Wayward Loser
Chapter VIII
"Not quite a reflection"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I beg for forgiveness on the sheer lateness of my updates. I've been getting bogged down with all sorts of distractions, the most recent being World of Warcraft. Don't worry though, I don't forget my stories. I just... procrastinate. Eheh.
END NOTE
I came to, face down against a cold floor. Probably still Ghost Tower...
There's still a problem, though. Why am I not being held captive anywhere? I don't feel bound by rope with the crook sent to catch me is giggling over me, acting like a triumphant schmuck.
I got on my knees, arm blades at the ready in case I was attacked. Of course, today was full of even more surprises, as it wasn't the archaic stone floor of Ghost Tower. It was actually some kind of metal, rivet-bolted floor panneling.
Just where the heck am I?
I'm gonna get that Gloam... Where the heck did she take me?
I got to my feet and surveyed my surroundings. It was wholly unusual to me, being entirely made of metal with some large glass screen with records displaying on it. I stepped over to this moon-shaped, open on the inside panel that was jutting up from the floor to about my waist in height.
I looked at the info on the screen.
"545. Scolipede."
The heck is a Scolipede? Looks like an ugly monster that's come from some deep, dark and dank cave that feasts on unsuspecting innocents. Is this some kind of criminal record?
There was a smooth surface that read 'Touch'. Probably a control method for the screen. I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I touched it.
Suddenly, a glowing array bolted out across the small surface to the edges, as I pulled my finger away quickly in surprise.
The screen started scrolling through files until it became entirely blank.
"NEW DNA BRAND DETECTED. UNKNOWN ORIGIN OR GENERATION. INPUT NAME DATA," a mechanical voice commanded from the screen.
I stared dumbfounded at the thing. Is it alive or something?
A sort of slot opened up with a key alphabet in... foot runes? I squinted at them. I remember learning a bit about footprint runes from Torkoal, but I got bored after a while. I get what some of them are. I'll put the whole 'engrave my name in metal-glass-talky-thing' thing on hold for now, I gotta figure my way out of this place, and manage it in one piece.
I ignored mentioning it until now, but I realize there's this huge toppled... robot-like Pokemon in here? It looks like something blew up, considering the walls towards the exit seem dented. The machine Pokemon also isn't exactly the tiniest of things. Looks like it stands nearly double my height... Who could've beat down a titan like that?
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a piece of white cloth. I turned my attention-
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It was a girl. A Gardevoir girl, just sleeping on the skirt of her gown like it was a sleeping mat. Why the heck is she here? Who would SLEEP in a cold, blank place like this? Did Gloam take her here? A kidnapped dame that needs my help?
I crouched down. Apparently she's visually impaired, she's got glasses on. Too bad I have to interrupt her beauty sleep to get her out of here.
I nudged her shoulder.
"Hey. Wake up," I coaxingly ordered.
She slowly peeked open one eye, most likely curious to see her savior. Then both of them snapped open, and her pupils shrunk, staring into my eyes with horror.
... The heck?
All of a sudden she leapt to her feet and launched herself backwards via telekinesis, getting away from me.
Then she opened her mouth and spoke-
"Who are you? How did you get here? How did you find me? Are you from the North? ANSWER ME, ARCEUS DAMN YOU! I'M GOING TO MAKE HISTORY!"
Something broke inside when I heard her speak.
Because she wasn't a she.
She was a he.
I stood tall and ready. Either way, femboy here needed my help on getting out of this dump. No doubt about it.
"Let's see, answering them in sequence: Gelaard, I believe I was brought here by the Mismagius criminal named Gloam, and yes," I answered, rapid-fire.
My interrogator looked at me like I was an idiot.
"I'm sorry, what? I never knew some northern lunkhead wanted to be ME," he remarked, almost smugly.
"Okay, what have you smelled recently? Why would I want to have some flimsy femboy be MY model? YOU should be trying to be ME, scrawny!", I returned with interest.
"No, no. You've got this all wrong. I'M Gelaard. I've been living on the outskirts of Treasure Town ever since Team Justice moved in. You're just some Gallade from the north with a twisted sense of humor. Don't you have to go spend the night with your easy girlfriend, anyway?"
I bared my teeth. I was getting tired of this.
"Okay, look. All I know is, I gotta get you out of here. This is no place for a scrawny guy like you."
"Okay, lunkhead. Let me tell you right: I -came- here on my own, with the help of a friend. I traversed through this facility on my own, and found my way to this very room. Had a short conversation with the 'Boss' of the place," He said, gesturing to the fallen machine. "and found this database of what I assume to be our ancestry. I'm not letting some TOOL take my rightful chance at glory away from me!"
"Okay, whatever. You do what you want, I'm getting out of here."
I fished around in my bag, which incredibly wasn't looted, and plucked out my Gold-rank badge. I held it up casually as the beam of light carried me away to Treasure Town. I just want to go home and relax with Cinny. That'll make my day better alright...
I started to stroll into the square, which was relatively active. Several pokemon were out and about, a couple of them explorers. Probably not bigshots like me. Now that I think about it though, I could use a bite to eat.
No place to get some food than the Kecleon Brothers' tent.
I mosied my way over to their tent, a warm smile on my face.
"Afternoon! You guys mind setting me up with a nice, crisp and juicy apple?", I asked.
Upon request, Green Kecleon had turned his back to me and shuffled through the back and fished out just what the doctor ordered, and set it on the counter.
I slid across 200 Poke. I was feeling generous today, mostly since my stomach was screaming bloody murder to me... 'Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eed!'
I took a big bite into my freshly purchased apple, savoring the crisp, tart flavor. I had more food at home, I just couldn't take waiting to get there any longer. I strolled down the road towards Sharpedo Bluff to find my pad, but... there was a problem.
I knew it was here, before Sharpedo Bluff. Where's my place?
Where's my food?
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Where's Cinnamon?!
I hurriedly chewed through my apple, but it didn't seem to sate me... Why wasn't I feeling any better? Why am I starving still!? I powerwalked through Treasure Town to the square, to which I finally slowed down and realized... There was a large statue there.
It was carved in... the shape of one of those monstrous Scolipede things?
Why would there be a statue to some ancient monster in the middle of civilization? Did everyone suddenly become some kind of cultist?
... Aw, geez. I had to say cult... I have to remember, some monster was summoned by the Cult of the Void to cause destruction, but allegedly it turned on them. Maybe this was that monster? Or at least a statue in the shape of it.
I studied its features, and read a plaque at the front of the statue.
"Canderack. Ex-Criminal and Savior of the World."
Funny name... Maybe it was some sort of alien record? I mean, those void cultists did have things to do concerning pulling stuff from rips in space.
Oh, that's smarts. I figured this whole thing out.
The one thing I -don't- get is: WHY is my house not here? Where's my girlfriend?
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And why was that one femboy Gardevoir stealing my name?
Where's Gloam, anyway? Was that some weird illusion?
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Is this some sort of bad dream?
This is a mystery I gotta solve...
