Water Continent ~ Lively Town

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian brought a flower to her chin and wondered how to answer. She glanced at them and considered. Diyem seemed fine with it, and these three were heroes. She could tell them, right?

"Oh, about that. It turns out that Diyem's partner, Eien, had been going around to worlds with Dark Matter like this one. She'd saved many worlds that way according to Diyem. We don't yet know if she really did talk to one of your dark matters, but she most likely did."

 

[Namohysip]

"...She..." Pita blinked, looking at Nutmeg, then at Mew.

"Dark Matters can fall in love?" Mew asked. "That seems lethal and dangerous. How come he's not dead?"

"Well, from what I heard, he used to be dead." Pita hummed, thoughtful. "Well... That explains where that happened, or how."

"So Eien saved... the future world from that trouble, and then that Dark Matter told ours to give up, and then it eventually got to him, too? Is that right? Is that why you guys knew to be here at all?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"You'd be surprised how shocked I was when I found out that I'd been brought over here by a dark matter to save a mirror world of mine," Cynthian said with a wry smile.

"I don't actually know how Diyem fell in love without the act literally killing him, but I'm sure Eien has something to do with it. As an Eternatus, she probably had some power to help him out. The two did share their powers between each other, I hear." Cynthian swung her arm. "In fact, Diyem having her disruption powers is the main reason why our abilities don't get interfered by the disruptive forces of the blacklight."

Cynthian chuckled. "Love finds the way in the weirdest of ways, right?"

"And to answer your question, I think Eien getting stranded here is how Diyem came to know of Cibus." She brought a bouquet over her chest and smiled. "Even if she's the real reason he sent us over, I've come to love this world and it's pokemon enough to want to do my part in saving it."

 

[Namohysip]

And to that, Pita smiled a little, while Mew made an 'ewwww' noise that earned a swat from Nutmeg.

"I'm glad you're so willing to help," Pita said. "But... I guess that's all we can really tell you guys about Dark Matter. Seems like you've got all the information and then some."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"That's fine. You've given me plenty to work with already. I'll relay it to the others when I get the time later."

Now what? Cynthian had already gotten what she came to them for, but she didn't really want to leave just yet. They counterparts on her world were her heroes after all. Perhaps she could talk about something else?

"So, do you guys spar often? I take it you three are pretty solid fighters if you saved the whole world, no?" Cynthian asked with gleaming eyes.

 

[Namohysip]

"You bet we do," Nutmeg said with a grin. "Mew over here's still learning the ropes on how to battle, but she's no slouch when she actually, you know, puts the work in." Nutmeg flashed a glare at Mew, who grinned devilishly and pulled down on her left eye.

"There have been a lot of, uh, battles lately, huh?" asked Pita. "Over in Destiny Village." He shuddered. "It's so cold there, though."

"It's not so bad," Nutmeg commented.

"Says the Fire," Pita murmured.

 

[Adamhuarts]

"You're right about that. I much prefer this place or treasure town than Destiny Village. Even the beach they have there feels sad..."

"What are your preferred ways to fight? Maybe you could share some combat insight with this rose," Cynthian said with a giggle.

 

[Namohysip]

"Well, I beat people up," Nutmeg said. "Pita over here's more of a defensive fighter, all things considered. And Mew... can't decide what she wants to do, so I think she just throws things randomly at the opponent until she wins."

"And I do," Mew added proudly

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Come to think of it, Nutmeg, is Mew like your little sister or younger twin? I'm still wrapping my head around the whole reincarnation thing honestly," Cynthian said. She couldn't help but wonder is Darkwhite might split into two individuals after they save her.

 

[Namohysip]

"Something like that," Nutmeg said. "I don't really know what to make of it myself. Think of it like... I'm supposed to be the old Mew from ancient times. I have those memories. And Mew here's supposed to be my successor, but, like... an incarnation after me. I sorta downgraded, the opposite of the Legends you see in DV, I guess. Mew's..." Nutmeg shrugged. "I dunno. What do you think?"

"I think it's boring!"

"...Yeah, I kinda agree," Nutmeg said. "I guess you could say that I was supposed to be dead... but I clung to life within Mew instead of passing on. That led to sort of a... break in things, and it made Mew sick because I was fighting to live--two spirits in the same body. It was only with a bit of Xerneas' power that we were able to restore my body and, you know, not kill the both of us."

 

[Adamhuarts]

"That's certainly interesting. Well, I bet you'd be a great legend in the future Mew. Work hard to surpass Nutmeg if you can," Cynthian said with a smile.

"Say, what do you guys say we duke it out at the colosseum sometime? I'd love to experience the strength you three boast first hand," Cynthian asked, with a glimmer in her eyes again.

 

[Namohysip]

"Surpass me, huh?" Nutmeg growled. "Yeah, in your dreams..."

"I'm immortal and you're not," Mew taunted Nutmeg, who growled back.

Pita, meanwhile, raised a brow. "Really, the three of us at once?"

"You'll lose," Mew said matter-of-factly.

"But hey, your funeral, even if you get two others to help," Nutmeg added with a little grin. "But hey, you guys have been getting pretty strong. Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to do more in a few months."

"I suppose, when you're ready," Pita said with a playful grin, "challenge accepted."

<><><>​

 

[Disco]

Mellow sank into the hot springs with a sigh. After all the meditation, the one on one talks with her therapist, and simple relaxation, she felt on top of the world. It was almost a shame she'd have to go back to Destiny Village... But duty called and she didn't want to get complacent or soft. She missed her plants, too.

...But one more day soaking in the hot springs and meditating in the fresh water pool wouldn't hurt...

She smiled to herself as she picked a Sitrus berry off the plate next to her and bit into it. It was certainly good... Maybe if there was time she would look into setting up a satellite farm here to grow some of the berries that suffered from the cold in Destiny Village...

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa had quite the trip, tracking down Mellow. She'd learned her general condition from Owen, made the journey to the resort largely on foot, and had some back and forth with the spa receptionist before she learned where to find the florizard. By the time she entered the springs, she didn't have any anxiety left. You could only have so many charged conversations before you stopped dreading disaster.

"Howdy," she called, quietly. "Mind if I join ya?"

 

[Disco]

Mellow took in a deep breath. Before this trip, when she had nearly run herself ragged, maybe she would have snapped at the Luxray. Told her to go away. Instead, she put on a "smile" and turned.

"Not at all! There's room for everyone, it's not private!"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

"Well, sure. But I'm here t'have a word with you, hence my askin'. I'll leave ya be if'n y'ain't got patience fer me, Mellow."

Brisa smiled back, an expression as dry as dust. Mellow wasn't exactly hard to read.

 

[Disco]

Mellow's expression faltered a bit.

"A word about what?"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa settled down a comfortable distance from Mellow, forepaws just barely dipping into the hot springs. The warmth was pleasant on her pads.

"I've already talked t'most folks as took issue with how the lure plan at the Tree was conducted. Explained myself, made assurance of no hard feelings, done my best to put us on an even keel fer the fight ahead. Not you, though."

Brisa looked at Mellow in contemplation. It had been long enough on Cibus that forced politeness no longer felt familiar to her, to way it had back home.

"I don't know you half so well as Cynthian or Icetales, but I still wanna fight in the Voidlands with you in my team, and it ain't right not to try an' be at peace between ourselves afore then."

 

[Disco]

Mellow was quiet for a few minutes as she considered what Brisa said. She decided she would be honest, because... Well, they couldn't afford to not be, including her.

"...You made it really hard to trust you after that. I don't know if I can even now. You kept things secret that...really set us back. And we're going to have to fight hard to set things right because of it. You get that, don't you...?", Mellow replied quietly, but kept going after a second. "I... don't feel comfortable with the idea of going into Maple's... whatever you want to call it. ...Is there anyone else who can go instead of me?"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa sighed softly and stretched out her forepaws in the water. Maybe every struggle wasn't worth persisting with. But persistence was just too much of who she was.

"Y'know, Mellow, nobody's actually been able to explain to me what positive difference it would've made if any of y'all knew Soda was the Haze, or about the lure. The team already knew Maple needed to keep outta the tree, and failed to persuade her to keep clear. If I had told you . . . and risked Maple findin' out . . . how would it actually have helped? We would've had to fight Maple's corruption sooner or later, y'know."

She was so tired. Maybe she'd rest here a while, however the conversation went with Mellow.

Of course there were others on the team who could go into her Voidlands. It was just that Mellow would be far more effective in the larger away team than back with Diyem. But the team was strong. If Mellow wouldn't go, they'd make it work somehow...