POV: Cyrus / LOCATION: Crystal Cave(?)

According to Mesprit, Crystal Cave is a threshold between this world and the next. In my second visit, however, things have changed.

"You're right in that it's much brighter now," says Mesprit. "The light you humans attributed to bioluminescence? That's the signatures given off by souls.

"See, when someone dies—be it human or Pokemon—their spirits wander the earth until they arrive at one of the three sanctuaries. Crystal Cave is one. While they wait to cross over, some crystallize into flowers. Others harden into crystals."

With that pleasant thought in mind, I kneel beside a crystallized flower, which lifts its blossoms to greet me. Indistinct voices drift outwards from deep within the stem.

"I'm not ready."

"It's not fair!"

"When I wake up, I want Dad to come back!"

A warm paw taps my cheek. "Many passed on with lingering regrets," Mesprit says softly.

Speaking of which, I didn't say anything before I died. What will happen to me when my time comes? Will the light even welcome me?

Mesprit tugs me more forcibly, pulling me from my intrusive thoughts. It leads deeper into the cavern, where a glowing waterfall sits in the heart of Crystal Cave. All streams originate from the center. Just like the beginning of the universe, initiated by the spontaneous birth of creation.

Once a droplet of water falls, a wisp of light rises from the ripples. Hovering like a firefly, it wades its clumsy way out of the creek. Or attempts to. The currents flow too strongly.

Pathetic. So I cup that frail essence in my palms and release it to the sparkling cavern ceiling.

Hm. Reminds me of my ill-tempered Murkrow. Right now, it would've slapped me out of spite. It feels strange not to be dodging shiny rubbish by now. Disinfecting lacerations. Very odd… as if homeostasis has been disturbed.

"You, uh, seem to like getting hurt."

I afford Mesprit a warped smile. "My pain threshold is abnormally high."

"The same can't be said regarding your emotional pain."

"You don't know me."

"Who put your heart back together?"

"That means nothing."

Mesprit sticks out its tongue. "Whatever. When you first stepped into Crystal Cave, you felt yourself being watched, right? That's the souls! And me too!"

These souls keep swarming me like they're bees and I'm an enticing flower. "Are they angry at me?"

"Quite the contrary, my dear human! Your soul is verrry special. Without your body, you're able to retain your form!"

To that, I roll my eyeballs so violently that my leg snaps off. It's only a matter of time before I lose my shape. Then I'll crystallize into a flower, condemned to silence until hell freezes over.

I follow the curvature of the embankment until I arrive at the entrance of Crystal Cave. Evening light beckons beyond its gaping jaws. A dry, rusty breeze sneaks into this confinement of crystals, spits at me, and disintegrates into dust.

"How long has it been?" I murmur.

"Not sure. Truth be told, the concept of time confuses me."

"How are you even an omnipotent entity?"

"Someone needed to fill the job."

We gaze outwards to the world of the living. Nostalgia pools within my heart, and I lament for what could've been.

But it's too late. Even if I do rewind time, I will commit the same mistakes. I know myself too well. The damage has been done; what is broken cannot be fixed. Trust. Dreams. Hearts.

So with one last disdainful glance to the outside world, I turn away. Back into my prison I go, where all is dark and safe.

Guided by the illumination of lost souls, I find my way back to Crystal Lake. Twirling above the translucent waters like a ballerina on a music box is the fourth Time Gear.

It mocks me. Stuffs all my failures down my throat and sneers while I choke on my stupidity.

With a gentle tug of my sleeve, Mesprit spirits me to the shore, where it coaxes me to lie down. Below, currents swim along the bottom of the lake. Above, the cavern ceiling dances with stars.

"The inhabitants of Crystal Cave extend their warmest welcome!" Mesprit exclaims. "They put on this spectacle just for you!"

"I feel soooo special."

"It's not that hard to say 'thank you. Sheesh.'"

The lake falls still, the ethereal quiet disturbed by the whisperings of passing spirits. In this rare moment of peace, I reflect on the brevity of my life. How it compares to the spume of the beach during dusk, before the tides come to blow it away.

Beside me, Mesprit rolls over on its stomach. "So. Tell me about him."

"Who?"

Mesprit pouts. Nothing is hidden from its all-seeing omnipotence, I suppose.

"My grandfather," I grunt. "He lived near the beach. Told me how I could find my way home if I followed the North Star."

"What was he like?"

"He smelled like Seaking. His battalion fought near the sea, so they had an abundance of fish. Once he showed me how to gut a Gyarados, but I couldn't stomach it."

I grin to the artificial heavens. "How could he just leave me like that? We promised each other. I sped through my education for him. I chose him over my damn future!

"And what did I get in return? Arrested for trespassing in front of my own fucking house! I gave up everything for my grandfather, but he repaid me by DYING! WHO THE HELL DOES THAT?!"

My scream echoes down the annals of the lake. Then I hang my head, my giggling unraveling to uneven laughter. Because laughter is the best medicine for heartache. That, or I've gone completely insane. Again.

"She was right!" I cry. "During the duration of captivity, hostages develop emotional attachments to their captor. I can't believe I'm actually opening up to a wretched being like you!"

"Um. Rude. What did she mean by that though, your mothe—"

I clamp my palm over that nosy Pokemon's mouth. Even in here, the walls have ears. People will whisper. Rumors will become truth if they're repeated enough times.

Suddenly, I am a child again. One small mishap will enlarge to a costly mistake.

"You mustn't call her that," I whisper. "We'll get her in trouble."

Mesprit gives me a strange look. Then its arms wrap around me.

"Sorry," it murmurs. "We can stop if it upsets you—"

"No!" I blurt. "You have to understand. When I chose Grandfather over her, she was very, very sad. Yet when I crawled back to our house, it's like she never knew me. Years later, when she visited me in prison, I failed to recognize her entirely. It's as though my whole life was a lie! I-I was scared, but… but I couldn't disappoint her again, so I did whatever she asked."

It hurts all over. I need my acetaminophen tablets.

It's so cold. I want to throw up.

"I don't think it was enough," I mumble. "It was never enough…"

Again, Mesprit pulls me tighter into its embrace.

"You're very brave, Cyrus, to tell me these difficult things. Believe it or not, you're much stronger than you think. How are you feeling now?"

"Lighter. I-I feel better."

Then I freeze.

Wait.

What in the world…

"What sorcery did you cast on me?!" I snarl.

Mesprit grins cheekily. "I just gave you space to talk. Consider it your first successful session of therapy, postmortem!"

"T-Therapy? But I'm fine! I'm fucking fantastic!"

Mesprit screws its face to resemble someone sucking on raw limes.

I cringe. "W-Well, perhaps there are some underlying issues to address—"

"MESPRIT!"

Twin tails smack me aside as a golden bullet zooms across the lake.

"I told you to focus on the task at hand!" it snaps. "Yet you insist on slacking off in your cave!"

Mesprit tosses its paws in the air. "Uuuugh! What happened to knocking before trespassing each other's domain? It's not fair how you keep breaking your own rules when we're expected to follow them!

"Anyway, Cyrus, this is Uxie, my elder brother. Humans revere him for his intelligence, but I say his emotional intelligence leaves much to be desired."

Uxie throws me a dismissive glance. "A soul that retains its form after death? Hmm. Anyhow, I cannot stress how important this is, Mesprit! You must pull your weight!"

"UUUUUUUUGH! You need to get that brain of yours dusted! It's just a myth! Myths. Aren't. Real!"

"The first Bearer arrived at Fogbound Lake mere hours ago! I saw the Proof with my own eyes!"

"Yeah, if you actually opened them! Go bully Azelf!"

"W-Why you cheeky little…!"

I surprise myself by interjecting into this familial melodrama. "Uxie, why must you raise your voice at your own sibling?"

That, and Uxie finally acknowledges me. Eyelids cracking open ever so slightly, yet what lies behind frightens the surrounding souls into exile under the lake. When it speaks, its voice is a dangerous rumble.

"You have the audacity to use that scolding tone with me? You, a human who committed a grave sin: the taking of your own life? I cannot believe Mesprit allowed your soul to take refuge here, on these hallowed grounds, after what you've done."

Mesprit's expression falls. "Uh. Uxie—"

I snicker. "You despise me that much? Then riddle me this, O Guardian of Knowledge."

"I do not have time for you."

"Why is it the darkest before dawn?"

Uxie blasts me apart with an odd, unseeable power. "If I see that damned soul again, it will wish it had corroded when it could."

With that, the Guardian of Knowledge disappears in a shower of sparkles.

Eventually, my head floats to the surface of the lake. "Me and my big mouth," I croak.

We piece my soul together in silence. Once I'm complete again, Mesprit pounces in my face like my Weavile when I promised it Sweet Poffins.

"That was soooo awesome," it hoots, "how you stood up to Uxie like that! I knew I bonded with the right human!"