Location: Reverse Mountain Base
These legendaries are assholes.
As we were catching our breaths and Mawile thanked them for saving us, Entei started shit-spewing, saying they only saved us because they, "judged you necessary to make our escape from this place."
They explained that they knew of the ancient writing at Revelation Mountain's summit, and that "the human" was necessary in stopping this crisis. Then, they droned on about the mysterious power our scarves hold, how we temporarily evolved at Fire Island Volcano, and Raikou said something about how we're gonna be the pawns they sacrifice to leave this place and yada yada yada.
Dude, enough of the fuckin' tsundere act. Just accept the damn gratitude and move on already. You just said you know a human is needed to stop this crisis, so unless you're gonna stand on your hind legs and tip your top hat to bid us adieu, you're not sacrificing me to jack shit. Whether you egotistical fuckfaces like it or not, you need me escaping this realm to guarantee this crisis ends or your dumb asses are just gonna get sent back here.
Raikou blackmailed us, saying our lives belong to them now since they saved us from the Void Shadows. Honestly, I wanted to punch his stupid face with fists I didn't have. Where the fuck do these cretins get off acting all big and mighty just because they are big and mighty?
Ugh. However, loathe as I feel to admit it, they are three legendary beings. They outnumber us, and even if our scarves activated and we evolved again, I don't think we'd successfully beat all three of them at once. I mean, Suicune and Entei alone would wipe the floor with me...
So, we're doing what they want. And right now, they want us to scale Reverse Mountain and reach the summit. Apparently, that's the only place in this realm that leads back to our world.
I...hm...I don't know about this. Surely Nuzleaf and Yveltal didn't think to just leave such a vital place out in the open, right? I mean, their whole plan relied on everyone staying turned to stone, so if a random stone victim just happened to discover that after a curiously-shaped mountain blocked their way...surely Dark Matter would've made them build an impenetrable fortress atop the mountain to prevent others from getting back, right?
Okay, so this might be a trap. But with three legendary Pokémon breathing down my neck, what choice have I got? Least they'll be helping me as we scale this mountain instead of just being three giant deadweights.
Alright. Let's do this.
Location: Reverse Mountain 6F
The legendary trio were quiet as we were ascending the mountain, and even acted like normal traveling companions. They easily dispersed the fake dungeon Pokemon, they let me do things the way I saw fit, and they tolerated me shoving them up to enemies so Lyra and I didn't have to fight. Despite their attitudes, they were more tolerable exploration companions than Archen!
...
Ugh. I know, okay? I know that was uncalled for and uncool. Archen has so many disabilities and has to try harder than most and all that jazz. I know that was a terrible thing to write, especially after what happened with him and the others. But...it's what I thought, okay? I knew better than to voice that thought, but that didn't stop me from thinking it. Does that make me a terrible person?
...
No. No, I don't think it does.
Learning of Archen's issues after the fact doesn't negate the annoyance or irritability he instilled in Lyra and me before. And those limitations don't justify acting like an obnoxious douchebag, but he did anyway. I'm sure Mawile and the others just silently tolerated it because they knew it relieved some anger and frustration on his end, but that doesn't mean they found it any less annoying. Maybe a small part of them found it endearing as well. It's part of who Archen is.
I have no reason to think that's the truth, but I like to think it is. If not, now's not the time to talk about it. To Mawile, that is. Lyra, on the other hand...heh. We talk about everything. You think I'm gonna let this thought slip by without asking her if she was thinking the same? Don't be ridiculous, you silly Miltank!
I'm gonna show her this line and have her write her answer.
Hey, Lyra! This is a horrible thing to bring up, but I wanna get your two Pokes on it. Do you think the legendaries are strangely easier to tolerate exploration-wise than Archen?
Answer: Oh, they are easier to tolerate! That's...sorta the point though.
I talked to Ampharos about that the day after our mission with Archen in the Mystical Forest, and he told me that Archen acts like that on purpose. He's not actually that obnoxious or demanding, but he acts like that for different reasons depending on who he travels with.
If Archen is traveling with close friends or family, he does it jokingly to remind them that there are others who unjokingly act like that. If he's traveling with experienced Society coworkers, he acts more like a bratty child to engage his coworkers in conflict resolution. Again, he does it more in good humor and doesn't do it if it's deemed inappropriate. With newbies (aka, us), he does it humorlessly to help them (us) prepare for...well, situations like ours where we have to travel with unpleasant companions. Whatever he said or did to annoy us would probably be something we had to deal with again, except the person doing it wouldn't be a beloved Expedition Society companion. If we faced that situation, he wanted to prepare us for it.
So, the legendaries are easier to tolerate, Irau. Archen put that example of him being annoying into your head deliberately. Just means he succeeded! Wasn't that super sneaky of him? :) Just another way he was looking out for us!
And besides, even if he was acting like that deliberately...that's just one side of him. A lot of things weren't going in his favor that day. It was the day after the sleepover, so he was probably tired. He had to shill out extra money to get us passes and ended up unintentionally buying the wrong ones. He had to let us tag along for a serious mission...I can't imagine how much stress he felt :(
Ampharos said that bossy demanding side isn't really Archen, but even if it was I'd be okay with that. Everyone has their bad side, but they have their good sides too!
And before you start beating yourself up too much, there's nothing shameful about thinking such things Irau :) You're not an asshole.
Heehee, Lyra's writing is so cute. She even doodles on the sides, writes little faces, and curves her letters in fun ways.
So, Archen wasn't being legit when he squawked at us that day? Huh...I uh...I gotta say, I'm impressed. Guy barely talked to me, and he knew exactly how to get under my skin during that expedition. Then both he and Bunnelby knew exactly what to say when Lyra and I felt like nobody was in our corner. So, Archen knew how to be annoying and supportive when the times were right.
Heh. Just like a true brother. I...I really hope he's alright. I hope they're all...
...
Sorry, got distracted. Lyra's right though, I'm not an asshole.
You know who is, though? Freaking Raikou.
After traveling up Reverse Mountain for a while, we came across a room with more ancient runes and he started ordering Lyra around. What he could've said was, "Hey, little Torchic, read that ancient writing on the wall over there." That would've been demanding, but somewhat civil and clear. What he said instead was, "You. Read." Like a toddler learning to form sentences one word at a time. Sheesh.
Anyway, according to Lyra's translation, the person who left the messages behind didn't possess the strength necessary to defeat the countless Void Shadows that awaited us at the mountain's summit, so they decided to wait for Dark Matter to...well...stop, I guess. While they waited, they "prepared for the future", whatever that meant. Maybe they decided to write other messages in other places, I dunno.
The message also linked Dark Matter to the celestial bodies, though it wasn't exactly clear how they were connected. Mawile offered her own theory that sometimes Dark Matter becomes active, and other times it stops. The writer must have known that it was about to stop, so they waited for their chance to escape. She went on to say that those in the past were worried about our era too, so they prepared for when it became active again.
One such preparation was the sealing of the Luminous Water spring atop Revelation Mountain with the barrier that could only be unsealed by a human.
...oh.
Raikou was quick to turn on me, pissed that I was, "outwitted by the likes of Nuzleaf and Yveltal! We're here because of your foolishness!"
You fell for it too, you dickweed! Least Nuzleaf had to use an elaborate paternal ruse to fool me. Dude didn't even know you and look how easily you fell for it! Sure as fuck didn't see you strike him down when you arrived on the scene to fight Krookodile!
Entei went on to ask if the stars were aligned properly to make Dark Matter stop, but Mawile said we had no way of knowing how long it had been active and how long it would take for it to stop. She asked if he'd been hoping this crisis would solve itself if we just waited here, and he growled at her saying he hadn't been hoping anything. He then reminded us that we're just tools to them and yelled at us to know our place.
Seriously, what is their damn problem? They're as much to blame for being here as we are. Not like they stopped me from destroying the barrier at the time. Hell, I freaking hesitated on doing so and only caved when everyone screamed at me. If anyone's to blame, it's everyone else and their bullshit peer pressuring.
...
Ugh, what am I saying? I'm getting all defensive over something I know...well, no, I don't believe that. I was gonna say "over something I know isn't my fault," but that wouldn't be right. It is my fault. I should accept my portion of the blame, and I do. But it's like...although I'm partially to blame, I shouldn't be taking the full weight of what happened. It feels as if I'm getting attacked from all sides for what happened, but I only did what I did because everyone else pressured me into it. As such, shouldn't we all accept the part we played in the situation?
No, apparently not. Fuck Irau. It's all her fault. I mean, breaking the barrier was everyone else's idea, but she's the one who actually did it. It's all her fault everything's fucked now, so let's all hop on the "Screw You, Irau" bandwagon.
Lyra could tell I was upset, and she...she did something she really didn't need to, but it was wholesome and it made me feel a little better. As I was making the rounds and talking to everyone (my norm before entering a Mystery Dungeon, I like to know where everyone's head is at), Raikou started saying this was all my fault once more. However, Lyra stepped in and said if he wanted to blame anyone, blame her. She was part of the trio that pressured me into smashing the barrier, after all.
Nuzleaf obviously holds the most blame, but he's not here. Archen's to blame too, but he was taken by the Void Shadows. Obviously, I was to blame for smashing the barrier, but it was through their coercion that I did. It'd be irresponsible of her to not accept her part in it. So, you wanna shout someone? Shout at Lyra.
Mind you, this was Lyra herself saying these things.
Raikou glared at us and huffed as he turned back to his group. Lyra watched all smiley as I fumbled to show my appreciation.
I...jeez...she didn't need to do that. I said that already, but she...she really didn't have to. I would've been fine eventually, and right now we were better off quietly appeasing these egotistical clods instead of provoking them. But I couldn't find it in myself to diminish that act of kindness.
Lyra, she really...man. She just...and I didn't...Arceus. Lost for words, I decided to just hug her.
It...there truly are no words for how incredible it feels to have someone on your side, even when it feels like nobody else is. I know we agreed to be there for one another way back when, but it never ceases to surprise me when she makes good on that promise. It never stops feeling incredible. She really is my little Lyra Star.
Lyra and Irau, together forever against the world :)
Location: Spoilers. You'll learn later.
Once we reached the summit, a dark swirly cloud above us dropped a couple Void Shadows that Raikou quickly eradicated. Once they vanished, a ray of light revealed a glowing light-blue door...for about two seconds before several more Void Shadows dripped down.
For the door to reappear, we simply had to defeat the Shadows, right? But then the nuisances decided to transform into Mega Tyranitar and two Mega Gengars.
The fight was ah...not hard at all. I mean, we had 3 legendaries and freaking Mawile on our team. Only way it coulda been easier was if we had Eris or if the Shadows hadn't transformed into Mega evolutions.
Anyway, more Void Shadows appeared before we could make it into the door and...I won't lie, it was awful tense! I mean, we were outnumbered. Even when Raikou zapped one, another immediately replaced it.
It was bad. We were running out of strength and time, and...and I was so exhausted. Who knew how long we'd been going at 110% for? How many days had it been since we were petrified? Lyra tried to help me up, but...then a glowing attack came from the legends! They...I think they used an Alliance! Before I could comprehend anything, Mawile kicked us over the remaining enemies and right in front of the door!
Suicune and Entei explained that they knew we wouldn't all make it back from the Voidlands, but they knew we were the key to saving the world. They made sure that we, the Evergreens, would make it back no matter what!
...Ugh! Can't the douchebags of this world be one-dimensional without ulterior motives or secret misunderstood sides? I wanna hate these guys unabashedly, dammit! I wanna have someone whose guts I utterly loathe!
I guess Nuzleaf can fill that role now...
Anyway, the door was starting to fade as more enemies appeared, so Lyra vowed that we'd find a way to save the others somehow and told them to never give up hope! Then we ran through the door together!
And here we are, on Revelation Mountain. Well, Lyra and I are descending the mountain as I'm writing this. See why I didn't reveal our location at the start of the entry? It woulda been a spoiler for the outcome of the adventure...though listing it as a spoiler kinda gave it away anyway.
When I first woke up, my entire body ached and I didn't feel like moving. I remember just laying on my side and staring at the grass bent around my face. The wind steadily flowed through, rustling the leaves of the countless trees surrounding the mountain. At first, I felt calm and serene, and even a little drowsy. I didn't mention this before, but there was no wind in the Voidlands unless one of the fake Pokémon used a wind-based move that affected the whole floor. To have it back and rhythmically brushing over me was really nice.
Everything was nice. The sunshine, the breeze, the smells and sounds...it was all so tranquil. No invasive thoughts or worries of what I'd do next. No anxieties. No fuss. No fear. Just me, the grass, the sun, the wind, and the leaves.
Then, my eyes wandered over to a certain unconscious Torchic and the statues surrounding her, and realization dropped on me like a 60-pound anvil.
We're back! We made it back!
I ran over to Lyra and helped her to her feet. She was calm and relaxed at first, like I was, but then she had the same sudden realization.
Maybe that was simply a side-effect of petrification recovery – our bodies were used to inactivity, so it took a bit to jumpstart our brains and catch up to what our...spirits? Sure, let's go with that. It took a bit to jumpstart our brains and catch up to what our spirits experienced in the Voidlands.
As she was coming to, Lyra looked around at the...corpses ain't the right word, more like...statues? Yeah, statues. Lyra looked around at the statues. Now that I had time to process things, there was something eerie about how calm everything was. Looking at the statues of Suicune and Archen, you'd never guess they were fighting for their lives or taken away by the Void Shadows. The soft breeze bent grass and rustled leaves as it dispassionately brushed the cold stone of our friends, allies, and Krookodile. Nature's indifference to the destruction and suffering of others feels so grotesque sometimes.
Anyway, Lyra rushed over to the Luminous Water spring and...yeah. Mawile was right. Nuzleaf and Yveltal wouldn't just leave it sitting there. All that remained was a sad, dry crater.
Without that water...the others...
Lyra stared at their statues for a while, then starting trembling and sobbing. I hugged her with my vines, but it didn't help.
"I...I was hoping...praying so hard that we were all gonna make it out of the Voidlands together."
...Dammit. She...she wasn't talking about the legendary trio and Mawile. She was talking about everybody. Bunnelby, Buizel, Dedenne, Archen. It was miraculous we were able to reunite with them in the Voidlands, but just as easily as we gained hope, we lost it. Who knows what kinda horrors they're facing now? It wasn't supposed to be like this. We were all supposed to make it out, not just us.
And the Voidlands...they're not a jolly walk through the park. You don't come out of a place like that the same Pokémon you went in. Combine that with Nuzleaf's betrayal, and...yeah. I don't know about Lyra, but I feel different. Perhaps...in a good way.
Angry. Deliciously heated and battle hungry. That's how I feel.
I know I wasn't so battle hungry before going to the Voidlands. If anything, I preferred a passive approach. Observing the situation and deciding the most peaceful solution. If conflicts arose, finding a way to sensibly compromise. Now I just wanna punch everything in the face. Mawile said Dark Matter's looking to possess the Tree of Life? Come at me, Scrub Lord, I'll fuck you up.
And enough of "adult" Pokémon telling us what we can or can't do. We've been strung along a path they decided for us and look where it's gotten us. We've been put through the wringer time and time again. We went through the Voidlands and came out the other side because some legendary Pokémon decided to put all their berries in one basket.
Fuckin' Voidlands!
We're ALIVE again!
Y'know what? We've been given a second chance at life, and it's time for a change.
I've been passive for far too long.
No more doubts.
No more second-guesses.
No more complacent silence.
If we're gonna save the world, we're doing it my way.
...and that meant cheering up Lyra first.
I told her how I felt and how I wanted to take charge from here on. She was fine relinquishing control, and she knew everyone was counting on us. She had been the one who promised them we'd find a way to help them, after all.
However, she didn't fully understand why. Why did the legendary trio leave their fates in her hands...er...talons? Why would anyone count on her? Me she understood, given my human history and the necessity of a human described in the ancient tablets. But her?
I told her some really inspiring things, but I can't remember the exact words so I'll write down what I can remember.
You don't give yourself enough credit. There are still many mysteries surrounding you, from why you can read ancient writing like it's nothing to the scarves you were wrapped in as a baby. More than that, though, you never give up.
Remember our school days when Pancham said that you "never know when to quit"? And remember the day after our fight when Pancham was mocking your dream of joining the Expedition Society, saying you wouldn't make it if the stunt you'd pulled the previous day was anything to go by? You were sad for a bit, but then you picked yourself right the fuck back up and said you'd show us all what you can do. Then when Pancham and Shelmet were kidnapped by the Litwicks and Solosis, you stepped up and insisted that we rescue them despite being the most afraid of ghost stories and haunted locations.
THAT is who you are. You are Lyra the motherfucking Torchic! The brightest star in the goddamn universe, and I will not let your light be dimmed because of some bullshit piece of garbage "Dark Matter" entity that wants to kill our world! Yes, our world. Hope you haven't gotten sick of me, cuz I ain't goin' nowhere. Do you understand me!?
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Then let's get the fuck off this mountain and get back to Lively Town!
Aaaaaand that's basically everything that happened up to this point. We're still descending the mountain (occasionally stopping to eat some food that we somehow brought back from the Voidlands Deposit Box, don't look too much into it). I wanna write how I feel about all this, but since we're on the move...yeah. I don't have a lot of time.
The village is fast approaching, so I'm gonna stop writing for now.