Treasure Town ~ Woodland Outskirts

[windskull]

"You used to not look like this?" At first, Nip thought perhaps he was referring to evolving. But something about the way he said that made him second guess himself. "I've never heard of something that wasn't a pokemon. Well. Until I saw humans, at least." He paused, considering the matter further. He supposed if humans were a thing, then creatures that weren't pokemon could be a thing as well. "But all the humans changed form when they were brought over here, but you didn't. Wouldn't that mean that you're a pokemon?"

 

[Ambyssin]

"I doubt it. Pokémon hatch from eggs. They live their lives." Necrozma lifted his hand. A small tendril of light sprouted in it. "And they wither away." He closed his hand, snuffing the light out like a candle's flame. "I did not hatch from an egg. And I have lived for dozens upon dozens of millennia." Necrozma lowered his hand. He was still lying on his front, propped up slightly against the tree. "An appropriate curse for a pathetic failure."

 

[windskull]

That was... a fair point. He hadn't ever heard of a pokemon that didn't come from an egg. Well, outside of legends of Mew's first creations. But as the first of their kind, they were exceptions, not the rule. "I don't know what millennia means but dozens of anything is —" he paused to count on his claws, face scrunching up in concentration, "— a long time. And if you didn't come from an egg, where did you come from. Are you first of your kind?" He decided to not comment on the "pathetic failure" statement. Because if this guy, someone more than twice his size and with claws like those, was a pathetic failure, what did that make him?

 

[Ambyssin]

"The stars." Necrozma glanced skyward. There were, of course, nothing but tree branches and fat green leaves above him. So, he raised his right arm. Pink melded with black and a ring of psychic energy dispelled the leaves above the two. It took a fair bit out of him, however. His arm fell back with a heavy thud.

"The cosmos molded me into existence. My old body... was stitched together before my very eyes." A long pause. Necrozma stared at his trembling right hand. He had no face. No means to display the pain he was in. That single Confusion hurt more than any move he used back home. This fake body was even more light-deprived. "And what of you?" he asked. "We are not from the same universe. So, what's your story? What gives you your 'hero's aura?'"

 

[windskull]

Nip glanced upward, watching the leaves be swept away by psychic energy. Huh, he never would have thought this stranger was a psychic-type. Steel or rock, maybe. Perhaps he was both? He would have to remember this for later.

So, he came from beyond the sky? Nip had heard of pokemon like that. Stories of pokemon like clefairy, who had followed their god — a pokemon whose name had been lost in their myths — down to earth. But even they came from eggs, did they not? He stared at Necrozma, waiting for him to continue. Was... was he alright? Nip suspected he was not, but elected not to press the matter.

At the mention of the hero's aura, he frowned. "I don't know about you, but I'm not certain I trust that whole 'hero's aura' nonsense. Because I certainly can't think of anything I've done that would make be considered heroic. Not by the standards of my kin, and not by the standards of those I've met since."

 

[Ambyssin]

"Then we are of one mind in that regard." Necrozma brought his arms closer to his chest. "I suspect this is all a trap. That fake stooge charizard is sacrificing us to World Ender. And if it claims you all, then it will learn of where your worlds dwell and set its sights on them." A shudder wracked his body.

 

[windskull]

So he wasn't alone in finding that odd. That was a relief, at least. Nip took a seat across from Necrozma. "I do not know of this... World Ender you speak of. You must forgive me, there are many myths that have been lost to time in my tribe. That said..." He took a deep breath. Something about the charizard, and I don't know what or why, puts me on edge. It almost feels like I've met him before somewhere, yet I know I can't have. I'd like to think I'm overreacting, but... survival has always meant trusting my instincts. And right now, my instincts are telling me to be cautious."

 

[Ambyssin]

"I do not even remotely trust what he's doing. Claiming to be a mere charizard that can summon people from multiple universes at will?" Necrozma's core crackled with electricity. "Don't you find it a bit too convenient that he showed us a charmander in that footage? And there are multiple charmander that showed up after the fact." Shakily he crossed his arms. "They're meant to make sure we're prepared for a proper sacrifice. I saw it when that decidueye brought the injured charmander to the group. Did you see how an argument immediately boiled to the surface? That is the kind of despair that World Ender thrives on. I'm sure the giant magikarp has caught the scent and is heading for this land as we speak.

"Even if it doesn't have the greatest attacks, all it would have to do is roll over on you and you'd be crushed to death."

 

[windskull]

"You mean, you think the other charmander are in on it? I'm... not sure I follow that but..." But the doubt was still there in his mind now.

He paused, shuddering at the thought of being squashed underneath the giant 'karp, his life snuffed out effortlessly. "As much as I am hesitant to trust Diyem, I don't think there's any chance of leaving at this point without fighting the magikarp. I doubt running would do us any good. I'm not sure we could, if we are truly linked to Diyem and his power like he claims." He paused, staring down at his claws for a moment. They felt so dull, looked so foreign compared to what he was used to, even if he was still a sneasel. "I think the best thing I can do right now is prepare for the inevitable confrontation. As much as I can in whatever time we have left." Silently he added, I didn't agree to this just to roll over and die, after all.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Oh, no. Running won't work. We will have to fight." Necrozma paused. "But you don't find it the least bit suspicious that he recruited half a dozen fire-types to fight a water-type? Not to mention there was a cranidos and golett mixed in, as well. It's almost as if... he wanted to build a losing team."

He raised his right hand. Electricity crackled around it. "I take no chances when it comes to things like this. Even if my powers are borderline worthless, I can't let World Ender get to any of you. So, if the fish has to fry, then it will fry."

 

[windskull]

...Huh. He had a very good point that Nip hadn't even thought of. "I would like to think that it wouldn't matter against a magikarp. But, well, you saw the image that was shared with us. That was a nasty hydro pump."

He stood up, shaking for a second to clear away any dirt in his fur. "I suppose I'm going to go practice my moves for a bit, then. Figure out what I can still use. And then gather up supplies. Maybe try to get some more information from the decidueye while we wait for the inevitable. Thank you for speaking with me... what did you say your name was? Mine is Nip."

 

[Ambyssin]

"I don't have one." Necrozma shrugged. "Though there were some mortals back home who referred to me as Necrozma. Means 'death prism' in an ancient language. Appropriate, I suppose."

 

[windskull]

He didn't have a name? Or a propper one, at least. How odd. Still, at least he had something to refer to him by. Not quite catching the implications of Necrozma's statement, he said, "I see. I will see you later, then, when we confront the magikarp. Until then, take care, Necrozma." Once again, he dipped his head respectfully, and then turned and walked back into the bushes.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Be safe, little one."

 

[Jedi Shulk]

Fay meditated in the Woodland Outskirts for many hours and using this inner peace Fay brought order to his chaotic situation. Now he needed to bring order to his mind. ‘Recognize thoughts and watch them disappear.’ However when Fay recognize a thought it didn't go away. Normally never mind scattered thoughts upon recognition dissolve like paper in water. So Fay examined his soul by staring inwards. But before Fay could glance at his soul the Woodland went silent.

Fay opened his eyes to see he was in a black void. Fay only noticed himself and a lone gray rock. With nothing better to do Fay used rock smash and the rock got smashed into dust. Suddenly from the dust a unseen fist punched Fay to the ground leaving him breathless. The unseen shadow proceeded to grab him by the neck.

“Ack! Who are you?” Fay questioned his attacker.

“I am your Ego Fay.” Ego answered the question.

“What do you want?” Fay asked his Ego.

“Control of the body and power.” Ego replied.

“No!” Fay shouted.

“Then I guess you won't have answers.”

Fay’s ears perked up. “What answers?” Fay demanded answers.

“Your past, how you became a Pokémon and how I came to exist.” Ego responded. “How about a compromise? I give you memories. You give me control.”

Fay though to himself. I don't like the idea of giving my ego control of my body, however I need to find out why I became a Pokémon and regain my past. “Elaborate on the details of the compromise.” Fay asked of ego to explain the idea. “I give you memories periodically and in exchange for turning some of your ‘hair’ dark.” Ego explained.

“Release me from your grip and I'll agree.” Fay answered.

“No issue.” Ego released Fay from the grip. “If you need to contact pulled on your long ‘hair’.” Ego disappeared into the void of the mind.

(Gasp) Fay was back in the Woodlands outskirts. “I should get back to the other now they are probably concerned about me.” As Fay ran back to treasure town his long ‘hair’ darkened slightly.

 

[Adamhuarts]

<><><><>

 

[Adamhuarts]

After leaving the main square, Cynthian walked aimlessly for several minutes till he noticed the subtle of decayed leaves and forest floor.

Somehow he'd wandered into the woodlands. So, he continued walking on until he found a tree that had fallen over. He stopped by and stared at it. It must've been years at least since the tree felled, and it was probably a young tree since the tree's bark was barely wider than him.

Cynthian sat on the tree and held his face. He let out a deep sigh and let the tears quietly flood out of his eyes.

 

[Namohysip]

"Cynthian of the Outworld!"

The voice came from behind, booming and certainly scaring away any wild Pokemon that might have been lounging about in the nearest area. It was from Truffle, the boisterous Decidueye of infinite radiance.

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian eeped at the voice and stumbled forward onto the ground. "Wh-what? I didn't know you were here!"

It took a second for Cynthian to realize his face was still damp with tears when he stood back up, and he frantically wiped then off with his flowers.

"Is something wrong, Truffle?" he asked after a sniffle.

 

[Namohysip]

"I was about to ask you the same question!" Truffle swooped over in a single wing beat, landing next to the tiny Roselia. "You seem troubled! Are you worried about the incoming battle against the Magikarp? There is nothing to fear! You are all heroes in the making!"