Quick Author's Note: Just a heads up that I'll be posting new chapters of M&T a lot more late than usual due to being in the middle of getting professional help along with prepping for school next month. Thank you for understanding, and enjoy the rest of the chapter!
Chapter 26: Journey into the Gloomy Woods.
...The large shrouds of trees shield the woods from receiving any sunlight, shadows seeping in every corner. The hoots of Hoothoot echo, the trembles of bushes rustle, and the creaks of tree branches snap from each step. The six look around from side to side, narrowing their eyes.
"...It's quite dark in here," Ramon points out.
"No kidding," Ada agrees. "Makes me wonder what it looks like at night."
"Let's say in short: You're not going to see a single damn thing," Courtney answers.
"Really!?" Ramon, Justin, and Ada all shout, startling the Drowzee.
Courtney puts her finger against her lips. "Shh! Keep it down, would ya?" She stops and looks around with caution. "Don't want to alert any strong Defects, now."
"Str-Strong Defects?" Mesmeren asks, widening her eyes.
The Lopunny stares ahead for a brief moment, sighing. "Yes. Gloomy Woods contains a lot of strong Defects roaming around here. Trust me when I say: Be on the lookout for them." Courtney and Sylock continue glancing around as Mesmeren holds her hands together, gulping. Ramon, Justin, and Ada stare at each other for a brief moment, with the boy shrugging afterwards. Everyone continues forward, each step being steadier than the previous.
Soon, Mesmeren sniffs the air, her mouth salivating. "Mmf," she murmurs, closing her eyes and licking her lips. Ramon looks at her despite the barely lit environment, tilting his head.
"Um, Mes-"
Mesmeren jolts past the Zorua and others, reaching towards a bush filled with Oran Berries. The blue, spotted berries are in the spotlight thanks to the small sunlight, captivating the Drowzee. She takes one of the berries and bites it, shaking her head with glee. "Mmm!" She bites another. And another. And another!
Everyone stares at the Drowzee with perplexion, all raising their brows. "Hey um...Mesmeren-" Ada clears her throat. "You never consider those berries rotten or not?"
The ribbon wearing tapir turns around, bits of juice spilling out of her stuffed mouth while carrying a ton of Oran Berries. She swallows, looking away with a blush. "S-Sorry...I really like Oran Berries," she says, lowering her ears.
"Hey don't feel bad about liking them things: I once ate an Oran Berry pie, and it's some of the most delicious pie I've ever tasted in my life," Courtney says, licking her lips while rubbing her belly.
Mesmeren perks up. "Wh-What? I th-thought Forest was kidding around when he said that!"
"Nope! Those things are real, and I highly recommend giving it a try." Courtney then turns towards the others, snapping her fingers. "That goes for y'all, too."
Sylock sticks his tongue out, shaking his head. "Yuck! No thanks," he signs.
The Lopunny pouts. "Of course you'll despise it. I told ya about that one being ovened poorly by a garbage chef, Sylock!"
"Well that 'chef' gave me a bad impression on Oran Berry pies and possibly pies in general." The Blaziken folds his arms, his face wincing.
"Look, at least give it another chance by a good chef!"
Ramon, Justin, and Ada stare blankly before the three snicker. "Look fam, I don't know what that guy is...doing? But I find you two hilarious together."
Courtney smirks. "For one, he's using sign language. And two...huh," Mesmeren returns back to the others with her arms full of Oran Berries as Courtney elbows the Blaziken. "I guess we make for an interesting duo, eh Sylock?"
"We're boring, actually," Sylock counters before putting his hands behind his head.
The rabbit pouts. "Okay, that's how I know your ass is lying." She folds her arms while Sylock grins.
"What did he say?" Ada asks.
"He thinks he and I are a boring duo," Courtney answers with annoyance as Ada and Justin snicker once more.
"Heh. To be honest, I'm thinking about trying some Oran Berries," Ramon says, staring at the giant pile Mesmeren is carrying. "Curious to know how it tastes."
Mesmeren looks at the Zorua as the group continues walking forward. "O-Oh?" She blushes. "Well, I'd hand some to you but um…" She stares at the big pile, chuckling nervously. She soon yelps from one of the berries lifting off from her pile, surrounded by purple aura. She looks behind her, Ada's hand being coated in purple aura.
The berry gets in front of the Zorua, him blinking in confusion. "Hmm?" He turns around. "Oh."
"Figure I'd lend you two a hand, there," the girl says, smiling.
"Thanks," Ramon and Mesmeren both say as Ramon bites on the Oran Berry. He looks around, chewing on the gush and fruitfulness of the berry, nodding his head.
"Whoa...This tastes really good."
"I know, r-right!?" Mesmeren looks at the Zorua, giggling softly. "I loved them so much that I gained the ability to sniff any nearby."
Ramon smiles at her. "I see. That explains why you were salivating yesterday."
Mesmeren pauses for a moment, blushing. "Y-You noticed?" Ramon looks at her and nods, the Drowzee shielding her face behind the pile of Oran Berries. "Th-That must be so embarrassing and disgusting to see. Sorry…"
"Hey, no need to apologize for loving Oran Berries." Ramon closes his eyes while wagging his tail, smiling up at the Drowzee. "I see no harm in it."
Mesmeren trembles in place. "But I was being weird about it…A freak. Like I wasn't supposed to-" a paw touches Mesmeren's shoulder before she can finish her sentence, the Drowzee gazing at the Zorua.
"Hey, I'm telling you that it's okay. You're free to drool over your love towards Oran Berries. It's just a preference, after all." Ramon smiles warmly, the Drowzee's rumbling body ceases itself as she looks back at him.
Mesmeren nods. "O-Okay…"
The two continue roaming around the woods, eyeing the deep depths of the shadowy corners. Soon, the Zorua brings himself to a halt, raising his brow.
Mesmeren stops as well, looking beside her. "What's wrong?"
"...Where is everyone?"
"U-Um...What do you-" Mesmeren looks around her surroundings, nothing but Ramon, the berries, trees, and bushes being in her view. "...O-Oh no." She shakes in place, dropping the pile of berries afterwards.
The fox tenses up from the berries and looks at the tapir, leaning close to her. "Relax. I'm sure we can reunite with them eventually."
"...I hope so." Mesmeren whimpers.
. . .
"Ada? Ada!?" Justin shouts, his hands hovering around his lips. He and Sylock roam around the dark abyss of the woods, brushing aside any bushes in front of them. "Damn, how did we get separated from them?" He looks at Sylock, whose eyes are widening and hands are trembling. "Hey, are you-"
Sylock seeks his claws into his left hand, one of his eyes twitching. Blood seeps out of the punctured holes, the boy staring at the Blaziken in perplexion. Justin's eyes widens, his body remaining completely still. The Blaziken looks back at him, moving his hands at a rapid pace. "WHERE'S COURTNEY!?"
Justin raises his hands up. "Look, I don't know what you're saying, but I'm going to assume that you're worried about our buddies, too." He locks his eyes onto the Blaziken's hand, red liquid dripping on the grass within seconds. "I wish I knew where they're at."
The Blaziken remains silent, squinting at the ground. He snarls before turning around and runs away. Justin stares at the Blaziken, blankness spreading across his face. "Um-" A shuriken-like projectile in water bats against the Blaziken, blasting him off and slams him against the teen. Sylock grunts, he and Justin colliding against a tree afterwards. "GAH!" Justin yelps, clinging his dark brown hands on the tree barks.
The two look at each other with bewilderment. "What the hell was that!?" Justin exclaims, raising his brow. Sylock covers his bleeding hand, shaking his head. Soon rustle noises spark up, the two looking ahead. The bushes shake and tremble, shifting from side to side. Sylock squints his eyes as a blue blade casts on Justin's left hand, the boy grabbing it with ease.
Rearing its head from one of the bushes lies a blue, frog-like creature with red eyes and a long pink tongue. Two more Defect Greninjas poke their heads out of the bushes, the three leaping from it afterwards. "What the…" Justin gazes up, the Greninjas clinging onto one of the tree branches: Two hanging upside down while one sits on the top, the bulbous tip of its fingers nudging against its face. The darkness hides these ninja amphibians within the woods, only their red eyes can be seen.
Justin gulps, casting another blue blade as Sylock gets off from him. The Blaziken looks around and sees the first Greninja on his left side, the second on his right, and the third in the middle. "We're surrounded," Sylock signs, lowering his brows.
"Looks like we're surrounded by these guys," Justin says, gripping onto the end of his blades.
Sylock looks at the boy, squinting his eyes. I just said that.
Justin looks back. "...What?"
. . .
"Justin! Ramon! Mesmeren!" Ada shouts, hovering her hands over her mouth.
"Sylock! Where are ya!?" Courtney shouts as well, doing the same motion as Ada's. The two keep calling for their friends, their voices echoing into the nothingness. Footsteps pressing the grasses down with uneasiness, the two girls stopping in the tracks and sighing.
"Shit...How did we get separated from them?" Ada asks, laying her hand onto her head. "We were all together not too long ago. And I was behind Ramon as well." She shakes her head. "Hmm…"
Courtney folds her arms, looking up at the dark leaves. "Huh...You truly can get lost in the woods that used to be joyful." Ada looks at Courtney as a leaf detaches itself from the trees, falling with elegance. "The woods that used to be serene...Very brightly lit, too…" Courtney hangs her hand out. "And now…" The dark red leaf lands onto her hand, curling up as if to shield itself. "It's all mellowed out. Gone." Courtney sighs before looking back at Ada. "It's sad what these woods have become, ya know?"
Ada blinks for a moment, raising her brow. "Clarify."
"Hmm?"
"About Gloomy Woods." Ada gets close to the Lopunny. "Did it not look like this before?" Courtney shakes her head. "Huh...How did it become this way then? To the point where someone can easily get lost."
"..." Courtney grips the side of her arm, dropping the leaf. "There's no point in hiding how I truly felt about this place, huh?"
"...What?"
Soon, roaring and growling sparks the two's attention, bushes rustling in front of them. Two Defects emerge from the bushes: One being an yellow humanoid-like creature with a brown armor-like chest while another is an blue bipedal-like creature with a giant mouth hanging open. Courtney slowly gets her sword out, backing away. Ada forms her purple claws, the Alakazam twirling its spoons as the Exploud brings its fist to the palm of its hand.
Courtney squints her eyes. "I'll explain later. Right now, we have these two to worry about."
"Got it."
. . .
Clittering. Jittering.
Mesmeren presses her hand against her face, her teeth clanging up and down nonstop. She eyes around, lowering her ears and trembling. "M-Mm…" She murmurs, stroking her chest before her lips squirm.
Ramon squints at the dark abyss of the woods, turning his head from one side to the next. The Drowzee is close to him, her arms suddenly wrapped around his head. The Zorua blushes. Does she have to cling to me like this? She's...bigger than me. I think we even look awkward this way while walking. Silence rises between the two, nothing but the footsteps of grasses can be heard. "...So-"
Snapped comes the twig as Mesmeren screams, hugging the Zorua's head. Ramon flinches and yelps himself, gasping in the lockjaw. Mesmeren looks at the headlock and lets go of Ramon. He gasps for that glorious air. "I-I'm sorry. I...This place scares me m-more after we got separated fr-from the others…" She pokes her fingers together.
"It's...fine. I understand, considering I have no clue where the others are, either." The two continue walking. The Zorua whimpers. "Justin! Ada! Where are you guys!?" No response. Ramon lowers his head and sighs. "I hope they're okay…"
Mesmeren eyes the Zorua, pressing her hands against her chest. Melancholy forms within her eyes. He looks so down about his friends, she thinks. I-I'll see if I can enlighten the subject a bit… "...Y-You know, my pare-" The Drowzee's eyes widens before she stops in her place, gritting her teeth. Y-YOUR WHAT!? She trembles. WHY WOULD YOU USE THEM AS A WAY TO ENLIGHTEN THE MOOD, ME!?
"'You know?'" Ramon stops, turning around. "What do you mean by that? I never knew about what you'll tell me until now."
Per-Perfect opportunity to change the subject completely. "I-I mean, it's a way to start a conversation."
"Oh...Wasn't really familiar with that."
Hopefully he doesn't bring up what I was about to-
"Were you going to say parents, by the way?" Ramon asks, tilting his head.
...Too late. Mesmeren shifts in place, looking off to the side. "Y-Yeah. I was...going to say that my parents would tell me to hum while twirling around."
"Huh?"
"It's bizarre, I know. But it helps calm me down whenever I get lost." Mesmeren smiles meekly. "Y-You should give it a try."
Ramon looks off to the side, shifting in place. "I suppose I don't mind doing that." He looks down, chuckling in a nervous manner. "Yeah...Maybe I should stand on twos for this." He gets on his hind paws to stand on twos. He then turns himself around in place. "Hmm hmm hm-" Ramon falls on his back. "Oof!" Mesmeren presses her hands against her snout and giggles. Ramon looks at the Drowzee before laughing himself, standing on all fours again. "That wasn't my best humming twirl attempt."
"T-To be fair, I haven't shown you how to do it properly."
"I see. Well, at least I tried to pull it off, right?"
Mesmeren stares at the Zorua for a moment, gripping her chest a bit before nodding. "Y-Yeah. You're right."
"What's your humming twirl?"
Mesmeren's face reddens from the question, the tapir backing away. "Wh-What!?"
"...Is it wrong for me to ask?" Ramon looks up at Mesmeren in concern, the tapir looking off to the side with melancholy. "You don't have to show it to me if you don't want t-"
"N-No...It's fine. I'll show it to you."
"Are you sure?"
Mesmeren closes her eyes and smiles, her hands behind her back. "I-I'm certain." She stands on one foot, keeping her eyes closed. Ramon watches with interest, sitting down. The Drowzee starts spinning herself around, humming an ecstatic tune. She then comes to a complete halt, opening her eyes and shaking her hands. "Tada!"
The Zorua wags his tail. "Ah, impressive."
Mesmeren strokes the side of her arm, looking off to the side. "N-Not really. Anyone could do it."
"At least you found your way to remain calm, thanks to your parents," Ramon says, smiling.
Mesmeren bites her lower lip, shaking. "...I-I guess so…" The Drowzee then looks back at Ramon. "Hey, um…" Mesmeren wiggles in place, fiddling with her fingers. "Do you remember any sort of hobbies you like to do?"
"Hmm?"
The two continue walking forward. "I...know that you've lost your memories and all because of the Prospective incident, b-but surely you know something from your past li-life that you like to do, ri-right?"
"Hmm…" Ramon looks up at the trees, raising his brow.
Mesmeren leans closer to the Zorua. "N-Nothing you can think of?"
"...Well," the Zorua turns towards the Drowzee, smiling. "I do enjoy learning new things as a part of my hobby. Such as the humming twirl thing earlier."
"O-Oh…" Mesmeren blushes, looking off to the side.
"Perhaps learning has always been something I'm into, even before losing my memory."
"Th-That's good to gain interest in." The tapir smiles back in a shy manner.
"Speaking of memory, do you know why Conjure was after you? Or you still don't know?" Ramon asks.
Mesmeren shakes her head. "St-Still have no clue…"
"I see, then…"
"Although…" Mesmeren stops in her path. "I did hear them saying something about 'there's one of mistress' dream targets.'"
Ramon stops and looks at the Drowzee, straight face ensues. "What."
Mesmeren gives him the same look. "I don't know if they said that as some sort of pun or what." She sighs. "Wh-Whatever they meant by that phrase, I'm...certain it's not good. I'm not even sure who this mistress person they're talking about. It's...bizarre."
"Agreed…"
Silence springs into the air for a brief moment, nothing but the two's footsteps and the ambient woods can be heard. Then, Mesmeren continues to speak. "B-By the way, Ramon…"
The Zorua looks at Mesmeren. "Hmm?"
"...Th-Thank you for listening to what I have to say…" The Drowzee twirls her fingers around, moving her lips up in a shaky manner.
Ramon blinks for a moment before nodding, smiling back. "You're wel-"
SWOOSH!
A large, white bone swings between the two Pokémon. "AH!" Mesmeren screams, jumping to the side along with Ramon. She falls onto her back while Ramon slides across the grass, gritting his teeth.
"What in the world was tha-ACK!" The fox is thrown into the air by an unknown foot, slamming against a tree behind him.
"RAMON!" Mesmeren shouts before staring ahead, her eyes widening and shaking in place. She covers her mouth, trembling.
"Who...did…" Ramon's ears twitch to the slamming of a foot, blinking in response. He gradually lifts his head up, the decaying black cloak shifting to the side in front of him. He stops and gazes at the familiar red eyes of death, the cloaked figure's blue ears poking out. He lifts his Bone Rush up as Ramon strokes the grass, shaking to his core. "...That."
The cloaked individual swings his bone down.