Shaymin Village

[NebulaDreams]

“Treasure Town, then?” Curio asked Brisa, tightening her embrace on Starr.

 

[Ambyssin]

“A new home...”

Bahamut floated into the right portal, cradling Cosmog in his arms.

 

[Shiny Phantump]

He stared blankly at some flames that were still raging across the once green fields. Probably a result of a stray Heat Wave, or a Flare Blitz. That didn’t matter. He approached the burning grass with slow steps and threw the papers into the pyre. He stared wordlessly as the sheets scrunched and twisted, mercilessly turning weeks of hard work into ashes.

…I am rubbish.

Once the machine was destroyed, the lines of light showing Celeste what was about to happen greatly diminished. No longer were there chaotic crisscrosses of Shaymin weaving through the party.

Everything seemed calm until Celeste noticed a burst of something about to flare up beside Icetales. He prepared a warning, but as Icetales pulled some papers from his bag and threw them into a flame, his warning died in his throat. The flare up he’d foreseen was just Icetales lighting the papers aflame.

“What are you doing? Someone clearly worked hard on that, and you’re just going to burn it?”

 

[Fusion]

The team taking care of the machine, via explosions, set off an annoying ring in Vix's still-melted head. She knew they had it in them, but she did not know that had this much. She needed a moment to rest and collect herself, literally, and was rather pleased to find out that things looked like they went to shit. Her eyes not entirely forming didn't help either.

A blue blur and a grey blob carried a white blob. Some big shiny thing held a smaller shiny thing. There were fire and shiny metal bits everywhere, too, which could have partly been her fault. Two fuzzy circular spots appeared, and as the ringing started to fade, Vix figured it was Maple that did that.

He approached the burning grass with slow steps and threw the papers into the pyre. He stared wordlessly as the sheets scrunched and twisted, mercilessly turning weeks of hard work into ashes.

After a few blinks to help everything settle properly, Vix took a look at everything again. The only thing that really caught her attention was Icetales sitting in front of some flames and tossing something inside it. It piqued Vix's curiosity, yeah, but she wasn't able to move just yet, and Icetales was too far to hear her even if she said something. More of that sickening feeling that Vix felt during the fight was coming from him, but in a far smaller degree, fortunately.

You'll have to help him out later, right now you can barely keep a hold of yourself...

"And who's fault is that?" Vix groaned. The voice, annoying as it may be, had a point. She was indeed tired, but it was their fault. Stupid voice. Luckily, Celeste was able to do what Vix was currently unable to. At least Icetales wouldn't be alone with whatever was going on with him.

 

[windskull]

The fight was winding down. And while Nip was exhausted there was still the aftermath to deal with. Much of the team had been wounded, or otherwise incapacitated, in the battle. Part of him knew that he should help out, make sure everyone was ok. That no one had been...

Paranoid thoughts still stuck around in his mind. What if the shadowy miasma was still affecting some members. Logically, it made sense that it would be wearing off but... Even if it wasn't was there anything he could do to fix it? After all, compared to the others here, he was...

Wordlessly, Nip turned and followed Maple through the portal.

 

[Cresselia92]

“What are you doing? Someone clearly worked hard on that, and you’re just going to burn it?”

Icetales yowled in shock, unconsciously sending a chilling gale toward the flames. The Freeze-Dey extinguished the pyre, leaving behind crumbled pieces of barely readable cold paper.

He took a few harsh breaths, and turned around to notice Celeste staring at him. That darkness in his voice… did he hear it properly or was his splitting headache distorting everything? He could swear that there were mocking laughters echoing in his mind, but he didn’t care.

Tails raised and fur puffed, he stared at the Absol with an emotionless expression. “…Yes. Because that someone realized they are a naive imbecile who can only produce rubbish. So why should it matter whether the rubbish is devoured by flames or not? It is the appropriate place for such foolish plan.”

 

[Shiny Phantump]

“Hmph. I don’t take it as likely that all that work produced nothing of value. More likely that you’re just having another episode of post-battle panic.”

He shrugged one forepaw. “Too late to fix it now.”

 

[Namohysip]

"I'm... going to go to Treasure Town first," Owen said to the others. "I need to gather up any books and stuff I bought and, you know..."

He waved at Maple as she left with a few of the others, then looked to the others, at the mess that was left behind. Soda and Truffle were staying behind to tend to the Shaymin, as well as Pine, Nanab, and Bidoof. "We should probably also tell the Guild that we rescued them," Owen added.

 

[Cresselia92]

“Hmph. I don’t take it as likely that all that work produced nothing of value. More likely that you’re just having another episode of post-battle panic.”

Fantastic. Another reminder that he wasn’t apt for battles. Just what his medic prescribed.

“Pah! I have erred countless of times in my life. That would be just the umpteenth error in an ever-growing pile of errors,” he huffed dismissively. “Jolly thoughts and intentions have no room in war.”

“Too late to fix it now.”

“…Thou know what needs fixes?” He motioned toward his downed comrades who were being carried away, as well as the unconscious Shaymin. “They do. They all needs serious mends. And how would a festival help with those wounds, sir? It is all pointless. This… There is nothing to celebrate for!”

He exhaled a chilly breath. “Goodness! And now who is going to hear the merchants? They had already gathered all the necessary to do something… s-something lovely, and… and that would have helped everyone feel like at home, and… and…” He shook his head. “…I am just an idiot, am I not? For merely believing that I… I could help create bridges… that I could help unite everyone…”

 

[Virgil134]

After the machine was destroyed Cabot tried to calm himself down, his scales eventually turning back to normal. He looked around the group and sighed, carefully avoiding eye contact with Nip, Celeste, or anyone else. They'd managed to win another fight... but that was the only positive thing that could be said about what happened. He had tried to kill his teammates, hurt Nip... and gods knows what he would have done if everyone hadn't gotten through to him in time. How... was he supposed to face anyone like this?

Cabot hung his head in shame before quietly following Maple to Destiny Village.

 

[Dragonfree]

Dave glanced towards Brisa; she seemed fine, off to help Starr and Astrid. Owen was... apparently chill with the shadow Charizard now? Wow, that was quick. (Jean probably would be, too.)

The battle-hormones were wearing off once again, leaving him just exhausted to the bone. Honestly he could use a drink. In a moment, when he could stand again.

 

[Shiny Phantump]

“Pah! I have erred countless of times in my life. That would be just the umpteenth error in an ever-growing pile of errors,” he huffed dismissively. “Jolly thoughts and intentions have no room in war.”

“Exactly. Best to just sit around and be miserable instead. No point trying to do anything happy. Let’s just all give up, call off the something lovely. You were clearly a fool to think happiness was obtainable. Let’s go dig a hole to curl up and cry in instead. Yes, surely that’s the logical train of thought.”

 

[Cresselia92]

“Exactly. Best to just sit around and be miserable instead. No point trying to do anything happy. Let’s just all give up, call off the something lovely. You were clearly a fool to think happiness was obtainable. Let’s go dig a hole to curl up and cry in instead. Yes, surely that’s the logical train of thought.”

Icetales growled, feeling his fur standing upright like icicles. He wanted to just scream at the Absol. He wanted to be a raging snowstorm, to unleash his fury. However, he halted and his words dissipated from his mouth when the ghostly vision of Father appeared once more, sporting a manic smirk.

Oh, isn’t this such lovely speech, dear son? Coming from a bringer of doom, nonetheless! Why, yes! Why dost to not go put an end to thy miserable existence? Rid this world of thy curse!

Icetales blanched and took a step back. “I… I-I…”

Just let thyself rot. What is the point? Thou know how useless thou art, so why bother? I would welcome thy essence back with open tails, at least! Fuhuhuh!

Icetales bared his fangs. “No! I am not like this! I shall prove thee I am no useless whelp! I…” He halted, his eyes wide with horror as realization finally hit him. “No…”

His gaze lingered on the crumpled sheets. What did his father make him do? No… what did he do?

He scrambled to retrieve those ashes. Those hours spent thinking of ideas, projects, hopes. The excitement at getting everything set up with the merchants, at preparing every single thing and working on details. The support and encouragement given to him by Cynthian and Brisa.

It was all gone. Gone…

“…Huh?”

And then, his gaze fell on a single, simple reminder he had written to himself. One of the few survivors of his senseless whim.

I ought to give to all comrades the celebration of their lives. Most of them have such rough lives in their homeworlds, and as dear Mother used to say: “A small generous act coming from thy heart can mend all broken hearts”.

…Icetales started bawling.

 

[Disco]

Mellow watched, silently and motionlessly, as most of her teammates seemed to fall apart in slow motion all around her.

 

[Persephone]

short one shot of what cuicatl was doing during the fight while I was too lazy to actually make a post during the events. shouldn't really affect anyone else's arc... going to write this in second person present because her head is already being screwed with and it's not really meant to slot in with other stuff. and because i'm lazy.

Spoiler: What Cuicatl Was Doing

You can hear others cry out, growling at each other or the world as explosions rock the world around you. Why are they mad at each other? This is a fight against--

You freeze up and feel something slide into the empty link in your mind. Out of reflex and desperate hope you reach out to it and find

Not him. Maybe him? Rage, bitterness, and despair so dense that it takes shape. A shadow rises out of your back, a near-identical deino with thin red fog spilling out of its mouth and ears.

Hello, sister.

"I-I... is it...?"

Have you already forgotten who I am?

"No! Of course not!"

Good. You should remember what you did.

"Ach--"

NO! You have no right to speak my name.

"Please..."

I have no body left because of you, sister. I will take yours as punishment.

You don't object. How could you? This is fair. Just. You deserve it.

The shadow lashes out at others. The candle. One of the charmanders. The jigglypuff. Someone else. It's hard to even tell who with your brother's rage clouding your mind and puppeting your body. The last starts talking. Ordering you to snap out of it. Your brother laughs. He asks, no, demands that the enemy kill him. Kill you. For leaving him. For learning nothing. For leaving your daughter alone.

Something nudges against your mind. You press it away with a flick of your will as you sink deeper into despair.

That's not him, it whispers. That's you.

The shadow screams about justice and death. Is that your brother wanting you dead? Some warped part of you crying out for an end? Does it matter which it is?

If it's you, then you can stop.

If you wanted to, yes. Something sharp cuts through your flank and blood starts flowing freely. The shadow giggles.

He wouldn't want this.

He would want to be alive.

The machine breaks. The shadow dissolves into nothingness and the welcoming presence in half your mind fades away. No. Not again. Not again not again not again not again no no no no no no no no

The presence brushes against your mind again. It feels like Ach-like his hand running through your hair.

I'm still here, you know.

"Who," you hiccup as the adrenaline leaves your body and you crash to the ground. "What are you?"

It ripples with something akin to laughter before it slowly, inexorably starts to pull away.

You, of course. Just a part you don't listen to very much.

The shadow is gone, but the rage and bitterness and despair remain.

 

[Adamhuarts]

Icetales bared his fangs. “No! I am not like this! I shall prove thee I am no useless whelp! I…” He halted, his eyes wide with horror as realization finally hit him. “No…”

Cynthian didn't know most of what was going on, but even amidst the calming chaos of the battle's aftermath, he still caught sight of his friend being in pain.

He forced himself to his feet and walked over the to Icetales. Cynthian sat next to him and patted him with his flower. "Icetales, it's okay. I'm sorry to party didn't work out in the end, but what matters is that you tried."

He momentarily glanced at Celeste with a pained expression then turned his eyes back to his friend. "Don't listen to him, he's still being affected by shadows. He doesn't mean what he's saying. So, please, stand proud Icetales. You have a strong heart."

 

[Namohysip]

"Icetales?" Owen called, and suddenly there was a Charmander beside him. He looked winded, probably from running this way and that to help everyone recover while they all disbanded, but he stopped just in time to see what was happening, all those scraps and burned papers... "Icetales..." He glanced to Cynthian, then back at the Vulpix. "It's going to be okay.... Those... You wrote all that, right? Well, it's all in your head, so you can write it again." Words of encouragement was what everyone needed right now.

The Charizard head, now miniaturized and curled around from behind Owen, frowned and looked Icetales over, then at the scraps, then stared at Owen.

Owen nodded to himself, once again like he heard something, and added, "You still have lots of time to try again. You've only been here for a few weeks, right?"

 

[Cresselia92]

Molten snow. Icetales’ heart was a puddle of tears and despair. He could hear the shadows tangling around his spirit, like the tails of a daemon trying to squeeze his body and tear him apart, waiting to feast on his miserable soul…

But then, the darkness receded as two voices called out for him, and none of them was Father’s. That filled him both with relief… and shame. What were they going to think about him? Were they going to add extra salt to his mental wounds?

Cynthian sat next to him and patted him with his flower. "Icetales, it's okay. I'm sorry to party didn't work out in the end, but what matters is that you tried."

Icetales winced at first, not knowing how to react to the gesture, but then he relaxed somewhat and his tails quivered slightly. The petals of his friend were so soft, so calming.

He sighed and glanced at Cynthian with a forlorn expression. “Tried… that is the keyword, good sir. I sure desire to have made that project a reality. There is so much suffering , so much… distress. I…” He looked down. “I only desired to… do something right for once in my life…”

"Don't listen to him, he's still being affected by shadows. He doesn't mean what he's saying. So, please, stand proud Icetales. You have a strong heart."

Icetales would have laughed if he didn’t feel like he was being torn apart by his emotions. Strong heart… he didn’t really feel that, no.

But he could tell that Cynthian truly believed in those words, and he could detect that… spark. A bright light in his voice that reminded him… of Mother.

Of the times she encouraged him when Father demanded too much from him.

Of the times she mended his wounds when his siblings hurt him much after a duel.

Of the times she… defended him from the accusations of being a “tenth tail”, a cursed child.

…

How much he missed Mother. She probably missed him, too.

He looked up at Cynthian once more. “…I shall attempt to heed thy words, Sir Cynthian.”

"It's going to be okay.... Those... You wrote all that, right? Well, it's all in your head, so you can write it again."

Icetales glanced at the Charmander and nodded. Indeed, most of his written work was stuck in the neurons of his brain. After all, he had reread the entire project like… a dozen of dozens of times. Rewriting everything would have surely taken its time, but it was far from an impossible task.

He knew it all by heart. It’s just that his heart was currently broken.

"You still have lots of time to try again. You've only been here for a few weeks, right?"

“I have, indeed…” he mumbled.

The Vulpix stayed quiet for a while and pawed at some of the burnt and frozen grass, trying to assimilate everything.

Light and dark… there was still that internal struggle inside his mind. Words of Father and Mother clashed in a cacophony of despair and hope, trying to drag him in a direction or the other. His tails had coiled around his bag, and one of them brushed against a very familiar handkerchief…

He took a deep breath. Yes. What he needed was a little extra something, a little extra light. He glanced at back and forth at the Roselia and the Charmander, throwing hopeful glances.

“So, should I… really attempt such plan? Are you both saying that I can accomplish that? C-Can I…?”

 

[Namohysip]

"We've got a lot of downtime between these fights, while the more capable Pokemon are going scouting," Owen explained. "I think you'd be wasting time if you didn't try again. And maybe this time... you can be more careful about it. Actually--" Owen glanced at Cynthian, then back at Icetales. "When I get books, I worked with Occa-coated paper. I used to sneeze and burn normal ones, or scorch them, so I eventually got flame-proof ones. Maybe in Destiny Village, we can find element-proof materials to do the work on instead?"

 

[Cresselia92]

"I think you'd be wasting time if you didn't try again. And maybe this time... you can be more careful about it. Actually--"

Huh. Did Owen believe that the papers have been destroyed by accident? Perhaps he should clarify that the demons of his father had been mingling with his mind once more and they had been dragging him down with more fierceness in recent times…

…Okay, that was the kind of stuff that sounded bad in his head and even worse outside.

So, he decided to focus on the other topic, instead. Right. He had spent a lot of time getting things prepared, it would be a pity if everything was… erased, just like that.

He attempted a shy smile. “…Yes. There is some truth in thy words. It would a darn shame to not reach the end after going so far, hm.”

Owen glanced at Cynthian, then back at Icetales. "When I get books, I worked with Occa-coated paper. I used to sneeze and burn normal ones, or scorch them, so I eventually got flame-proof ones. Maybe in Destiny Village, we can find element-proof materials to do the work on instead?"

Icetales tilted his head. Element-proof materials? Hm. That sounded like a reasonable solution, yes. With those, his works would be safe from both the heat of the battle… and himself.

He nodded a few times, humming in deep thought. “…Yes. That might actually work just nicely, good sir. I am befuddled that I had not considered this possibility…”

"I don't doubt for a second that you can do it. And don't forget, I said I'd help too. It's not too late to make it happen," Cynthian said with a smile.

Icetales stared at Cynthian for a while. And then, a radiant grin appeared on his muzzle. His tails wagged and spread some snowflakes around, and the pieces of his heart started joining together once more, tied by strings of light. He was light.

“Many thanks, good sirs! Truly! I-I… I shall try once more, then!” He started hopping on the spot, his steps elegant like soft snow. “I… Heavens! I have so much to do! I… I must gather all my stuff from Treasure Town and start anew! Yes! I shall! Yes! I will! The festival will become a reality! Thou shall see!”

Once he felt the sudden burst of optimism waning once more, he looked at his comrades with a tiny smile, before focusing on Owen.

“Well, um… I am afraid I will have to skedaddle, then. If thou find those books and material-proof materials, let me know. I am very much intrigued at the idea.”

Then, he leaned forward to give a quick friendly rub with his cheek on the Charmander’s cheek, before pulling back and showing a serene smile. “…Thou art a truly good lad. Never forget that.”

He glanced at Cynthian and gave him a pat with his leftmost tail, holding back onto his frigid energy. “And same applies to thee. I am… most fortunate to have such good friend as one of my comrades. I cannot thank thee enough!”

He gazed at the shadowed Celeste, eyes narrowed and tails quivering… and then, he bowed with respect. “And… thanks to thee, Sir Celeste, for slapping some sense into my noggin. I required that, indeed.”

Icetales took one last look at the battlefield and strode toward the portal headed toward Treasure Town. His Father might have dented his spirit once more, but as long as he had good comrades who reminded him of the light inside his heart, he knew he could march forward.