter’s fragments for good.”
 

Negrek

Abscission Ascendant
Staff
I think I need to stop reading this fic while I travel, lol. It seems to bring me bad airplane luck. Nevertheless! I finally have a full review for Part III and am working on Part IV. I think it'd be cool to catch up and follow along with some of the remaining chapters as they come, but I don't know that that'll be feasible--I still have a solid 400 pages or so to get through at this point. But I think it'll be reasonably close.

All in all, I enjoyed this section quite a bit. There's a lot more payoff here and mysteries being answered rather than set up, as well as a lot more insight into the motivations of the various characters, and even factions. And the motivations themselves... plenty of interest there!

I did find the beginning of this arc a little slow; the bit where everyone was wandering around in the wastes being miserable went on for longer than I was really interested. Once we got settled into Null Village and people started coming together again, the story picked up quite a bit for me. It's fun to have this complete other society (perhaps one might even call it a... Soul Society?) in the middle of what's essentially hell, one that in many ways holds all the answers that the world above has forgotten. At times I would have liked for that society to feel more alien than it did, given how wildly different and oppressive the environment is, and how the inhabitants are living for centuries while enduring various levels of memory/personality loss, but I can admit that my occasional moments of "but how do they have regular bread when there's literally no sun" are really beside the point here. :P

I did really enjoy what was essentially the secondary plot thread of Owen and Tim's journey through Kanto. It's still hard to see how Tim went from anything we see in those flashbacks to Eon as he presents himself now--and Owen clearly feels likewise, heh. But it's fun to see Owen as a very normal pokémon living a fairly normal life, and how that all--in one dramatic swoop--ends up getting washed away. It's tragic that Owen also recognizes that he can't truly go home; even though not a ton of time has passed in Kanto, apparently, he's nothing like a normal charizard anymore. Those sorts of problems have been solved many times in his past through a bit of memory loss, but it's hard to imagine Owen choosing that willingly at this point. I'm curious how the story will end up reconciling his desire to go home with the sheer infeasability of it actually happening; at this point the best outcome to me seems like it would be Owen being able to visit Kanto now and again, but not being part of it as such.

Ultimately, the Cipher City part of the storyline was probably what interested me most in this section. It's interesting to see a mortal(?) pokémon that's risen to challenge even Dark Matter, despite also being trapped in the Voidlands. The presence of Leph, Aster, and Mhynt on that "side" of the conflict also makes for a lot of fun intrigue. Obviously no one's particularly happy over there, besides Alexander himself and perhaps Qitlan, but how they respond while things (presumably) start to unwind will be interesting to watch. Star and Owen are also both imprisoned there now, of course, and I imagine that'll lead to some fun scenes.

In general, now that we're starting to understand the characters' motivations more, I appreciate how complex the situation is. There's no clear answer to who's right or who's wrong in this situation, and it's easy to imagine characters being divided on how to deal with Dark Matter and the state of the world in general. With the possible exception of Alexander, who so far gives every indication of just being a dick. :P

A lot of the strife in this world is based on bad decisions that, while obviously flawed in retrospect, are completely understandable given the circumstances. It wasn't a great move for Star and Arceus to create a temporary planet to serve as a kind of afterlife for the people who'd died in Quartz, especially if they were also going to create a bunch of souls native to the place, and then kind of fail to mention that they planned to turn off the lights in a few centuries or so. They were understandably not in a super rational place at the time, though, and once they'd started to grow fond of the place, they probably managed to convince themselves they could sustain it for as long as necessary anyhow. Necrozma's "we just won't let anyone new be born and the world will gradually fade away" is a fairly horrifying compromise on the "destroying the planet" front, but I can see how he would think it preferable to ending things on the spot. Team Alloy essentially turning Owen into a vegetable was also more than a little horrifying, but logical if they're worried about him leading the literal ultimate evil to victory and know that he'll just get revived if they actually kill him. In this section especially you do a good job of showcasing characters with a diversity of opinions on the problems facing them and their world, where there are no easy answers and no real objective right or wrong.

It's really interesting to consider Owen's position here, especially. It's one he takes out of compassion for Dark Matter... but also his own pain at seeing the world ending and knowing what's ahead for his daughter if he doesn't stop it. If the reason Necrozma wants to destroy the world is there's no way for them to contain its corruption, then surely it makes more sense to instead use the gods' power to change the nature of the corrupting force so that it's no longer a threat? I get the impression that Owen would be pretty against ending the world whether Dark Matter was involved or not, though--he might not be motivated to actively fight against it without that, though. It's an interesting balance of selfless and selfish desires. It's almost a question of how much strife is worth it to save one person, to right a cosmic injustice, but Owen's also in a sense fighting for all of Kilo.

Not sure where I land on the issue, personally. If Necrozma's going to end the world, then he definitely didn't go about it in a good way; give people a little time to say some goodbyes and take care of any last desires they might be able to squeeze in, and then close the curtains, imo, rather than drawing everything out so painfully. But if the world actually IS fundamentally broken and only going to become more unstable, then putting a stop to it before everyone has to go through all Dark Matter's depredations is definitely the move, imo! I guess it really ultimately hinges on whether Dark Matter can be changed in the way he likes, after which point there's no indication that the world wouldn't be able to sustain itself. Necrozma seems convinced that that's not possible, and since the world is doomed it would be best to end it before it falls apart (reasonable); but to me it's pretty damning that no one among the gods was even willing to try to revise/fix Dark Matter, at least as far as I can tell.

I'm excited to see how things develop now that people are starting to remember everything, and therefore the current conflicts can be more obviously develop out of what happened in the past. For the most part, most characters are united against Alexander at the moment, but it will be fun to see how that ends up breaking down eventually--or what they have to do to ensure it doesn't fall apart to the extent that it has before. I don't know how fundamentally the gods' positions will or will not have changed on the issue of destroying or rewriting the world, and that's something that everyone will have to confront in the end; we're definitely building towards quite a climax!

One thing I did think was odd about this section is that nobody seems to care very much about what Nevren did? He was manipulating the (upper) world's most important religious/political figure for centuries, ultimately betrayed him, and as a consequence reignited a shadow war that's already killed hundreds of people and destroyed Kilo's way of life. Obviously a lot of the common pokémon have no idea that happened, but even among characters who definitely know about it, no one's relationship with Nevren seems to have changed. No one seems particularly put out by the whole thing or even unwilling to work with him, much less get some kind of payback for what he's done. I mean, like. If Arceus was going to smite anybody... But as far as I remember, Rhys is the only character who's so much as yelled at him about it. His betrayal seems like a really major one that certainly has had a giant impact on the plot, but the lack of character fallout has been a little weird for me. And assuming he does end up recombining with Palkia and thus "disappearing," it seems like there ultimately won't be any consequences for him at all.

Ultimately, I think the main feature of this section was all the reveals! Like I said, it was really satisfying to learn more about what actually happened to lead the story up to the point we've arrived at, and in general I think you did a good job of balancing backstory with advancing the primary plot. I gotta hand it to you; those last two special episodes were a pretty masterful example of revealing a whole lot, covering literally more than a thousand years of history, while also giving very little away about the actual main mysteries, heh. Still nothing about how so many people ended up in the Voidlands, at least halfway; and if I'm remembering correctly, I think there was an entire second war, after the creation of the Orbs, that we've heard almost nothing about at all? No indication of how Star/Arceus ended up dead but not in the Voidlands, either. Plenty left to speculate about!

Supposing we do have three pieces of Dark Matter scattered about, and one of them is in Emily... it seems most likely that Spice has another, given how similar her symptoms seem to be to Emily/Tanneth's. And since she evidently escaped from the Voidlands, maybe that shard is what allowed her to do it, where most wraiths who return to the lands above die/disintegrate. Other than that, Nate seems like the most likely candidate to have a DM fragment. I would also guess that he's this world's Voice of Life, if any exists... that might explain his wraith retinue, and it seems he was associated with the old Tree of Life to some extent. Of course, taking the form of an Eternatus but knowing Light of Ruin is pretty weird, so there's clearly layers to it, heh. Similar to DM ending up in the Ghost Orb, perhaps the VoL ended up in the Dark Orb and then fused with whoever found it--a floette, maybe? We can get real galaxy-brained here, sure, why not. It'll be interesting to find out how the DM fragments ended up in whoever they ended up in, one way or another.

So many forgotten/secret identities! I'm particularly curious about Phol and Rim at the moment. Phol is clearly someone from Team Necrozma, which I don't think we've gotten a full accounting of yet--maybe Ho-Oh or Rayquaza? Rim, on the other hand, is associated with Quartz and seems to have a particularly strong connection to Owen particularly. I would ordinarily guess she was Remi, given the similarity in the name, but I think I've osmosed that Spice is Remi, so that's out. Maybe she's the Kilo part of Mhynt/Lunala; there's clearly something funky about Mhynt, who seems to have retained more of her memories/personality than almost anyone else, so if Rim's her other half, that could explain why Rim seems so subdued.

I'm also itching to know what's going on with Ayame and Ire. It's weird that they were so important to Tim/Owen's journey, and they've been completely offscreen for this entire story. I figure we're going to have to get them back into the mix somehow! I do wonder what happened to Ire in particular... right now Enet is the only character we've seen who has feral tendencies like Owen, and thus far we haven't seen any characters who have swapped genders over the ages, but if not Ire, then who's Enet? The only possibly-good candidate I can think of is Remi, since iirc she inherited some of Owen's feral characteristics. Other than that... another refugee from Owen's world, I'd guess, but there really aren't any significant characters from that group unaccounted for that I can think of, besides Ire. (Or, wait, maybe Ire is Lucas? I suppose that's another feral character we've encountered...)

I have been wondering whether there might be some other pokémon that were brought over from Owen's world, or perhaps even other humans. There sure seem to be a *lot* of characters running around with human names, including now Amia. More than could be accounted for from the trainers + their teams who'd infiltrated Quartz. Perhaps Star ended up summoning more humans at various points, like she presumably did with Manny (though I don't think we have confirmation that he's a former human). I kind of wonder whether some might have been brought over when Quartz was first created--perhaps some of the other shadow pokémon that had been in the same facility as Star/belonging to trainers who worked there? It would be kind of cool if the "shadow lineages" in the Southern Continent had originated with shadow pokémon who'd brought those abilities with them into the new world, or perhaps some of the humans who'd created the shadow pokémon in the first place. The capitol down there is called "Cipher" City, after all...

I'm also wondering how, when Owen grew old and died because he didn't ascend, entirely mortal pokémon like Brandon's team and Elder are apparently doing fine. Maybe Brandon's team is fine because they're usually in their pokéballs, and perhaps torkoal simply live one zillion years because tortoise, but it's a curious difference. Which once again brings me back to wondering about Ire, since he explicitly never ascended, either.

I'm guessing Eon being a ditto is a reference to the "failed Mew clone" theory... wonder how that happened. Confused memories of his original form after he got split off from Jirachi? Some experiment gone wrong with Nevren? It's a cute easter egg, anyway, assuming that is the reference you were making.

With Leph and Aster having apparently been born along with Kilo, I kind of wonder whether the ultimate endgame is for Arceus/Mew/everybody from Owen's world to finally depart and leave them to look after Kilo as they were presumably supposed to do from the start. One way or another, it seems like it can't be a good thing for those two to be trapped in the Voidlands, heh. Leph's already been described as essentially being another Arceus, but I wonder whether you would have made her a beta form if that had been discovered by the time you started writing this, heh.

In any case... much ground yet to cover. Right now my interest is probably greatest around what's going on with Star! Considering where Owen's ended up, I imagine we'll be getting a lot more information about that soon. I reckon we'll be seeing a fair few characters reunite with their other halves; should be interesting to see what that does to them, and their relationships. The world is at war yet again, but at least there's some chance it'll be for the final time. On to Part IV, then! Part III has been my favorite part of the story so far, but I could easily see Part IV topping it, as the remaining secrets are resolved and we pull together all these disparate plot elements and characters. It's a lot to keep track of, and I look forward to seeing how you pull it all off!
 

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Woow, thanks for reading so much! Negrek! (And I promise, I'm also going through your fic -- I'm just a much slower reader than you are. Thankfully you've written less in Salvage!)

I'm surprised that Part III is your favorite so far, but I guess it's also a bit of a narrow pool, huh? And it's definitely when more answers than questions start coming, so I guess now that I type it out, yeah that does make sense. I'm loving all the speculation you have going on. Some of it is also giving me insight on things I can probably brush upon right now, too...

I did find the beginning of this arc a little slow; the bit where everyone was wandering around in the wastes being miserable went on for longer than I was really interested.

You have uncovered the product of my first and last NaNoWriMo. The beginning of Act III was written for NaNoWriMo, and I'm never doing it again~ The pacing was just bad, and I didn't realize it until they were published. Tooo slow. I'm better writing at my normal pace. Writing "faster" just leads to more words for the same amount of content.

At times I would have liked for that society to feel more alien than it did,

You know, that's a good point. Admittedly, some of it was because Owen had a more "isolated" life from the rest of Void society. Maybe for a oneshot...

I can admit that my occasional moments of "but how do they have regular bread when there's literally no sun" are really beside the point here. :P

Okay so fun fact I have an answer for that: While I didn't find a good spot to mention it (Maybe I will in a current chapter) Void plants "grow" by siphoning aura energy! Their nutrients come from the dust that Void Shadows become when killed, and there's an infinite supply of that as people are born and born again every time they die. Void Shadows are harvested and fertilize plants that are largely edible, and they found ways to make it like "wheat." It's not quite wheat, but Owen was starving so badly that it tastes like the real thing. Not like anyone remembers how real food tastes, anyway.

It's also why people cried upon seeing the sun for the first time.

I appreciate how complex the situation is. There's no clear answer to who's right or who's wrong in this situation, and it's easy to imagine characters being divided on how to deal with Dark Matter and the state of the world in general. With the possible exception of Alexander, who so far gives every indication of just being a dick. :P
In this section especially you do a good job of showcasing characters with a diversity of opinions on the problems facing them and their world, where there are no easy answers and no real objective right or wrong.

I'm glad! Yes, one of my goals upon setting out to do HoC was how a lot of people can fight over good points, but in their bickering, the truly terrible person can rise up with single-minded interest and batter everyone else down. A bit... topical, seven years in the making...

One thing I did think was odd about this section is that nobody seems to care very much about what Nevren did?

This is a shortcoming. With all the plot beats flying around, Nevren's line was pushed back and back. It will get a resolution, though! For sure. And Nevren's crimes are not forgotten--it's just, since he fled and is laying low, people are focusing on immediate matters. But at this point, Nevren can't show his face to the team without risk of being apprehended or worse. But I haven't forgotten about this, nor have others. Nevren vs. Everyone Else will happen in some form!

also wondering how, when Owen grew old and died because he didn't ascend, entirely mortal pokémon like Brandon's team and Elder are apparently doing fine.

This one I poorly explained, and I can try to mention it offhand at some point, but in short... some mortals who died, but weren't quite at "ascent" levels, instead became "Destiny Spirits." aka, guardians of Destiny Tower's labyrinth. You've actually seen them before in my oneshot, Godslayer. That way, those who ascended may also still interact with their old friends, just in a different way. Somewhere along the line, they went from Destiny spirits to Guardian spirits.

It's a cute easter egg, anyway, assuming that is the reference you were making.

Mythology gag, yep, that was an easter egg. Something broke Tim's aura and he melted.

--

Anyway, good stuff, and I'm glad you've enjoyed it! You're closer to catching up than you think. I bet you'll make it in time for the finale.
 
Chapter 179 - Last Tasks

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Chapter 179 – Last Tasks

Some time passed since Dungeons were nearly entirely eradicated, and for lunchtime afterward, Demitri wasn’t sure how to feel about it all. Just like that, Owen swooped in and solved one of their biggest problems. Not only that, but he had more in mind for what to do next and was mobilizing their forces to take on the Dark Fragments, as they were called.

It had become a big game of “hurry and wait.” As the first to get back to Kilo Village and properly mobilize, Team Alloy was tasked with standing by and resting up for major confrontations.

That only left Gahi restless. The constellation-winged Flygon had left Ludicolo Café several times just to go on quick walks while waiting for their orders to arrive. Sometimes simply walking wasn’t enough and he’d Teleport to different parts of the restaurant. Days ago, it unnerved other patrons. Now, it was a local attraction… even if Gahi didn’t seem to realize it.

Demitri sighed to himself. Such a bother. If he was feeling restless, he could only imagine Gahi’s boundless energy.

Gentle hands tapped Demitri’s shoulder.

“Hm?”

His other half, Mesprit, floated into view. “Um, do you have a second?”

“Plenty of time,” Demitri replied.

Mispy, who had been eating rocks to pass the time, glanced at them and tilted her head.

“Can you come to our table?” Mesprit asked.

Across the café, Azelf was glaring daggers at them, while Uxie was reading the menu with her eyes closed as usual. Somehow.

Wait, how did she—

“It’s important,” Mesprit clarified.

Mispy shrugged and gently pushed Demitri.

“Okay, sure,” Demitri said. “Um, I won’t be long,” he added to Mispy and Gahi, who had briefly been at his seat again. Or it was a trick of the eye.

The Haxorus nervously approached the Trio of Mind’s table and found a seat opposite to them. “What’s wrong?” he asked, claws looking for something to do.

Azelf continued to glare.

Demitri shrank away. “Um…”

“I… I didn’t get far,” Mesprit said, “but I wanted to speak my mind about something, and, well, and I know you’d probably have my perspective but on the other side of things. It’s about… unification. How we probably have to do that sooner than later. And now that Owen’s back… Where is he, anyway?”

“Oh, well, after we finished the whole anti-Dungeon thing,” Demitri said, “Owen said he wanted to enjoy Kilo Village again. I think he’s on a stroll.”

Mesprit’s gaze, as Demitri spoke, had turned to the café entrance. Just outside, through one of the windows, Owen was currently walking down the road with his chest on the ground and legs pushing him forward, rubbing his cheek against the soil. His wings were spread outward to soak up the sun. Several onlookers were confused.

“…Okay, I have no idea what he’s doing, but he’s busy,” Demitri said. “What about unification, then?” He faced Mesprit again.

“Right.” Mesprit drifted to Azelf and Uxie. “We were talking about it. I proposed something, and… I mean, it didn’t go well.”

“To… not unify at all?” Demitri asked.

“No. No, the opposite.” Mesprit looked down. “I was considering if… we’d cede entirely to Team Alloy.”

Azelf smashed his fist against the table, making an ineffectual bump when he did. “It ain’t right,” he said. “We… we fought too hard just to fade! How can y’think that?!”

“So have they,” Mesprit said, “and… Azelf, just… think about it. What have we done? We’ve been in the Voidlands biding our time just trying to survive. Meanwhile, our other halves were suppressed and they still found a way to make changes in the world. Legends… stagnate. But Team Alloy’s mortal minds are what we need now, and for the future. Not… not us. Not our static minds.”

“Is that really how it is?” Demitri asked worriedly. “You can’t change?”

“It’s a side effect of a mind that can handle such long stretches of time,” Mesprit said. “I mean, there are lots of ways to handle long lives, but in the short term, for Kilo? We are… less likely to change. Resistant to alterations to our mind. It makes handling a thousand years so much easier.”

“Ain’t our fault,” Azelf protested. “That’s jus’ how it was…”

Demitri sighed. “It’s not really that simple, but… I know what you mean, Mesprit. But there has to be a better way! I mean… we can’t just—take you. Think about if you did that to us. We wouldn’t be happy. And we’d torment you on the inside with that conflict, wouldn’t we?”

“I—I know,” Mesprit said. “I know that. But that’s why I was trying to convince Azelf about it… Uxie, what do you think?”

The impartial one, Uxie shook her head. “You are both correct. It must be done. But it will cause inner torment. In the short term, perhaps they will push past it. In the long term, it will be lifetimes of struggle to unravel our minds again.”

“Lifetimes…” Demitri winced. They’d already gone through that as mutants. Did they have to go through that kind of shattering again? “Can’t we compromise?”

“How can you compromise on an absolute?” Mesprit asked. “We’ll only hold you back. Just… suppress us for a while. Until this is all over.”

“For what?” Demitri said. “We need to work together. You heard what Owen said. It was all about trust… That was what we couldn’t do before. Trusting each other and trusting ourselves.” The Haxorus’ hands trembled like he was fighting for his life. Yet it wasn’t his that he was worried about.

Then, Mispy spoke. “It’s not… complicated.”

Heads turned to Meganium, who’d slid over to the table and curled her vines around one of the seats next to them.

“Mispy…” Demitri pulled his seat closer to her, ripping it out of the spot it’d been affixed into the ground. “Ah—s-sorry,” he said, trying to put it back. It didn’t work.

“I agree with Mispy,” Uxie said. “We’re overcomplicating this because of the primal fear that comes from dying. And in many ways, this is risking our lives. More than our lives, our ‘selves.’ In the worst case, one of us will be completely eclipsed by the other. Such was the fate of Rhys.”

Demitri was glad Gahi wasn’t within earshot. It was still a sore spot for him.

Nothing but afterthoughts and memories of a past life. In the best case, somehow you will remain in perfect coexistence with the other. And, plainly, that is not realistic. Parts of both will die, irreparably, to bring about a new person.”

Demitri didn’t need Mesprit’s power to see Azelf’s fear. As a being of will, he would certainly be the most afraid of being ‘eclipsed.’

“Azelf, what do you want from this? To exist? To continue?”

“Well… duh!”

“I can assure you of one thing, Azelf. I do not think it will be an end for any of us. We simply are overthinking it all. In the end, both sets of us changed very little. They were reincarnated, static and unable to change. We were in the Voidlands, and are ageless, with unchanging minds.

“I do not think it will be so dramatic. We will be okay.”
Uxie turned her head to Mispy. “I trust her. There is no need to worry.”

“Azelf,” Mesprit said quietly, “what did Gahi say? When you talked to him about it?”

Azelf winced. “Well, he said it’d be fine, an’ stuff. That we’d fuse. But… now we’re talkin’ about fadin’ completely, givin’ ourselves up! What’s that about?!”

“Pah! You do that if yeh want,” Gahi interjected, appearing on Mispy’s other side. “But Azelf an’ I ain’t like that. We’re gonna take on bein’ the same person, an’ we got the will ter overcome that!” He slammed his fist on the table. “C’mon! Owen’s back. We gonna ask ‘im er what, get it over with!”

Azelf flinched. “Yeah, well… how do I know yer gonna stick t’ yer word?” The argument was halfhearted, like he knew the answer. That’s when Demitri realized what Azelf was really looking for…

Assurance. Hollow assurance that it’d be okay in the face of the unprecedented…

“Heh.” Gahi smirked, puffing out his chest. “’Cause I know me, an’ I expect yeh ter fight when we join up. I’m gonna fight, too. An’ what happens af’er our battle o’ wills is what we’ll be. An’ that’s how it should go.”

The dragon and pixie stared one another down. At first, Demitri thought they would beat each other up. Or worse. A fight to the… death?

But then, spontaneously as Gahi always was, they vanished. Demitri jumped and immediately turned to Mispy.

Her eyes were already closed. Then, she slid out of the restaurant, leaving a half-eaten wooden seat behind.

“Ah—sorry, “Demitri murmured, digging through his bag before placing a lump of coins atop the broken seat before following the Meganium.

Just down the road, Gahi and Azelf were picking Owen off the ground and dusting off the dirt from his chest.

“Owen!” Demitri called, rushing over. “Owen, what are you doing?”

“I was touching grass,” Owen said like it was the most normal thing in the world. “Mu said I should try it if I spent a thousand years in one of my lives watching everything through a giant ‘computer.’ I think I got carried away after a bit… Grass element in me, you know?”

Demitri stared, mouth slightly open to find the words. There were so many absurdities in that statement. Demitri didn’t know where to begin.

“…Gahi!” Demitri pivoted. “What’s gotten into you?!”

“We were gonna tell Owen our choice!” Gahi said, punching Owen in the gut just as he stood up.

“Uff—do you really need to hit me for that?!”

“Yes. To feel my fightin’ spirit!”

“…I did feel it,” Owen admitted. “So you’re really resolute on this, huh?”

Azelf punched Owen in the same way. The Psychic reinforcement left a shockwave that knocked Owen back half a foot.

“Yep!” Azelf flexed his tiny arm. “We’re gonna have a battle o’ wills the moment we fuse t’gether, an’ the result’s the way it’s s’posed ter be!”

Demitri and Mesprit both sighed. “I guess that’s how it will resolve anyway,” Demitri said. “Owen, I’m glad you’re back… We didn’t want to bother you during your planning, but now that you’re”—He noticed some grass stains on Owen’s chest—“…Less busy, we just wanted to… see you? To see ‘us’ off?”

Owen nodded, his expression growing more serious. “I get it. And… I hope you guys work it out when you do.”

Mispy nodded firmly. Uxie spoke for her, “Mispy is looking forward to this. My telepathy has her… envious, and we will certainly retain that power.”

“Hah! Only thing that held Mispy back as Team Alloy’s leader was she couldn’ talk easy,” Gahi said. “Guess now she’ll be leader again!”

Mispy nearly thwacked Gahi with a vine, but the Flygon had vanished too quickly.

Azelf floated higher. “So, how ‘bout it, Owen? We got yer blessin’?”

“You don’t need it,” Owen said with a smile.

He was nervous. Demitri could tell. But perhaps even more than they did, he wanted them to get it over with. Maybe it would have been fine if they’d done it sooner… but it felt better this way. With Owen knowing.

“But you do,” Owen finished. “Go ahead. What’s the process? I don’t think I ever saw one of these in person before…”

The wind blew. Passerby Pokémon eyed them all curiously and they eventually shuffled out of the way so they weren’t in the middle of the road.

“I, uh, I think it just happens,” Mesprit said. “Maybe it’s, like… a fist bump?”

“Why would it be a fist bump?” Owen asked.

“I—I don’t know.”

“Hmmm…” Gahi and Azelf both crossed their arms in unison.

“Heh. I got it,” Gahi said. “We jus’ gotta Teleport inter the same spot!”

Mispy dipped her head down. “Try,” she said, defeated.

“Hmph! Think we’re stupid? Jus’ you watch!”

Gahi and Azelf stepped away from one another and stared each other down.

“…What happens when two Pokémon Teleport into the same spot normally?” Demitri mused. “Do they, like… overlap each other? That sounds… messy.”

“The stronger aura wins and the weaker aura fails to Teleport. I believe most Teleportation operates by swapping matter from one location to another. I hear scientists have tried to take advantage of that for energy production if done in a certain way…”

Demitri recalled when Star had complained about something to do with ‘energy’ and Pokémon back in Hot Spot…

“Who cares how it works. We’re gonna make it work th’ way we want!” Gahi declared.

“For anyone else, that’d be stupid. But Gahi has Teleported past anti-Teleport walls.” Uxie glanced at Azelf. “I’m sure between the two of them, they’ll find a way to make reality work how they want.”

Demitri didn’t want to admit it, but Gahi’s achievements in ignorance were a sight to behold…

In a flash, both Pokémon disappeared and reappeared in the same spot, or, so Demitri thought. He only saw a ball of light where they should have reemerged.

Uxie suddenly rose and leaned forward. Mispy’s eyes were closed, brow furrowed with concentration.

“Um. Did something happen?” Demitri asked. “…It worked, didn’t it?”

“I don’t know why I’m surprised,” Uxie said.

The light peeled away from the new figure beneath, flaking off like old scales of a bug’s wings. And beneath was… Gahi, the Flygon, though the galaxy of his wings had taken on a more pronounced blue shade. His red lenses shined with the same ruby color as Azelf’s gems.

“…Hello?” Demitri asked gently. “Do you know who you are?”

The cosmic Flygon blinked a few times, squeezing his hands, staring at them tentatively. “Hah!” he suddenly declared. “Was hopin’ I’d get this bod’!”

Demitri flinched. “W-wait, who are you? Gahi? Azelf?”

“Eh?” The Flygon scratched his chin. “Ehhh… dunno. Those both feel like my names.” He shrugged. “Oi, I did it! Yer turn now!”

“Wh—my turn? Wait, but we have so many questions!” Demitri protested.

Owen laughed. “Demitri, I think you’ll only get your answer once you try,” he said, “But… it looks like, the way things are, it might be the same for the rest of you. You’re ready. And… so am I.” Owen looked down. “I’m sorry you held yourselves back just for me.”

“Don’t be,” Mesprit said. “We could have, but… we had second thoughts. We wanted your blessing. Didn’t want to run away from, you know… the past.”

“Sort of funny to think about how I… nudged you to do that anyway,” Owen said nervously. “Well… you have it.”

“Enough mushy stuff!” Flygon said. “You next!”

Mispy rolled her eyes. Uxie sat atop the Meganium’s back.

“Well, if you insist, and if Demitri and Mesprit are so nervous, then we shall go next. I think we have a more elegant way to do this.”

Uxie and Mispy both concentrated, Mispy closing her eyes to match Uxie. The tiny pixie pressed her forehead against Mispy’s back. Both glowed, completely covered in light…

And the same as Gahi, the light peeled off of the newly-formed, subtly different Meganium. Most of her seemed to be the same, save for a ruby red hue in her antennae… as well as her striking yellow eyes.

“Eep!” Demitri suddenly averted his gaze.

The Meganium tilted her head. She tried to open her mouth to speak, but frowned. “What? Do I look strange?”

“Stranger than usual?” Owen asked.

She glared.

“Wh-whoa! Your eyes! They’re so yellow!”

“Oh. That’s why…” She nodded, looking herself over. “…Mispy. I’ll answer to Mispy. It’s still familiar to me, and, well, I kept the body. Or, Mispy did? Ugh…”

“So, in other words,” Demitri said, “you feel like… both of them, too, huh? So much for discarding the past, huh?” He smiled nervously.

“I think… it’s mostly Mispy. But I have Uxie’s knowledge, which she valued the most. I’m okay with this.”

“We already share the same feelings,” Demitri said to Mesprit. “I don’t think we have to worry about our bonds fading if we fuse. That’s good…”

“I’m… ready, too,” Mesprit said, tittering. “Look at me. Advocating for it in the first place, and now I’m the last one to try…”

Demitri reached out, holding Mesprit’s hand. He felt… a connection, electric and magnetized, and couldn’t let go. This was different than the other times.

He pulled Mesprit into a hug, doubling that stuck feeling.

This was it. One way or the other, the reunification of a life from so long ago. But at this point, he was just following the trend, wasn’t he? A coming of age that most Pokémon never have the displeasure of worrying about.

Then came the light. It overwhelmed Demitri’s vision and all the senses. First a warmth, then a cold, and then neutrality. His heart and breath stopped.

He fell into a great, dark void. In front of him was Mesprit looking just as confused. Everything felt distant and abstract.

Is this it? Demitri asked.

I think so, Mesprit replied. Azelf and Gahi probably… wrestled or something, didn’t they? In this vision…

Sounds like them.
Demitri smiled. …I don’t need any ceremonies. But thank you for everything, Mesprit. I want to use your insight most of all. And I want you to use my power. Okay?

You’re a lot more than muscle, Demitri. No matter how faded I become, don’t forget that, okay?


Bashful, Demitri looked away. Okay.

It became too hard to hang on. The vision melted into a wash of darkened colors…

And he stood there again, the memories of centuries flooding into him. Unlike Owen, though, it came easier. Half of it was from an immortal mind that shrugged off the changes.

Was he Demitri? He remembered being Demitri.

…He also remembered being Mesprit. Sorting out those memories was going to be… difficult. But for now, he could act in the moment and follow what feels right.

That was how most people got by, right?

Recalling Mispy and Gahi’s slight changes, Demitri looked himself over, simultaneously unnerved at how large and heavy he was, while also relieved he was still the same. Ugh, double-thinking…

“Oh, there,” he said aloud. The blades of his axes—both on his tail and on his face—had Mesprit’s colors. Yes, he remembered wanting to be wielded, his powers harnessed… That made sense.

“Do you think my axes don’t hurt anymore, and they just do emotional things now?” Demitri theorized.

“I dunno, find out,” Gahi said with a shrug.

Mispy pondered this and held out a vine.

Owen blinked. “Uh, Demitri, those—”

Demitri sliced the vine in two. “Ah.”

“…I could have told you that,” Owen said.

“It was worth testing,” Mispy said as the vine regrew and several other vines cannibalized what was cut off.

Owen sighed, though he wore a smile.

“…Hey,” Demitri said. “Why don’t we get back to Ludicolo Café, huh? Let’s eat!”

“Hey, yeah! Y’know, I think all that Teleportin’ worked up an appetite!” Gahi thumped his tail on the ground. “C’mon!”

He disappeared before they could reply.

Demitri had sensed some relief from Gahi, though. Enough that he knew Gahi only needed space to recover. He must have been terrified, yet forced himself to go through with it.

In some ways, that was always how Gahi operated.

The rest of Team Alloy walked to the café, finally whole and in one piece.

<><><>​

Owen had come for a visit, leaving Eon quietly festering with mixed feelings of honor that he’d think to visit and nervousness about the subject. He’d been with Rim, Lucas, and Lavender for most of their recovery days, though Rim in particular was still… a much weaker Cherrim without the Psychic Orb bolstering her. It was like Gahi had stolen much of her power along with the Orb.

With Owen on his mind, Eon had uncontrollably transformed into an exact copy. He got his blindfold and put it on quickly so his transformations wouldn’t get distracting, locking him in to that form. Owen wasn’t the only one he was thinking about—Rim, too, had come home with a friend, Celebi. While Jirachi and Celebi didn’t know each other too well, they were familiar and crossed paths now and then during their old work.

Owen had been discussing a plan that needed many of them. He’d gotten it from the human world from a region called Orre. Apparently, they had a lot of experience dealing with Shadows… But was it the same kind?

He heard a familiar trotting from just outside, and Owen stopped explaining. Which was good, because Eon had gotten distracted mid-conversation and would need to hear it again. It was the trotting of Lavender, as a Scolipede—It was his favorite form, and the soul of the person he’d taken the body of was so cheerful and flattered when he became one. His true, Silvally form frightened people anyway, and Eon wasn’t surprised he took on more familiar forms because of that.

Eon’s family found it so strange being in a society that didn’t fight all the time. It bored them, though eventually, they found silver linings in peaceful settlements.

“Visitors?” Lavender called. He must have sensed more life than usual. “Oh!”

“Hey, Lavender,” Eon said. “Thanks for getting groceries,” Eon—taking the form of a second Charizard—said. Lucas, the Mega Houndoom, barked and tackled Lavender as a greeting.

“Need help setting things down?” Owen asked. He pointed ahead and shot a few seeds on the ground, quickly sprouting into little plants that he controlled to help move the groceries around.

“Thanks!” Lavender cheered. He curled up and shifted back to Silvally. “Wow, so you saw the human world, right?”

“I did,” Owen said. “I was just telling Eon about it.”

“Huh? Oh, right! He’s human, too, right?”

Lavender beamed at Eon, but then his gaze dampened. Eon winced, realizing that his blindfold might’ve been wet—he always got a little overwhelmed when Owen returned. His joyful look faltered. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh—oh, nothing.” Eon quickly looked away despite not seeing a thing. “Owen was just… sayihng hello. And I was happy to see him.”

“Ohh.” Lavender nodded sagely. “So, they’re happy tears!”

“Yes.” Eon sighed, wrapping the blindfold over his eyes again. “I know things are different between us, but… I want to heal. We can start over. Right?”

He couldn’t see Owen’s reaction.

“And how about you, Onion Head?”

“M-me?” She seemed stunned. “Um. My name is Celebi. I was actually trying to get to you all sooner, but uhh… things got a little complicated over on the Abyssal Sea. I’m Rim’s other half. Rim found me before I could find you!”

“Oh! Ohhh! That’s you!” Lavender beamed. “I was wondering where you were! What happened?”

“She was guarding Necrozma,” Eon said. “She was kind of an intermediary between some people in the Null Villages and that island in the Abyssal Sea. Long-distance telepathy, but it was a lot of energy. She couldn’t do much to help Necrozma, but as someone who has that same power of purification as Cresselia, she was more resistant to those Titans. She kept them weaker so nobody could make a move… But like a lot of things before the Worldcore’s timer reset, it was a stalemate until recently.”

“It’s a quiet job,” Celebi said, “but I tried to use my power to slow down the advance. I hope it worked…”

Rim tilted her body up while leaning against Eon. Right.

“And how about you, Owen?” Lavender asked. “Are you feeling better now?”

“A little,” Owen said. “I just wanted to check on everyone to make sure they were good. Oh, and also to find a Willow. There are… multiple of her, now?”

Eon shuddered. “We had to un-corrupt ADAM from a Shadow incident with Alexander. Something about ADAM’s environment… duplicated things we put in our bags. And then I tried to catch Willow in one, and…”

“Oh. Literally the worst possible person to duplicate on our side,” Owen murmured. “Let’s hope Alexander didn’t do that to himself…”

“Too big to fit in a bag,” Jirachi said.

“…Huh…” Owen crossed his arms.

“I don’t like the tone you just got,” Eon said. “What are you thinking?”

“Oh—nothing.” Owen dismissed. “Anyway… Glad you guys are doing alright. Will you all be fusing soon?”

Eon flinched. Gods, really bringing that up now? Eon still wasn’t sure what he wanted with Jirachi, or if he wanted anything. If he’d give up everything. And Rim… felt the same, he knew. But that also meant…

“That’s very forward to ask,” Celebi said. “But… we are. Rim and I are ready. We’re awfully different, but… I shared a lot of my memories with Rim already. We’re about caught up, and she wants to be more assertive. Like me!”

“It doesn’t have to be so soon, Rim,” Eon said gently. “I…”

But Rim leaned against Eon. He knew that feeling. She was trying to say, it was okay.

Celebi continued, “Rim spent too long being weak ever since the Psychic Orb was taken from her. And… everything about… what led up to this was just one big mistake. I told you this already, Eon. The mutants, the lab… All that work was aimed at the wrong person. And all that mess… Rim has trouble speaking, but I felt her thoughts and feelings.”

Rim stiffened, trying to get words out. Eon could tell that many eyes were on her.

“It’s… a mistake. I want… to try… again.” Rim forced out. Rim sounded afraid but resolute. “I’m… s-sorry. But… I want… I wanted it. When I s-saw… Celebi…”

Eon took a breath and focused. He took off his blindfold and looked directly at Celebi, then Rim, maintaining his form with some focus. Celebi looked conflicted, ironically. He was expecting Rim to be the one afraid, but the purple-petaled Cherrim was the one more determined to go through with this.

“She followed me a couple of days ago,” Celebi said. “All across town! I didn’t even notice her at first, she was so, um… Well, she blended into the evening at the time… But I knew it was her. There was this tugging feeling, you know?”

Eon and Jirachi glanced at each other. If only it was that easy to be resolute the same way…

“I… can’t convince you, can I?” Eon said. “Rim, I… I’m not ready yet…”

Guilt flooded Rim’s eyes, but she looked down. “I have to.”

“N-not that I’m forcing her!” Celebi quickly interjected. “I think she was saying that symbolically.”

“Eon,” Owen interjected, wings folded back. “I think I understand why this is happening. All this time, Rim was following your orders. She trusted you. But even though it wasn’t totally your fault, you were all marching down a path that’d take down Barky. And, yeah, he had problems, but he wasn’t our real enemy. Now all this work is… scattered. The whole aim of the Hunters is completely lost, and that was her identity for a long time.

“Rim just wants a fresh start. Celebi’s duty is over in the same way now that Necrozma is free, uh… for better or worse.”

Celebi tittered nervously. Lucas, who was probably having trouble following along, made a confused whine.

“It’s okay, Lucas,” Lavender said gently. “I have no idea what’s going on, either!”

“I guess… we can wait a little longer,” Celebi said. “But only a couple days, tops! Okay? It’s okay, Lucas. Nobody’s hurting.”

The Mega Houndoom’s tail wagged a little, cutting up the ground.

Rim pondered it, but then said, “…Need… timer. Countdown…”

“I can give one,” Owen said. “Can you hold off for two days?”

Two days… It was a relief that he had more time. But that was two days of anxiously waiting. Eon hoped he could enjoy them.

“Two days? How come?” Celebi asked.

“I need as many people as possible to get this working, and—uh, having some extras can help with arrangements. I still need to sort it out…”

“Oh, one of your plans,” Eon said. “Can I help?”

Owen seemed slightly uncomfortable. He’d overstepped. Agh, why did he ask so suddenly? He messed it all up again…

“Sure,” Owen said. “Oh, actually. I guess I really should stop putting that off and get some names down. Eon, weren’t you one of the leaders for your squad while I was gone?”

“I actually have a good roster in my head,” Eon said. “Jirachi, too, right?”

Jirachi nodded. “Between the two halves of us, we have a good idea where everyone is and when they should be back.”

“Okay. Maybe… you can help. Lavender, can you spread the word once I get you a letter to write? Once you find a Willow, that’ll make things a lot easier. Or a Hecto.”

“Oh, Hecto’s mostly in one piece now,” Eon reminded. “He gathered up to knock some sense into Shadow Barky.”

“…You know, that might help. Not sure how effective having a bunch of Hectos doing this would’ve been anyway…” Owen murmured more to himself that Eon didn’t understand. “First, I’m going to need thirty-six people in nine groups of four. . .”

<><><>​

Palkia stood in an open field with Dialga in the center of a smoldering crater.

“Are you still alive?” Palkia called leisurely.

“Yes! Why did you need to ask that!?”

Palkia checked his device again, prodding at a few buttons and adjusting a few settings. It whirred, then smoked, and then fizzled down. “Ah, what a shame. Ah—Dialga, on a scale of one to ten, how injured are you?”

“…Two?” Dialga called, stumbling over loose rocks as he tried to climb out of the pit. “I thought you said this was going to be a test blast of the portable Beammaker. Why in the world did you ask if I was killed by this?”

“It’s worth checking maximums for uncharted territory,” Palkia said idly. “Unfortunately, I still need to tweak a few things. Truly a shame. The recoil is just too much for the energy tunnel.”

Poke, poke. He kept poking at the device until it sizzled unhappily.

“Ah.” Palkia carved a hole in space and dropped it inside.

“…Palkia, what was that?” Dialga asked.

For several seconds, the sky had a new star.

“Safe disposal.”

Dialga glared at him.

“Rhys!” called a gravelly voice.

Palkia tilted his head at Dialga.

“Rhys!” he called again.

“I believe that’s you, Dialga,” Palkia reminded.

“Ah—right. Right. I remember now.”

Rayquaza flew over with Torkoal Elder balanced atop his head. They both seemed healthy and in good spirits, though it was hard to tell with Elder.

“Rayquaza, Elder,” Dialga greeted. “How are you?”

“Doing well,” Rayquaza replied. “We’ve been trying to find Nevren, but unfortunately he continues to evade us. We’re positive he’s somewhere in the Voidlands, too, which makes things difficult…”

“He has to return for supplies, I’m sure.”

“Yes. Knowing me, though, he certainly is abusing that tool Dialga had gifted him to flee. And until Dialga can properly disable it…”

“Are you implying you would abuse any blessing given to you?” Rayquaza frowned, crossing his little arms.

“Well, not abuse in my case, more… explore.”

“I worry about you, Palkia,” Dialga said. Then, he addressed Rayquaza and Elder. “Well, it’s good to see you both anyway.”

Rayquaza nodded. “Elder and I have been talking more about… you, Dialga. Elder is trying to accept what happened.”

“Ah… right. Right.” Dialga nodded. “If it’s any help… I do remember everything now. It was very hazy, shrouded in darkness, but time on the surface has helped unearth things again. Even if it’s distant… it’s not gone.”

“Yes. That is… good to know,” Elder said. His tone was odd; Palkia wasn’t sure if he was sick. “And it’s good that at least Rhys’ spirit is… content. Are you content?”

Palkia’s eyes darted from Elder and Rayquaza to Dialga when each spoke, trying ever so hard to understand the pathos behind every gesture. It was all so fascinating.

“I am,” Dialga said. “Even though there are some things I wish I could… dredge up with more passion, all these things that Rhys left behind, I’m content. I’m managing that past and finding ways to do better. It’s only… the emotional side of it all that I’m struggling with. It’s more like a recollection. It’s nostalgic.”

Elder nodded. There was a pained look in his expression like he’d eaten an unagreeable lunch.

Mourning. That was it, wasn’t it?

“Ah,” Palkia suddenly said, shoulders sagging only slightly. Now that he thought about it, Elder and Rhys were very close. Perhaps in better circumstances, he and Rhys could have returned to their full selves at the same time. Now, Elder was scrounging for a way to say goodbye.

“I… ah…” Palkia quickly looked to his notes. He shouldn’t interfere with this. Some things were not meant for science to interfere. Very few things. But this was one of them. The ‘heart’ and its language were most important, and Palkia was not fluent.

“I don’t know if the same will happen to me,” Elder said, “but… there’s one thing I wanted to give you, Rhys. Er… Dialga.”

“Rhys is fine,” Dialga said gently. “What is it?”

Elder looked down at Rayquaza, who dug through a tiny, tiny bag tied around his wrist. Rayquaza produced a small paper.

“Before… all of this happened,” Elder said, “I’d written you a letter. I’d meant for Rim to deliver it like she usually does, but… well, then the Orbs started illuminating, and you know how that all went. I just… felt that, to finish this… chapter of our long lives, that I’d finally deliver it.”

“Oh.” Dialga nodded. “Well, alright. I’d love to read it.”

Palkia tried to lean over to read it, but Dialga flashed a glare at him. Palkia understood this meant it was rude, though his curiosity would not be sated like this… He sighed. Perhaps he could ask later so he could understand their hearts more.

Palkia started to pack up his supplies for a less risky experiment while Dialga read the letter. Rayquaza drifted nervously in the air; The smoke from Elder’s shell had all but stopped, like he was holding his breath the whole time.

All for sentiments on paper. It was so fascinating. Sometimes, Palkia envied how invested people could become in such mundane things… but then he’d be so much less productive. It was a fair trade.

Finally, Dialga breathed out through his nostrils. Palkia recognized that as him being finished.

“Elder,” Dialga said gently. “I understand why you’d want to send that to me, even if it isn’t relevant anymore. But…”

Dialga closed his eyes. Light enveloped him; his body shrank and shrank, changing shape until he was a Lucario again.

“I do appreciate it anyway,” he said.

“Rhys…” Elder finally breathed. Rayquaza lowered his head and Elder clumsily got off, losing his balance. He toppled over, nearly landing on his back had the Lucario not caught him.

“Sorry,” the Lucario said, setting him down. “I, er… I felt it would be more appropriate to assume this form. After reading that letter, I mean. I believe, had I read it at the time… yes, I would have been happy to see it. And I would have put it with all the other letters. I… do regret, in a small way, discarding all the other ones, but they were from a previous time. And, really, all that hoarding was unhealthy…”

Elder nodded solemnly. The smoke from his shell came out in short bursts, like tiny gasps.

“…But… perhaps I can keep just this one. Here, I’ll even… add a little temporal power…”

The paper glowed a soft blue. Palkia cocked his head again and leaned over, but once again, Rhys hid the paper’s contents from him.

Palkia scoffed. “Well, now it’s certainly on purpose.”

Ignoring him, the Lucario showed it to Elder. “Now it will last much longer. The erosion of time will not touch this paper for as long as I remain. I will treasure it as a fond memory, Elder.”

Elder’s jaw quivered. He wanted to say something… Just what was going unsaid? It was like telepathy, this communication between them.

Well, he recalled they literally had telepathy, though since Rhys died, that connection had been severed. Palkia wondered if, somehow, it had been re-established across the aura sea now that the world was more stable…

Still… at some point, Palkia stopped thinking about taking notes on the exchange. Something about it no longer felt relevant for notes and findings. This was… a moment for them. A complicated tapestry of emotions that Palkia could only see the edge of. An indescribable network of feelings of times lost and times ahead. Palkia wondered… why Rhys had not been allowed that luxury.

Palkia’s brow furrowed. His chest hurt a little. That was an odd one.

“Thank you,” Elder whispered. “Thank you… I… I think I’m ready now, Rayquaza.”

“I can tell,” the great sky serpent replied. “Well. I would like to go on a flight for this one. Dialga… or, Rhys, if you’d accept the old title. Would you like to come with us?”

The Lucario nodded, but then flashed a cross glare Palkia’s way. “No experiments while I’m gone. Understood?”

“Yes, yes.” Palkia sighed. “I’ll catch up on some reading and tidy up my notes.”

But even Palkia recognized the relief Elder had. It felt as if that final letter held the last of his wishes. The final task of an old, old soul. And as they flew away, the Torkoal atop Rayquaza’s head, and ‘Rhys,’ retaining that form, just behind him… Palkia had a feeling he was not going to see either of ‘them’ again.

But maybe this time, it was on their terms.
 
Chapter 180 - Left Behind

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Chapter 180 – Left Behind

The wind nipped uncomfortably at Anam’s slime. He sat on the western side of the caldera with the sun at his back. As he overlooked Kilo Village, the shadow of twilight creeping over its streets, he sighed and turned his head to the right. There, Madeline, Giratina, and James sat with him.

“Seems we’re lagging behind,” Madeline remarked. “Giratina, do you think we’ve gotten familiar enough with one another?”

“I’d like more time, ideally, but we aren’t in ideal circumstances.” Giratina chuckled. In her bulkier, six-legged form, she stood higher than all atop the caldera. “We even have Aramé with us this time.”

“Are you really gonna do it?” Anam asked. “I mean… I guess you have to… but…”

Madeline gently patted Anam’s back. “Yes,” the great Goodra said. “Unlike many of the others, though, Giratina and I… have lived very different lives. Similar, but different enough that it may be an adjustment period. Giratina spent time in the Reverse World awaiting the day to spring her trap against Dark Matter. And I… well, I’d been caught up within his realm. We were practically neighbors, yet never knew it. But while Giratina was sealed, I lived a whole life. I met James… I had you.”

“And I don’t intend to take that away,” Giratina said, nodding. “But your mother may change when we reunite, Anam. And I hope you can accept that.”

James looked conflicted. Anam didn’t need Diyem’s power to see that. However, the Decidueye nodded firmly all the same. “People change. It’s as the others have said. This unification is… just an acceleration of the same concept. I’ve changed a great deal, too.”

Madeline chuckled. “Yes. For example, you abandoned your Salandit form the moment you had the chance…”

James’ feathers puffed up. “…Do you prefer it?”

“I prefer James,” Madeline replied simply. “I’d love you no matter what physical form you took. If you enjoy being a Decidueye more, then a Decidueye you are.” She chuckled into one of her grabbers. “Usually, using a Transfer Orb of that nature is very expensive. You should be lucky, getting a divine bargain like that…”

“I suppose I am,” James said, relaxing. “…This talk, though. Are you planning on doing this, then? Unifying?”

“Yes. I think it’s time, before we start getting some nagging questions to do it. Will that be okay?”

Anam fidgeted again. He was worried he’d lose her again. But…

No. He had to be strong. For everyone. He may not be much of a leader figure in Kilo Village anymore, but he still had to put on a brave face. People still looked up to him.

“Okay,” Anam said.

“You’ve grown up,” Madeline remarked. “I’ve noticed it ever since you stopped taking on the world’s weight. Funny, the timing of that…”

“I… I had to stay positive before or I’d… you know, with Mister Matter…” Anam nodded nervously. “But then… I lost him, and my head was all quiet, and… I just… I relaxed. I dunno. I don’t know what I wanna do now…”

“It must have been a shock,” James said. “But… take your time, Anam. It’s okay.”

“You mean all the… cutesy things you did,” Giratina said, “was a defense against Diyem?”

“Cutesy?” Anam asked.

“…Ah… never mind. I thought that was what you were referring to. But I do notice a shift in your behavior without Diyem. I can’t place it in words, though…”

“Mm.” Anam bit his tongue. He wasn’t sure, either.

Madeline stood up. “Well, regardless, Giratina was able to make a small pocket for us to get our affairs in order,” Madeline said. “It won’t be long.”

“Wait—wait, now now?” Anam said, springing to his feet. “Hang on!”

“Hm?”

Anam tackled Madeline in a hug. Even with how large Anam was, Madeline towered over him thanks to Necrozma’s blessing. He squeezed her tight, just in case he may not get the opportunity again, and then used his horns to grab James and pull him in next.

“Uff—”

For much longer than they probably wanted, Anam held them there. “You’ll really stay you?” Anam asked Madeline, face buried in her slime.

“I will,” Madeline promised. Anam finally pulled away and Madeline stepped to Giratina.

“This won’t be too long,” Giratina said. “Are you ready?”

Anam held his breath as Madeline stepped into a black circle that Giratina had formed on the ground. She disappeared as if hopping into a pool of ink. Giratina followed and the circle closed behind them with a little puff of black haze.

Anam steadied his breathing. James hopped a little closer and lowered his head.

“I trust that they’ll be okay,” James said. “Anam… that was very strong of you.”

“Mmg…” Anam nodded. “I just wanted one last hug. Because… because I know she won’t be the same. I could tell. They’re too different…”

James delicately brought his wing over Anam’s thigh. “Hold strong, Anam. I’m sure she still wants to be part of the family. I’m just as worried… but I trust her. We’ve gotten to know Giratina, haven’t we?”

“Mm…” Anam nodded. “They’re similar, just… so much happened apart. It wasn’t like the others, who were, you know, Titans for most of it, so they don’t remember…”

“She was a Titan, too,” James reminded. “Just not as long.”

Anam settled down again. Maybe it would be okay. Waiting was agonizing. Was she back yet?

The silence grew louder in Anam’s head.

“Was it my fault?” Anam asked.

“What?”

“S… sorry.” Anam looked down. “I don’t know why I said that.”

“What could be your fault?”

“…I don’t… know.”

“Anam… this is all far bigger than any one person,” James said. “Are you trying to shoulder the blame for this?”

Anam couldn’t answer. In his mind, he saw Nevren controlling him; he saw Diyem in the void, berating him; he saw the vortex in the sky. He remembered knowing so much and saying so little, all to keep the peace. Waiting until it was too late.

“I guess it’s nothing,” Anam said softly.

“Anam,” James said firmly. “You did what you thought was best for Kilo. You unified the world and brought it into a golden era. You even kept at bay one of the greatest darknesses this world had. Without you, I’m certain the world would have been much worse and less prepared for today. Look.”

James spread a wing toward the twilight-bathed town.

“The world shattered and yet its people came together, all under the philosophy you had fostered. The Hearts, beating as one. Not just a Thousand, but countless souls all united for one goal—to survive, to counter the world’s trials. And much of that was because of you, Anam.”

James looked down. “I’m proud of you. I couldn’t be prouder, Anam. Even if you want to step down from that role… I hope you don’t forget all you’ve done.”

In Anam’s mind, he saw Jerry’s surprised look. Diyem, despite everything, encouraging him. And he saw so many hopeful eyes staring at him when the world had first fallen.

“…Do you really think,” Anam said, “I can still do something good?”

“Easily,” James said. “The world may be changing, but you’re still part of it. When this is all over… why don’t we find that new purpose together?”

Anam smiled. This time, it was genuine. “Yeah. Okay.”

The ground rumbled. A black portal tore open. A dark figure hopped out and landed heavily as it shed its dark coating…

“Oh!” Anam blinked and took in the new form…

It had Madeline’s size and shape. However, parts of her body had Giratina’s amber armor, especially along her neck. Her goo had taken on a similar, amber color, though the skin beneath was a much darker, grayer hue. Her front had taken on Giratina’s black, crimson pattern, just as her striking, terrifying eyes.

“Wow, um… you, um…!”

“…What?” she asked. “Is something wrong?”

James’ feathers had puffed out again. Anam wasn’t sure if he was terrified, or…

She leaned forward, staring at Anam’s slimy, somewhat reflective belly. “Oh,” she whispered. “That’s very different…”

“What is, um, what’s your name?” Anam asked. “Are you… are you still Mom?”

The Giratina-Goodra was puzzled at first. Then, as if it dawned on her, she sighed and said, “Yes, Anam. All the same. In a way…” She straightened her back. “It reminds me of… having a work life and a home life. But right now…” She pointed ahead. “It looks like we might have some work to do.”

An evening gathering collected near the town square. Anam saw individual bodies from how shadows blocked parts of the street’s Luminous Orbs as they lit up.

“Huh?” Anam leaned in. “That’s weird… I don’t remember there being any meetings.”

James’ eyes were focused at the caldera wall’s base. “I think we’re about to find our answer. Willow’s coming.”

“Sharp eyes as ever,” Madeline commented.

They descended the rocky hill until Anam, too, spotted the little yellow speck hopping toward them. “Hey! Hey, hey!” the Joltik shouted.

“Hey, Willow! What’s in the Willow Communication Foundation today?” Anam grinned.

Willow, pleased with this, raised her body higher and said, “I have a super important message! Madeline, Anam, James, and Aramé are going to work together and practice their purification circle!”

“Their what?” James asked.

“Meet at the center of town!” And, after providing zero extra information, Willow zipped off for town again.

Anam, Madeline, and James looked at one another with confusion.

“Maybe it’s part of Owen’s plan?” Anam suggested.

“Perhaps,” Madeline said, frowning. “Well… let’s find out.”

As twilight completely covered Kilo Village in its shadow, Anam walked a little closer to his parents. Even if they were heading into the unknown… Madeline felt the same. She was close enough. And for that, even the cold darkness was a little warmer that night.

<><><>​

Owen had spent the rest of the afternoon holed up in the offices of Heart HQ, going over records and commandeering a space for himself to hang up names on walls. Most Heart staff assumed he was crazy and left him to his own devices. Owen’s Perceive was on overdrive, counting heads, and tracking everyone’s elements. He had to glance at people for the energy-based ones occasionally, and his wide, hyper-focused eyes unnerved them.

“Still missing a few people…”

“Well, Owen, not everyone would be here,” Amia said gently. “Some of them are still trying to handle chaos in the rest of the world. The Waypoints aren’t all online yet, I think…”

The Gardevoir gently placed a hand on his back. In terms of behavior, she was a lot like the Amia he remembered. Yet all Amia’s memories of Owen seemed so distant, the way she treated him—and, in some ways, how she treated Alex.

“Is something bothering you?” the Hydreigon in question asked, hovering just behind Amia. “That list was very specific…”

“We have a lot of Dragons,” Owen said.

“…What?” Alex asked, suddenly looking self-conscious of his three heads.

“Dragons. We have a lot of them. Actually, they’re pretty good for this.”

“P-pretty good for what, Owen?”

“The Purification Circle.” Owen pointed at the list of names. “Four people stand in a circle, channeling one of their elements that’d be stronger, and facing someone who has at least one that’s weaker to that one. Then, we have nine of those in an even bigger circle, and we put Emily in the middle of it! It works! It’s one of the strongest anti-Shadow things I’ve seen… and that was just with mortal Pokémon!”

“Umm…” Amia pursed her lips. “You’re going to have to explain that one slowly…”

“Or… simply?” Alex asked nervously. “Oh, dear…”

Owen tittered. “It’s the way auras interact. I don’t know the science behind it, just that it works. I tested it with simple mortals, and it was enough to purify a different Shadow Lugia—one that had such a deep darkness that Lugia’s feathers changed! …Kinda like Emily. And that was just with normal Pokémon in the circle.”

A great, loud, intentionally noticeable yawn caught everyone’s attention. While most turned away shortly after, Owen kept his gaze fixed on the Aerodactyl as he entered his Perceive range.

“There a reason you woke me up this early?” he growled.

“Jerry, it’s still evening.”

“Wha?” Jerry squinted, looking at the sky. “…Sun’s coming up on the wrong side.”

“Because it’s evening.”

Jerry stared at the sky for a while longer. Just then, a Willow hopped atop Jerry’s head from his back.

“I zapped him awake to make sure he came!” Willow declared.

“Whyyyy did this have to happen now and not, you know, tomorrow?” Jerry said. He looked like he was ready to collapse in the streets and call it a nest.

“Because I need everyone to gather into groups of four based on this list,” Owen said. “And I need everyone in those groups to sleep together.”

The gentle buzz of the crowd’s murmuring abruptly halted.

“Owen…” Amia sighed. “I mean this very gently, but… is there any possible way you can phrase that differently?”

“You need to spend the night together. And probably get very personal, too.”

Jerry groaned and turned around. “I’m leavin’.”

Several others groaned, too.

“Wait, wait!” Owen said quickly, spreading his wings. “I’m serious! It’s part of the plan! This Purification Circle… it needs auras that have a good rhythm with each other. Pokémon are beings of aura and emotion—you need to be in sync with each other. Get to know each other, and be nearby. That’s why I need this to start as soon as possible to make sure this works. I even tried to make it so you can all be in similar groups already, so in a lot of ways, a lot of the work’s already done!”

“Still using your ‘turn of phrase’ pranks, are you?” Madeline called dully from across the crowd. “Really, Owen. Two thousand years and you still do that? There’s no way you can be oblivious to it after all that time.”

“…Wait.” Jerry gasped, pointing at Owen. He was much more awake now. “That’s on purpose?! I thought you were just an idiot! You…” Jerry squinted at him. “You psycho! You’re a fraud!”

“H-hang on, everyone!” Owen raised his hands as the crowd started discussing things at random. “It looks like most people are gathered up now, or… enough of them before we won’t get the night at all. Just—trust me on this, okay? I made copies of the plan for everyone to read, and your groups are all in the back. I asked Anam to set aside some areas in Heart HQ for this if you can’t find housing yourselves, too.”

Jerry grumbled and grabbed one of the papers once Owen handed it over, eyes skimming through. “…This looks like some freaky alchemy circle in The Steel Chemist. You’re not gonna steal our spirits with this, right?”

“No, nothing like that,” Owen said. “Besides, if I wanted your spirit, I’d just pull you into my Orb, remember?”

“Right, you actually can claim and summon spirits,” Jerry growled. “I’ll add necromancy to your list of totally-not-evil traits.”

A deeper voice rumbled from the gathering’s edge. “To be fair, he used to side with me.”

Diyem, a Charizard with darker scales, approached with his arms crossed. “I suppose that counts as evil in some ways… at a time.” He gestured for one of the papers. Looking it over, he hummed. “Interesting. It’s building up for one big aura blast to drive out corrupting forces and leave the raw spirit behind. How strange. It reminds me of something Palkia would make.”

Owen shook his head. “It was pioneered by the research in a place called Pokémon HQ Lab in Orre.”

Palkia, in another part of the crowd, stood straighter. Owen wondered why; he didn’t usually react to those sorts of things. The mumbling crowd made it hard for Owen to concentrate on any one movement. Maybe gathering everyone like this was a bad idea for his Perceive. He was tempted to pop off his horns for the rest of the meeting but decided to power through.

His parents stared blankly at him.

“Oh, uh, I guess that’s it,” Owen said. “I just need people to get their auras tuned with each other as much as possible. It’ll help with the ‘tempo,’ or something, with the Purification Circle.”

Jerry groaned. “Fine, whatever. So, it looks like I’m grouped with… Brandon, Leo, and… who’s Lucas?”

“Me!” barked a Mega Houndoom, scampering to Jerry. He would have pounced on him had Eon not called Lucas to sit.

“…Right.” Jerry sighed. “Well, thanks. I guess. Those guys seem sane, at least. Brandon’s that Steel Machoke, right?”

“Reshiram, too, but I need him to be a Steel Machoke for this specifically,” Owen confirmed.

“What?”

“To make the effectiveness circle.”

Jerry looked at the list again, then at Lucas, and then Leo wiping his eyes a few feet away. “…Right, okay… I think I see what you’re talking about. Ugh, it’s like I’m back in school, learning all those elemental matchups… I never thought I’d have to use that outside of class. All that mattered was the stuff I used…”

Owen smiled awkwardly and left Jerry to socialize. He started passing out the papers to each person on the list. By now, the dim Luminous Orbs along the road and his tail were all that illuminated the area.

“Oh! There you are.” He’d said it to himself, but Mhynt had just entered his range. The Treecko was so small that Owen nearly missed her amid all the other moving bodies. “Mhynt!”

He spread his wings and glided to her. The Treecko had suddenly tensed and stared at Owen with scorn.

He slowed his approach. “Uh, Mhynt?”

Her expression softened instantly and she nodded. “You woke us up early,” she said. “I was enjoying a nap in clean air.”

“Sorry. I, uh… Here.” Owen leaned forward and offered her a paper nearly as tall as she was. “I hope this isn’t too—”

“Thank you.” Mhynt nodded, reading it over. Everything about her was tense… Was something wrong? She was skimming through the words, the way her eyes moved, and she never looked at him once.

“Is everything okay on Kilo?” he asked.

“Hm?” She looked up. Her eyes had quickly darted down. “Oh. Yes. They are.”

“It’s good to see you again and not, you know, in a place that’d…”

The more Owen spoke, the worse Mhynt’s body language became. Was he doing something wrong?

Mhynt’s eyes widened with a realization. “I have to go,” she said, falling backward. Owen reached on reflex to halt her fall, but then she disappeared in a flash of light. Teleport.

“…Oh,” he said quietly. He couldn’t sense her within his Perceive radius. She must have gone very far…

And just as quickly, Mu was running over to him, weaving past the crowd of Guardians and gods. “Hey, Dad!” she shouted.

“Mu! Everything alright?”

The Chaos-flamed Charmander’s head swiveled left and right. “Where’d… Was someone, like, really upset here for a second? I can’t sense it anymore.”

“I think so. It was Mhynt, but she Teleported away.”

“Mhynt? That’s, uhh… that’s your ex, right?”

“Er.. yes, I guess that’s a way to phrase it…”

“What was happening?”

“I was just giving her a copy of the Purification Circle and her group.”

“Bro.” Mu looked horrified.

“What? What did I do that was cringe this time?” Owen challenged.

“I’m trying to get away from that lingo,” Mu said. “Diyem said it was corrosive or something. But anyway, uhh… dude. She’s your ex.”

“That was a thousand years ago!”

“And? Immortal mind, remember? That’s like six moons to you guys! Or something. And she spent all that time in the Voidlands, too. Imagine how amplified and ingrained that is.”

“She was fine in the Voidlands, though. I mean… not fine, but fine with me…”

“She was guarded back then, Dad. Can’t get too negative in there or you’d lose it. But now that she’s finally had time to relax, you throw yourself at her?”

“I didn’t ask for a fight!”

“No, not—” Mu rubbed her face. “Gods, I don’t know how Mom deals with this. Okay. Dad. Mhynt’s, like, still upset about how you moved on and she kinda didn’t get to move on. Not on her terms, you know? The feelings I felt… that was deep, Dad.”

“What did you feel?”

Mu hesitated, but it didn’t seem like she was avoiding the question. It was more like she didn’t know how to answer.

“It,” called another voice—Diyem, approaching with a paper in hand, “is a feeling of hopeless longing for something that no longer exists. Seeing someone with the same face, mind, soul, and name, and yet someone so far away from the person they remembered. Someone so very close, yet impossibly distant. Someone who changed when they were left behind.”

“Yeah, what he said,” Mu said quietly. “I didn’t know how to, you know, decipher that one…”

“I don’t understand,” Owen said. “That’s… I’m still me, but… We changed, didn’t we? Even Mhynt is different from how I remember her. She changed!”

“Do you think Mhynt considers her change a good one?” Diyem asked.

“…N… No. I don’t think it’s that easy to change for the better in the Voidlands. No offense, Diyem.”

“It’s a fact,” Diyem replied. “I agree. And I think that is the root of the problem for Mhynt. It’s completely unfair that she was locked into this, changed and warped irreparably, while you… bounced back with ease. Even her daughter is closer to you.”

“Th-that’s not true! I’m sure they talked,” Owen said. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. How badly had things gone for Mhynt after being freed?

“She’s trying to sort things out with her lives. She hasn’t. Not yet.” Diyem shook his head. “I suppose Mhynt isolating herself has not helped. You haven’t been around much for it, Owen, but Mhynt has been silently present for most meetings, and then vanishes when they’re over. She doesn’t know what to do, but she follows her duty if needed. Answers when called… and nothing further.”

Owen’s wings drooped to their lowest as he envisioned it. Yet he was blind to that, and then tried to cheerfully give her his next plans as his first interaction…

He thought back to how she’d leaned against him during their hour alone. Was that when Mhynt had been happiest?

“But… we can’t go back anymore,” Owen said. “Zena’s with me, now, and… I’m not ‘Wishkeeper.’ I can’t go back to that, and, even if I did, she’s…”

“Hence her hopelessness,” Diyem said. “I’m sorry. I don’t have a solution. I can only see the problem and outline it to you.” He turned around. “When we face Shadows, Mhynt can’t help us. Her darkness is too great; it will be seized upon, and she may become an enemy. And she would be a very dangerous enemy… as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“We can’t bar her from fighting—that’s…”

“The only practical solution,” Diyem said. “If you find a way to get her out of her dark spiral, perhaps that will change. Even a glimmer during the upcoming days could be enough. But you aren’t fixing this permanently in a day.”

The wind blew. By now, the crowds had entirely dispersed, save for a few who wanted to speak to them. He sensed Zena entering his Perceive range. By the time she was within speaking distance, Owen hadn’t said a thing.

“Owen?” Zena asked gently. “Is something wrong?”

Diyem was already walking away. Mu remained, looking awkwardly between them.

“I thought I saw Mhynt. Is she okay?” Zena asked, looking nervous.

“She isn’t,” Owen replied. “I’m… trying to figure out if I should do anything about it. Diyem just broke it down for me.”

“Oh.” Zena nodded slowly. Mu seemed to hold her breath. “Is… Do you want to talk about it with me?”

“I don’t know,” Owen admitted, glancing away. “I mean, you, and her…”

By now, the crowd had entirely dispersed, having arranged their groups and beds. A few watched from afar, though none intervened, particularly when Diyem glared and told them to go away.

“Do you miss her?” Zena asked delicately. “I know we’ve spent a year together, but… I know that—that you two, there was a history, and…”

“No, it’s not like that,” Owen said with a tired sigh, mulling over his words. “I mean, I do miss her, yes, but… it’s all changed. You’re with me now, and that’s how I want things to be.” He sighed, arms crossed. “But I know Mhynt wished it wasn’t that way. Not about you, but… how she changed, how I changed, how everything isn’t the same anymore. She doesn’t have a lot of support behind her, Zena. She has Leph and Aster who are just as hurt as she is, maybe even more. Our daughter became a different person, too. She doesn’t… have anybody.”

“Oh, Owen…” Zena looked down. She seemed like she was ready to cry.

“What?” Owen asked.

“Sorry,” Zena said. “I just—that alone feeling. I know… some of it. I can’t imagine a Voidlands-style version of it, but… I get the idea.” She exhaled, tail coiling behind her. She was deep in thought.

“Do you think I should talk to her?” Owen said. “If she’s been isolating herself from everyone, it’s not like that’s going to change… right?”

“Did she tell you she didn’t want to talk?” Zena asked.

“No. She Teleported away quickly, though…”

Zena frowned at that.

“That could mean anything,” Mu chimed. “You know, I can come with you. If I feel like she wants you to go away, I’ll tell you, and we’ll leave. How about that?”

“I don’t know… I feel like pursuing her tonight might make things worse,” Owen said. “I… She’ll be fine for the night, right? Maybe I could… ask her tomorrow.” But even then, he felt the doubt in his own voice.

Mu frowned. “…Well, I’m gonna watch her anyway.”

“Mu…”

“I’ll come home, promise!” Mu said. “I can warp back at any time and stuff.”

Owen sighed. They couldn’t stop her anyway. Diyem seemed to know how, but for something like this, maybe it was for the best. “Just don’t bother her unless she’s in trouble, okay?”

“Okay. I think I got a lock on Mhynt again. So, see you later!”

Owen winced. “Don’t do that too much.”

“Can’t help it!” The Charmander ran down the road, apparently forgetting she could warp. Maybe she wanted to take the scenic route. The sky was completely black, the sun completely set. The wind blew, warning Owen of an incoming storm. Pensive, he marched down the road… He couldn’t sleep tonight. He had extra work to do first.

“Owen?” Zena called.

“Sorry, but I want to make sure Mu doesn’t get into any trouble.”

“You shouldn’t bring your horns, then,” Zena reminded.

“Oh.” True. He snapped them off and handed them to Zena. “I’ll be back tonight, okay?”

“Be careful,” Zena said. “She’s very fragile right now…”

“I know. I will be. And if Mu tells me to leave, I will. I trust her with that.”

Zena sighed, looking uncertain about something. Or maybe troubled by something else. Still, he could ask her about that tonight. With one more nod, Owen set off for Mhynt’s abode, his Perceive blind to the world.

<><><>​

Alexander wandered the great abyss of Darkrai’s Nightmare with ease. Fears, insecurities, none of those things mattered to him. None of those things were true. He witnessed creatures far larger than him assuming power he didn’t have. He ignored it.

Then came echoes of his adversaries. The Wishkeeper. The asserted gods. Even the petulant Marshadow. Their echoes jeered at him but he ignored every instance.

“They’re already building an army, you know,” whispered a silhouette of the little god, Mew. “Every second in here is a second for them to ambush you. Maybe they’re already here.”

A reasonable inference, except he knew they were still hurting, and their precious leader, the one who failed them before, was missing. He’d fled. As soon as Alexander woke up from this mental prison, they were as good as dead.

And that was worth any Nightmare.

He’d been wandering this hazy land for what must have been days, unerringly and without a single misstep. In the back of his mind, Qitlan quietly urging him on, happily encouraging him to rip asunder all obstacles. His allies, his subjects, they were his power. And he had taken a lot of subjects. It was reckless, it was unstable, and it also took him a few extra days of quiet meditation to get a handle of all the new spirits flowing through his veins… but it worked in the end.

And what was a good plan without one or two little risks?

Patiently, ever so patiently, against his lesser half’s primal need for instant gratification, Alexander had waited for the precise moment to emerge from the Voidlands and seize the surface world. That day was finally at hand; Darkrai’s Nightmare was merely a setback, another small bump, in a long, long climb. Nothing but the smallest detour.

He repeated this, over and over, in his mind. The illusions were more elaborate, and more potent, but he could still see past them. He knew reality from dreams.

A silhouette of Owen appeared from the fog, coalescing into a blue-white, puffy creature with vacant holes where the eyes should have been. The eye sockets narrowed as if to glare.

The illusion was much larger. Alexander’s only answer was a defiant stare. But if he had a good guess…

“You should have remained behind,” Owen said. “You could have ruled in darkness, but you chose to climb until you could hold no more. You will never be a god. You are impure.”

“…You dare speak to me about impurity? About mortality?” Alexander replied, all three heads smirking. “Unlike you, I started from nothing and clawed my power one piece at a time. The Wishkeeper was lucky, merely in the right place at the right time to gain his immortal position. All I did… was take what I deserved from those who had godhood fall into their laps.”

The projection of Owen scoffed. “Yet you were rejected from Destiny Tower, weren’t you?”

“I never bothered,” Alexander countered. “The blessings of gods are a taint to well-earned power. I wanted to rule the world by my blood and soul, not the controlling hands of its creators. I will make this world mine, and mine alone.”

He lunged for the illusion, but then feinted left. And suddenly, his left head’s jaws caught something.

Alexander crunched down and the illusion dissipated, revealing instead the feeble arm of Darkrai.

“You slipped up,” Alexander said, pulling Darkrai closer.

The spectral Lord of Nightmares screamed and tried to break free. Alexander’s grip was too strong.

“An illusion never replied until now. I was getting close, so close, you had to use your powers to keep hidden…”

“G… get away!” Darkrai pulled again. Alexander’s jaws clenched harder. There was no escaping him now. “I’ll… keep you here. I have to. Even if you resist every illusion, I won’t let you leave this Nightmare!”

But even as he spoke, his words were disconnecting and stuttering. He had to focus on resisting Alexander’s corrosion.

“Oh, we’re far past that,” Alexander said. “You thought you were trapping me in a Nightmare to buy time, was that it? Yet in the end, you have learned like all the rest… that you have trapped yourself with me. And now…”

Like venom, a thick ichor seeped into Darkrai’s arm and through his body.

He saw the fear in Darkrai’s eyes and knew he’d won. It was only a matter of time. And he could be patient. Especially with such a grand prize—the Lord of Nightmares—at the end of it. What was one or two extra days to thoroughly corrupt a Legend of negativity?

“This Nightmare is mine.”
 
Chapter 181 - Wishes, Fate, and Choice

Namohysip

Dragon Enthusiast
Staff
Partners
  1. flygon
  2. charizard
  3. milotic
  4. zoroark-soda
  5. sceptile
  6. marowak
  7. jirachi
  8. meganium
Chapter 181 – Wishes, Fate, and Choice

Mhynt lived next to Hakk, though they rarely spoke. They both had small houses, only three simple rooms for shelter and other basic needs, but it was all they wanted. When Mhynt Teleported home, she heard Hakk quietly snoozing, slipped into her neighboring home, and shuttered the windows and door.

Most doors in Kilo Village were unlocked or only had coverings to keep out the cold. Mhynt didn’t like that. The Voidlands wasn’t like that; she couldn’t trust anything with an unlocked door. She wasn’t ready to break that habit.

But she did make sure to cover the window only once she was truly tired. The moonlight reminded her that she was free. She occasionally choked up at the sight of the morning sky. And nobody would ever know the afternoon she’d spent hugging a normal, green tree on her first day on the surface.

The entrance to her little home was a small greeting and sitting room. The local paper, The Morning Kilo, sat three editions thick on the central table. She’d get to the stories eventually. To the right was a kitchen with some clay stoves and primitive utensils. She’d brought some Voidlands luxuries with her, not wanting to part with its technological advancements that had outpaced Kilo out of necessity.

Next to a faucet was a local plant that supposedly made an herb that was somewhere between parsley and mint. She watered it daily, per care instructions, and was thinking of a name.

Something orange caught her eye in the one open window on her way to the third room, her nest of leaves. She knew that flame anywhere.

Teleporting away was an option. His Perceive was limited in range and she knew how to get away. Lunala’s powers, unbound by Alexander, had returned.

But… this was ridiculous. She was an adult. More than an adult. Many times over. She’d confront this directly.

Besides, the last thing she wanted was to be the cause of Owen wandering around all night when he should be getting some rest.

So, when Owen approached the door, before he could knock, Mhynt kicked the door open. With her small size, all that did was creak it out a few inches.

“Oh,” the Charizard said.

“Hey, uh… Aunt Mhynt,” said a Charmander who’d matured too quickly.

Something was off. Owen looked… different.

Gods, he’d removed his horns.

“You look ridiculous,” Mhynt said flatly.

“I—I didn’t want to be invasive,” Owen said, covering his head. “I know it unnerves people…”

“So, you instead brought the empath.” Mhynt nodded at Mu. It was a little annoying, but she was more entertained by the way Owen came to his conclusion.

“Hey, I just came for the ride,” Mu said. “And, you know, to let him know if you ever want him gone.”

Mhynt sighed. Fair play.

“…Come.” She stepped back and let Owen open the door.

Owen seemed larger than before. Maybe that was a trick of the mind. He certainly wasn’t… Wishkeeper.

He took a seat by a small table that he couldn’t even fit his tail under. It was just the right size for Mhynt, and the Treecko tried not to pay any mind to this. Mu, meanwhile, took a seat between them, staring perpendicular to the former couple.

“I’m really okay, Owen,” Mhynt said. “I just need time. I’m sorry for being cold to you.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Owen said. “I didn’t… realize. Somehow.”

“Somehow,” Mhynt snorted. “Still don’t have your ‘past sight’ do you?”

“I think that’s locked behind Necrozma or something,” Owen said. “Or maybe I just don’t have it reawakened yet. I don’t think seeing into everyone’s past is all that useful for my current work… I’ve learned enough about the past.”

“And the future, too, I take it,” Mhynt said. “That was where the missing piece we talked about had been. You, with your past sight and Perceive, you could see everything that someone is and was. A strong tool for the Wishkeeper, guardian of Jirachi. Yet you couldn’t see what they’d become. That was Nate.”

“It’s very limited,” Owen said. “Just looking into the future changes it. We ‘looked’ at the future by simulating everything we knew in the present, but with the assumption we hadn’t looked in the future. So… that’s already going to be wrong.”

“Did you look into the ‘future’ of this world?”

Owen shook his head. “It would have been a complete waste of energy. The world outside of Kilo was all unknown to Nate, and we had no idea what I’d bring back from it. The only ‘future’ I would see is a hypothetical one where I never returned…”

Mhynt leaned a little closer, placing her elbows on the table. She felt relaxed. It was late at night and everything was calm. Even with the chilling winds outside, it was warm. Even with most of the windows closed, it was bright.

How she missed this.

Yet the person in front of her was so far away.

“You still checked something,” Mhynt guessed. “What would happen to this world if you did nothing at all? With how energetically you’re working to save it… you think it’s all on your shoulders, don’t you?”

Owen tensed. Mu glanced worriedly between them. Even with the Charizard disguising his feelings and his tail flame kept so level, he had Mu as a new weak point to give away how he felt.

“Kilo would have fallen,” Mhynt said. “You wished you hadn’t looked… Is that right?”

“…It isn’t always accurate,” Owen said quietly, eyes on the bare center of the table. “And it can be changed. That’s obvious. For better or worse, I know, but… this time, I really have to try. And this time, I’m including everything to help.”

Mhynt’s fingers clenched against the table. Even after all that, every failure, every triumph, all that struggle for thousands of years…

“You really haven’t changed,” Mhynt choked out.

“Huh?”

Mhynt’s vision was wet with tears. She tried to cover her eyes and play it off like some dust had gotten in them, but there was no fooling Owen, even without Perceive. Mu was wincing; she seemed ill even through Mhynt’s blurred vision.

“Mhynt… I’m… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… pressed you like this.”

“It’s fine,” Mhynt said quietly. “I would have festered worse without this. I need to accept that… that I can’t just turn back time. Oh, I considered asking Celebi, somehow, to send me someplace where I could start again with you. Maybe sided with you instead. It’d be stupid, I’d be a fool walking down the wrong path, but at least I’d… at least I’d… have someone who could tolerate me.”

“Mhynt, plenty of people like you! I wouldn’t have—I mean, a lot happened, but you’re still Mhynt. I’ll—we’ll even find somebody! The world’s huge! I mean, well, not really, but—there are still plenty of people out there… And—and you’re finally free, right?”

So desperate. Always always always always trying to help. Why wasn’t she like that?

“…I am free,” Mhynt whispered. “Finally free. I’d accepted my fate for so long… I’d given up. Do you know how many people tried to rebel against Alexander? Anam’s old friends, so many Legends, countless fallen spirits… They faced the same threat: To work under him, or to become Void Shadows.

“I could have been so much less trouble if I’d fought against him to the death. I’d lose myself, but at least I’d keep… my integrity. Instead, I submitted to him. I was a coward. I obeyed and thought, maybe eventually it’ll change. I settled into the routine. Gave everything he wanted. And for what? And for what… I—”

“Mhynt.”

The flame was a lot closer. To any other Grass, they would have flinched. But it transfixed her, the only light in the room. Warm like the sun.

Gently, Owen pulled the tail back to his side. He’d only had to curl it a little around the table.

“It’s going to be okay. You did everything you could. If you’re guilty about it… try to make the world better today and tomorrow. Just keep walking.” Owen closed his eyes. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I hope that… one day, that guilt will fade. But, Mhynt… I was the one who got everyone into this mess. Not you.”

Mhynt said nothing. She heard the words, understood them, but had no reply. It was true. But she didn’t know how to feel about that.

“You should go,” Mhynt said. “It’s late.”

“Huh?” Mu shook her head. “Wait, what? You want him to go?”

“Yes. I do.”

“But…” Mu looked at her hands, then scratched her head vigorously. “But that’s not what I’m feeling at all.”

“Go, Owen,” Mhynt said more forcefully.

Owen smiled gently and stood up. “It’s okay, Mu,” he said. “Mhynt, will you be able to go to training tomorrow?”

“I will. I just need rest.”

“Wait, hang on!” Mu said. “Dad, she doesn’t want you to actually go! I can feel it, she—”

“Mu, please,” Mhynt said with venom. “I want Owen gone. Please.”

“I don’t…” Mu sighed. “But… you don’t want to be alone, Mhynt…”

That gave Owen pause just as he left, filling Mhynt with dread. Curse that child. All the knowledge and none of the tact.

She really was his daughter.

Owen gently opened the door and offered one last, respectful nod inside before heading out. Mu, however, didn’t move an inch.

“Mu?” Owen called, frowning.

“…I’m… staying,” she said.

“What?”

“I’m staying.” She stared at Mhynt. There was a dark, haunted look in her eyes.

Owen seemed to accept this without objection. “If she says to go, you need to come right home, Mu,” he said.

And then he left. The warmth and light of his flame disappeared into the night.

Mhynt sighed. “I said I was fine.”

That dark look became a glare, but then, suddenly, Mu rushed her. Mhynt took on a parrying stance, ready to knock Mu away, before remembering that really, she was just a child. While she had tricks, Mu wasn’t a threat.

Mu tackled her, wrapping her arms around her body in a tight hug. Nothing else happened.

Mhynt was too stunned to reply.

Mu didn’t explain herself. Mhynt didn’t ask for an explanation. Another gust whistled between buildings.

Something… shifted within Mhynt. She couldn’t understand why, or how, but suddenly she felt warmer and weaker. She returned the gesture, arms around Mu, even as the Charmander squeezed a little tighter.

It could have been an hour and Mhynt wouldn’t have realized it. But, eventually, Mu let go. Mhynt took a seat next to the table and sniffled to herself, nodding. Maybe she didn’t want to be alone.

“I’m staying for the night,” Mu said quietly.

And after all that had happened… Mhynt didn’t object.

<><><>​

“Did it go well?”

Nervously, Zena sat around their makeshift home’s nesting with Owen’s horns placed on his usual spot. When Owen returned, he tried to put on a neutral face, but the encounter had clearly weighed heavily on him.

“Where’s Mu?” Zena added.

Owen didn’t answer. His eyes were on the ground and his arms were crossed. His brow was furrowed so much that she could see some of his old scales flaking off.

“…You’re in deep thought tonight, Owen,” Zena said, raising her voice so he’d notice.

“Oh—Zena. Sorry. Didn’t realize I’d walked home…”

She eyed him with concern, wondering just what kind of exchange he and Mhynt had. It must have been serious with what Diyem said and how Mu reacted, and even now…

During their time in Orre, Owen had discussed what he and Mhynt had gone through. Zena wanted to know what he’d gone through. And, admittedly, Zena’s life story was… much shorter.

“Please, tell me about it.”

With a defeated sigh, Owen took his horns and snapped them back into place as he wandered into the kitchen.

“I’m not sure what there is to tell,” Owen said. “What Diyem said was even more than I knew. And I already told you about Remi, Mhynt and I. We talked, and Mhynt confirmed… basically what Diyem said. There was nothing I could’ve done in that moment, but at least she could get it out there. I think… that was okay? I just… don’t know what to do next. I think I could’ve made it worse before it gets better. I hope…”

She was hoping he’d have ideas. Or maybe a resolution. Maybe that was too optimistic.

It was so strange thinking about Mhynt. The one who knew Owen the most before everything had changed; a perfectly normal Pokémon who’d gotten caught up in Owen’s antics. They were similar in that way. Zena couldn’t help but feel guilty that she was replacing her. She wondered if Mhynt saw her that way.

But she couldn’t say any of that out loud.

Owen downed a Tamato Berry in one bite. Then, he asked, “Are you okay?”

“Huh?” Zena jumped. “Oh, I—well, I, yes. I was…”

“You seemed sad.”

Zena’s gaze trailed to the barebones furniture of their makeshift home. They didn’t have time to go out and look for anything ‘nice’ for the place.

“Mhynt and I are similar in a lot of ways,” Zena said. “Mostly our circumstances… I don’t know her too well otherwise. But I know what it’s like to be lost. I don’t know how to help her. If you two have changed so much, and… and me being there would just be a reminder…”

And there Owen went again, walking in his own world and looking through the cupboard for another berry.

“Owen,” Zena reminded.

“Oh—sorry. I was thinking.”

“I could tell,” Zena said with a chuckle. She slithered into the kitchen. “Please, you could at least think out loud here…”

“Okay. Well, I was thinking about ways to help her indirectly. And I was also thinking about all the other stuff I’ve been trying to do before, you know, with my Worldcore experience. And I was wondering if maybe…”

Zena squinted when Owen trailed off. “What, use the Worldcore to… do what, exactly? You can’t control people with it, can you?”

“Well, uh, you can if you’re close enough, but no, that’s not what I mean,” Owen said. “I was thinking it might have information on something that could help. Like, maybe someone with a similar personality?”

Zena blinked. “…You want to… use the power of the universe to find Mhynt a potential mate.”

“…When… you say it out loud, that’s pretty selfish, isn’t it?” Owen winced. “It’s not just a mate, though. Even just a friend. But… something else, then…”

Zena sighed and coiled around their little nest of fresher grass. Owen finally climbed into the center, though his movements were mechanical. Once again, his mind was somewhere else.

“Oh,” he finally remembered to vocalize. “That does remind me, I have something world-level important I need to practice.” He sat up just as Zena was finished getting comfy.

Zena uncoiled herself and rolled out of bed for several revolutions until she was on her back. “It doesn’t involve another person, does it? They might be asleep…”

“Sleep’s optional for us.” Owen marched out of the house, leaving the bedroom dark.

Zena had half a mind to take that option anyway, but… this was important. Maybe he would find an answer after all. Rolling one last time to get on her belly, she raised herself and followed the glow of his flame.

A few streets down in the depths of midnight, the street’s Luminous Orbs along the ground reflecting off of his scales, Owen made his way to… Eon’s abode? What part of Owen’s plan involved Eon?

Wait. Jirachi, of course. They needed Jirachi to prepare a few things with Nate for the next few battles. The power of a wish was limited, especially against another divine power, but Jirachi’s wishes specialized in Teleportation above all else. Channeling that sort of thing with the Worldcore would make their positions so much easier against whatever Alexander threw at them.

“Owen,” Zena whispered once she’d caught up. “How do you plan on—”

Lucas suddenly started barking inside.

“Oh.”

“Hi, hi, Lucas!” Owen said quickly.

Lucas stopped barking and immediately tackled Owen, tail wagging.

“Yes, yes, hi, Lucas,” Owen greeted, scratching him on the back of his neck.

“Is something going on?” Jirachi called. “Oh, Owen…”

A new flame appeared inside. Eon was awake and had turned into another Owen.

“Hey. I completely forgot to ask you after all that other planning,” Owen said. “Do you have time tomorrow for some training?”

“Owen, dear, it’s midnight…”

A Gardevoir emerged from Eon’s home, followed shortly by Alex, who was wearing a little fuzzy hoodie he must have bought from the commercial district.

“Owen, we were trying to… ‘sleep together,’” Alex said. “It was like a slumber party. I never had slumber parties. Always wondered what one was like.”

Zena caught Jerry in the other room shoving a pillow into the window. Perhaps he and his group were making sure to fall asleep… She sympathized. Living with sleepless Pokémon was probably a real bother when they needed sleep.

“What training?” Jirachi asked.

“Wishes,” Owen said. “We need as much wish power as we can to fight Alexander. I know, I know”—He raised his hands when Jirachi was going to object.—“Doesn’t work well on divine power. But it might help us for repositioning, and maybe even messing with a few ‘harmless’ coincidences? Right?”

“Owen, it isn’t that easy,” Jirachi said. “And… I’m rusty on that. It’s been a thousand years…”

“I know! But I have a thousand years of experience with this sort of thing! It’ll even out. We can try to work together, but I just need to know how to do it…”

Jirachi sighed, gesturing for the others to return to bed. They gratefully obeyed, but Jirachi—and Eon—followed Owen. Zena kept with them.

“We’re training tonight?” Zena asked. “I thought Owen said tomorrow.”

“We can talk a little. Then we’ll discuss what we might be able to do,” Jirachi said. “For instance… Owen, my wishes aren’t just me doing things that I want. The whole reason I’m part Psychic is because the wish must resonate with a wish maker. I let it manifest, but it’s the other person's desire that I’m amplifying. It takes a lot of energy for me to do anything else, and we can’t afford to waste that kind of energy.”

“So, in other words, you’d need someone to resonate their desire with you?” Owen asked.

“So, a tactician,” Zena hinted. “All the more reason for… some practice. You two already resonate a lot.”

“Y-yeah. We do. But… Owen, if Eon and I fuse, that could get… awkward.”

“Oh.” Zena winced. Right. Eon and Owen ‘resonated,’ too, but there was still a lot of baggage behind that. She glanced at him, though he was intentionally keeping to the back of their group.

“Maybe it’s a good thing we’re holding off on that,” Eon said quietly. “I… don’t really know what I should do here. Jirachi needs the strength… I know Rim and Celebi are going to recombine soon, but only after this whole Emily thing…”

Owen had a pensive look in his eyes. He wasn’t saying anything. She didn’t see any tension in his walk, but…

“We can tackle that later,” Owen said quietly, stopping once they were at the edge of town. “But, you’re saying that someone needs a desire that resonates with a wish, and then you can grant it?”

“That’s the abstract description, but… yes.”

Owen nodded. “It’s one of the most complex calls to the Worldcore, to the point where we may not even know how it manifests, or if it might backfire. It’s risky, right?”

“The purer the wish, with as few stray thoughts as possible, the less likely it backfires. I think we should limit these things to only pure, strong needs, or very technical specifics. Anything, you know, wishy-washy or misguided could leak other desires into how the wish plays out.”

“Oh.” Zena raised her head. “Is that why you needed a ‘Wishkeeper’ in the first place?”

“Precisely.” Jirachi floated over the Charizard’s head. “Owen’s role was to read someone’s past and present to see if their wish was pure or driven by something selfish or misguided. That’s why Necrozma gave him powers over past and present—his Perceive.”

“But… Owen lost the power of the past,” Zena said. “Where did it go?”

“It may just be sealed,” Jirachi said. “Seeing into someone’s history is a lot stronger and more intensive than his Perceive. Perceive is just an instant in time. But ‘Past Perception’ is a stretch of time. A whole dimension bigger.”

“Even the glimpses were disorienting,” Owen agreed. “And… I don’t know if seeing someone’s past is that useful right now. I haven’t tried reawakening it.”

“It could be,” Zena said. “You should try when we have time, Owen.”

“Sure.” Owen nodded. “Maybe if we have spare time before Emily… or after Emily. Oh, I need to talk to Tanneth, that’s right…”

Busy, busy, Zena smiled and said, “But, anyway… Owen just needs a strong, pure desire for a wish to be easier to grant without side effects, right?” She practically hinted at him when she continued, “Owen, do you have something like that?”

“And it can’t be, ‘I want to defeat Alexander’ or something,” Jirachi warned. “He’s too strong for my powers to work on him like that. I’d… need more time to build up the energy for anything at that level.”

“No, I know,” Owen said. “Worldcore was the same way. But that’s alright. I have… one idea for practice.”

“Oh?” Zena had a good idea what it was. “And… you’re sure it’ll… work?”

Owen shook his head. “No. But I want to try. And maybe… it would be good anyway. For everyone, not just—I mean…”

“What’s the wish?” Eon asked carefully. “Sounds like you already know what it is, Zena.”

“Just a guess.”

Owen smiled. “Yeah. It’ll take a bit of explaining. But I think it’s the perfect wish—something that doesn’t alter anyone, but moves a few coincidences around. Practice to get the ‘rust’ off you, Jirachi. And, you know, a long time ago, I had a similar wish done to me…

“My wish is. . .”

<><><>​

“King me.”

Mu swished her tail and growled, tossing a play token to Mhynt. “You do it,” she muttered.

“Now, now,” Mhynt said with an entertained smirk. “Never lost a game before?”

“No, I lose all the time,” Mu said with another growl. “You’re worse than Dad. At least he misplays a few times on purpose to give me a chance.”

“Does he know you know?” Mhynt asked as Mu considered the board.

“’Course he does. We sorta have a mutually assured destruction thing going on.”

Mu captured two of Mhynt’s pieces. “Ha! How about that, huh?”

Mhynt, without hesitation, moved another piece and hopped and claimed four of Mu’s in one move.

“What… but I…”

“It may be late, but I do some of my best thinking in the dark,” Mhynt said, taking the tokens. “Don’t worry. I only have a thousand times more years than you for experience.”

“Oh, don’t give me that!” Mu complained. “I have a million game losses in my head from walking around humanity and stuff! That has to mean something!”

“That means you have nothing but losing strategies in your head,” Mhynt countered.

“Nuh-uh, some of them were winning plays that just didn’t feel good anymore because they lost a ton of times before, and stuff. You know, kinda like how you really need to go to the bathroom, but you’re holding it for way too long so by the time you’re outta the meeting, it’s not even a relief anymore, just—”

“I think I understand,” Mhynt said, gesturing for Mu to make her move.

“Aw, do I have to keep playing? How about I just stick my hand over for a shake and forfeit?”

“You still have a winning play,” Mhynt pointed out. “It just takes three moves.”

“What?” Mu studied the board closely as if having her eyes closer to the checkerboard would reveal the answer.

Mildly entertained, Mhynt adjusted the dim Luminous Orb to show the board better. Mu’s half-Shadow tail didn’t light the room as much as a normal flame. Some water glistened on Mhynt’s wrist and she quietly found one of her new scarves to wipe it. Between plays, she sometimes cried, but Mu was energetic and understanding when she had to pause.

“Aghh, I’m too old-young for this!” Mu declared, throwing her arms in the air. “I forfeit.” The little Charmander fell onto her back, hands over her eyes.

“If that’s your choice,” Mhynt said with a chuckle, resetting the board.

Mu suddenly sat up and looked behind her. Was someone there? No, she didn’t hear anyone, and her night vision was pretty good… Nobody was there.

“Hey…” Mu looked back. “Is it okay if I bring company?”

“What? Well… if you think it’s…”

Mu vanished.

“Oh.”

So that’s what it felt like when Mhynt randomly disappeared mid-conversation. Maybe she should consider that next time.

“Hey, hey!” someone shouted—Hakk, one house over.

“You!”

“How did you get in my house?!”

“Come, you’re coming with me, get up, get out of bed. Wait, take this. And this, and this too.”

“You aren’t answering me! How did you get in?”

Mhynt heard shuffling. A door opened. After a couple awkward minutes of Hakk muttering confused curses to himself and Mu asking if he needed this or that, Hakk left the building. One way or another, Mu had convinced or forced Hakk out of his own home and into Mhynt’s. The double-sized, icy Sandslash stopped once he spotted the Treecko inside.

“Oh. Hey, neighbor.”

Mhynt nodded formally.

“…What’s going on with your scales?”

“What?”

When the door opened, a bit of light from the Luminous Orbs shone on her face. Mhynt felt her cheeks and realized they were still wet. Curse the humidity of a warmer winter night—nothing dried quickly anymore.

“It’s nothing,” Mhynt said. “I just… finished washing my face before bed.”

Mu sighed exasperatedly. “You two both need to not be alone in the dark, but there’s only one of me,” she said. “So, you’re spending the night here. Okay?”

Hakk crossed his arms. “And who made you queen of emotions?”

“Birthright. I know every negative emotion you’re feeling right now.”

Hakk squinted, then turned his blue eyes to Mhynt.

“She’s not wrong. She’s a spawn of Dark Matter.”

Mu puffed out her chest.

Hakk clearly wanted to protest. Mhynt could sympathize. He’d been dragged out of his home, placed in front of the person who’d stabbed him and claimed his soul, and then told that they were roommates for the night.

So, when Hakk sighed and headed into the kitchen, Mhynt tilted her head in surprise. “You’re entertaining this? I didn’t ask for it either, you know.”

“She’s not gonna stop until we give it a try,” Hakk said in resignation. “I can’t sleep. Head’s buzzing with…” He sighed. “You tired?”

“Not really, no. Mu and I were playing checkers.”

“Why?”

Mhynt shrugged.

“Alright, I respect it. Then, c’mon.” Hakk studied the cabinets, tapping his chin with two claws. “Let’s make a ruin-our-bodies midnight snack.”

Mhynt, dumbfounded, glanced at Mu. Even she looked surprised.

“Well,” Mhynt said. “Alright.”

The winds calmed just in time for the clay stove’s Flame Orb to hum.

“Mu didn’t sense you until just now,” Mhynt said. “Did you wake up?”

“Hey, don’t probe,” Hakk replied. “…Yeah. Nightmare, I guess.”

“Oh.” Mhynt nodded. “I understand.”

Hakk stopped arranging bagged foods on the counter. “…What, no follow-up question?”

“You said not to probe.”

Mu snatched a bag of dried berries while Hakk wasn’t looking, just barely tall enough to reach it thanks to Mhynt’s shorter furniture.

“Well, sure,” Hakk said, “but, I mean…”

Mhynt helped Hakk sort and organize the food. “So. Ruin our bodies. What did you have in mind?”

Hakk shifted his spines and pulled out a stashed bag of his own. “Sesame caramel berries,” he explained, revealing a bag of seeds mixed with caramel. “Goes good with other stuff, too.”

“That doesn’t look like sesame,” Mhynt remarked. “Seems more—oh. Just assorted seeds.” Birdseed, but Mhynt made sure not to say it aloud.

“Eh, yeah. I just… call it sesame,” Hakk said, voice softer. “Anyway…”

They both stared at the berries awkwardly.

“Cook it!” Mu said.

The shout made the Sandslash jump. “Eh? The berries?”

“Yeah. I mean, I know you two both probably suuuper hate fire, but melt the caramel onto the berries after you slice them, or, like, turn it into a dip!”

“Well, you got the hate fire part right,” Hakk said. “But a little pipsqueak like you won’t do much hurting for us. So, c’mon. Get cooking, Little Miss Demon Chef, if you’ve got all the ideas.”

“Hmph! Don’t mind if I do.”

Mu got right to work, busying herself with the berries and caramel. She sputtered little flames that wouldn’t be enough to do any harm, but they were more than enough to prepare something hot for the night.

Hakk rested against the wall, picking at his icicle spikes.

Mhynt sat on the other side of the wall, the exit to the main room between them.

“The air’s nice. Isn’t it?” Mhynt asked.

“Eh? Oh. Yeah. Kinda forgot what the air was like when it wasn’t saturated with void dust.”

Mhynt nodded.

“…Figure it’s great here for you, too. Nobody to answer to, and… stuff.”

Mhynt snorted. “I’m fine if you say it. It’s not like Alexander is gone just yet…” Her fingers squeezed on a blade that wasn’t there. “But if I have my way, I’ll carve through him myself.”

“Heh.” Hakk shook his head.

“Is that funny?”

“Yeah. You’re a lot braver than I am.” Hakk curled his knees to his chest, watching Mu cook. “I dunno what I want specifically. But I want all of this gone. Maybe I’ll move somewhere quiet, start fresh…”

“That sounds… nice,” Mhynt said, leaning back.

“But I’ve been trying to keep busy,” he added. “Hey, you know… if you’re looking for something, how about you help out at the hospital?”

“What?”

“Yeah, that’s kinda… where I’ve been working.” Hakk looked bashful behind the creeping sleepiness. “And we’re expecting a huge influx tomorrow. They’re setting up a Teleporter to one of the last major settlements out east. So, any issues happening there are coming here if they can’t handle it.”

“Oh. That does sound big…” Mhynt frowned. “And… we’re on the same team, aren’t we?”

“Yeah. Uh, I wasn’t about to cozy up with the king of darkness and god’s daughter. Figure we’d try synergizing or whatever tomorrow.”

“Is that our team?” Mhynt narrowed her eyes. “Owen really set me up with you, Diyem, and Leph? How does that fit together?”

“He said for Leph to switch to Rock—did you really not look at the paper?”

Mhynt didn’t expect the question so directly.

“…Oh. Ohh.” Hakk cleared his throat. “Uh, sorry. Wow. Didn’t put that together until now.”

“It’s alright. I’m fine. Or, better. He came over, we talked, it’s…”

“A real piece of work, that guy,” Hakk muttered. “Comes swooping in thinking he can solve everyone’s problems…”

Mhynt found herself laughing. “Well… some things don’t change.”

“Done!” Mu raised a small bowl with little chopped berries coated in globs of seed-encrusted caramel. She spun on her heel and presented it to them both. “Alright, try it!”

Hakk took the first one, chewing thoughtfully. “How about that,” he commented between bites. “A little warmth isn’t too offensive, I guess.”

Warmth. Right. That was another simple pleasure the surface provided her. The Voidlands had ‘warmth,’ yes, but it was a hollow, dusty warmth. Nothing like the sun’s radiance.

After just her first caramel-seed berry, Mhynt’s eyes felt heavy.

“What, tired already?” Hakk asked, going for a second one.

“I’ll stay up a little…” It was her reflex to defy.

Mu happily popped a few in her mouth as well. “Warm and sweet really helps you relax,” she said. “At least if you don’t get the sugar rush.”

Whatever else they were saying, Mhynt didn’t mind. The evening’s exhaustion finally returned to her and she slipped away amid their idle conversation…

<><><>​

Owen was still awake when the morning sun peeked over the caldera’s edge. Not that he had to sleep. But the sun signaled to him that it was time for some final conversations.

First, Owen checked on Nate to make sure he was okay after their wish practice. He knew there was no telling when the wish would come into effect—perhaps that night, perhaps today—but the energy was expended, and it was minimal. Hopefully, that meant it was easy… or Mhynt already had the means.

Nate was fine, though he was anxious about something. Necrozma was on the move again, though he wasn’t heading toward Kilo Village or any known settlements. Perhaps he was chasing the sun to gather more power.

Then, he checked notices for if Brandon had returned. As part of the final preparations, he used the old factory Arceus had told Brandon to guard. They needed a way to immobilize Emily perfectly if they wanted her stuck in one place for the Purification Circle to work. A simple Poke Ball may not be enough, but the pause while she escaped—perhaps, repeated capture attempts—would be all the time they needed.

Brandon had returned with an inventory of all Poké Balls still operational. They were unfortunately not too abundant, counting ten total that could reliably hold a god. Still, for a factory that survived two thousand years… Even with a Guardian’s power preserving it, that was impressive.

And lastly, Owen needed the person who’d lure Emily to them in time. After checking the Teleportation route schedule, Owen knew that Tanneth would be transported to Kilo Village at its sunrise. It was part of her route of eternally luring Emily without getting her into any major settlements.

The scouts were incredibly smart to figure out a path and how to control Emily that way.

“She should be up ahead,” Owen told Zena.

“I hope she’s okay. This must be awful for her…”

Owen nodded gravely. It was one thing to know her other half existed at all, or that it was corrupted by Shadow. But it was another entirely to realize they, as a couple, were… a single person in total. A mind-bendingly tragic example of a soulmate.

“Would you like to talk to her first?” Owen asked. “I know you and Tanneth were sort of friends before you went into hiding…”

“I would, if it’s not any trouble.”

Owen shook his head. “We’re ahead of schedule.”

Zena took the lead, gently rapping her ribbon against an unassuming, single-story home along the main road that led to Heart HQ.

Two Pokémon—a Golem and an Accelgor—stood in the way, but then eased up once they recognized her. They stepped aside.

“Oh, Zena!” And in the house, a heavy-eyed Vaporeon sprang to her feet. “Yeah! I knew, um, I knew you’d show up! No, I mean, that you came back!”

“Yes! Yes, we have. It’s been so long…”

“Feels like forever. It’s hard to feel restful when I’m sleeping in a new place every night…”

“It should be over soon,” Zena assured Tanneth. “We’re going to attempt the Purification Circle tomorrow. Did they tell you about that?”

Tanneth nodded. “My route was modified for it. Right at War’s End out east.”

“The last remaining mutants at Eon’s old lab, and the Beammaker, are also there,” Owen said. “It’ll help subdue Emily if we need even more time to keep her pinned. Between Alexander, Necrozma, Ghrelle, and Emily… she’s the most durable. I hope you aren’t worried about hurting her too much…”

“No, it’s… it’s okay.” Tanneth pawed at the ground. “It’s okay…”

Owen felt the tension in their body language. It wasn’t ‘okay.’ It was ‘necessary.’ Like everything else in this fight. For all the planning Owen was doing, he was asking for so much sacrifice from others and they were going along with it.

Just like Wishkeeper.

“…Tanneth,” Owen said, “it’s okay if you don’t want to do this. I have… other contingencies if you don’t want to be there. You’re innocent in all this. You didn’t know you were Emily’s other half, or that Emily would turn out this way. Even if you share her soul, you’re not ‘her’ right now. If you want to stay out of this…”

And for a moment, Tanneth looked tempted. Felt tempted, by the way her body curled and subtly retreated, as if preparing to hide rather than fight.

So, Owen was surprised when her words betrayed that language. “I’m going to stand up to the Shadows,” she said. “I saw the Voidlands. I lived in there, and… I don’t want anyone to go back to that. E-ever. So, if I have to face my other half at her worst… fine! So don’t talk me out of it.”

“Talk… you out of it.” But his plans had involved someone talking her into it…

“Owen,” Zena said gently. “Now isn’t the time to feel guilty about asking for help.”

Owen winced. She saw right through him. “I just didn’t want to make old mistakes.”

“I know. But this time, it’s okay. You aren’t spearheading the whole operation. Scouts, Hearts, those close to Emily—we’re also helping you.” Zena gestured to Tanneth. “This isn’t your fight anymore. Okay? This is Tanneth’s.”

The Vaporeon’s black, shiny eyes mustered an intense glare at nothing.

Owen relented. “Right. Not just my fight. It’s the world’s.”

Zena’s gaze had suddenly gone over Owen’s shoulder. Moments later, a Greninja entered his Perceive range.

“Owen!” he called. “Charizard Owen! R-right? That’s you?”

“Uh, yeah.” He turned around. “What’s wrong?”

The Greninja held a badge with a slightly sky-blue hue. A mark of a Heart scout.

“We, ah, we have a message from War’s End who were preparing the fields. We need to accelerate everything. To today.”

“What? Today?”

“We need you at War’s End now. We’ll gather the people needed for the Circle.”

Owen looked at Zena. She nodded at him, then Tanneth, who hopped onto her back.

“I’ll help rally them,” she said.

“Okay,” Owen said, first to Zena, and then to Greninja. “What’s happening? What should I prepare for?”

“It’s Necrozma,” Greninja said. “He’s at War’s End… and fighting Emily as we speak!”
 
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