Location: Prehistoric Ruins B8th floor

So, a warp trap separated me from the group, and I ran into Eris disguised as a Pangoro. I was overjoyed and relieved to see she was alright after she dropped her illusion disguise, but she pressed a claw to my mouth to silence me. She simply handed me a Luminous Orb and said to smash it on the ground when she gave the signal in a couple of floors. I was a little confused, but she reactivated her illusion and winked at me before walking off in another direction.

I...okay? What was that about?

Part of me found it funny she chose a Pangoro for a disguise. Made me think of Pancham and how Eris might've looked like his mom. Never met the Pangoro, so I can't say for sure. Heh. Little snot can only wish he had a mom as cool as Eris. Although...I won't lie, it's sad to think he's probably a cold stone statue now...

It took a bit of time, but I eventually found Lyra again. She looked a bit uneasy...I wondered if Eris dropped by and gave her a Luminous Orb too, but thought it'd be better not to say anything. Just writing about it makes me nervous. Have I blown our plan already?

We still need to find Yemer before we can proceed to the next floor. Onward we go.

Location: Road to Primeval Forest Entrance

It wasn't long before Yemer led us to the bottom floor of the ruins and we entered a large room. The room's structural integrity was weaker than on previous floors – we could hear water dripping from the ceiling. Made sense. That room was beneath the ruins, the Submerged Cave, and the ocean. Probably wouldn't last two more years before the water and weight of the previous floors caused a cave-in.

Lyra was confused. The room was certainly big, but there didn't appear to be any tree down here. Where was the Tree of Life, exactly...?

I looked up at the leaking ceiling. No sunlight could possibly reach these depths. No tree could survive down here.

...

I felt a pit form in my stomach. He...he really...

Yemer was saying how strange it was since he was sure he heard of it being here. I told him enough was enough and turned to face him. There was obviously no tree, and even if it had been here it wouldn't have survived for long anyway. If he was gonna deceive us, could he just drop the act so we could get to the disappointing part already?

He stared at me blankly for a bit before laughing lightheartedly.

"If you truly thought this was a trap, then why come here?"

To give you a chance, remember? The one chance to prove you're a friend and not a foe. Trap or no, I was really hoping that you...

I guess "Yemer" joining us was just a pipedream after all.

Lyra wasn't very happy either. If she were burning any hotter, I probably woulda seen steam rising off her crown.

"I may not have trusted you much, but I did believe in you a little bit! I thought you might be telling us the truth about Irau's memory and all, but the whole time! You've just been leading us on, is that it? What could you hope to gain!?"

Yemer said he didn't have anything to gain from this. Lyra was flustered and confused. He said this is a trap, but not just for us. For him, too.

At this point, whether we believed him or not was irrelevant. He said Nuzleaf had told him the Tree of Life was here after he broke free from Dark Matter's control, but before he betrayed them.

Oh. Yeah, that made sense. Nuzleaf and the other Beheeyem were connected to Dark Matter, so they'd notice if any of their colleagues weren't. In that instance, wouldn't it have been wiser to take the information given with a pinch of salt?

I...ooh. Looking back on it, I guess it was partially my fault too. If I'd mentioned how a tree couldn't survive down here while exploring the Submerged Cave, maybe Yemer would've realized Nuzleaf lied to him and we would've changed course. However, at the time I believed Yemer was intentionally leading us into a trap. Calling him out on it might've spooked him, made him run, or triggered an ambush, or...something. At the time, I couldn't have known he wasn't in on it.

At this point, I was still baffled it wasn't Yemer's trap we were lured into. He...we were so...I was so sure he'd betray us, but he didn't. I gave him a chance to prove he was friend or foe, and he didn't fail. He was lured along with us. He knew we didn't trust him, but he only did what he thought was right the entire time regardless.

...

Arceus, I am SUCH A BITCH!

Anyway, that moment wasn't the time for self-loathing. Nuzleaf must've known Yemer would betray them eventually, so he lied to lure us here. Just as I was theorizing what purpose that could serve, the traitorous bastard's voice echoed around the room, mockingly thanking Yemer for explaining that for him before he showed up in full swing with the other two Beheeyem.

"It's just like you reckoned, Beheeyem. There ain't no Tree of Life here. You...rotten, filthy traitor!"

Yemer's eyes fell to the floor. I felt my anger spike. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Fuck you, Nuzleaf.

He never did believe that we would figure out a way outta being turned to stone. He didn't know how we wrangled it, but it hardly mattered anyway. He'd send us back to the Voidlands all the same!

Lyra cut in, admitting he sure had everyone fooled. Me, her, and everyone in Serene Village. Why though? Why do it!?

Ugh. Nuzleaf's disgusting grin widened. He asked if she truly wanted to know why, and if she was serious.

"You mean you ain't heard it from that Beheeyem right there beside you?"

Lyra glanced back at Yemer, who refused to make eye contact with us. She then said that we asked, but all he would tell us was that it had something to do with my memories.

Nuzleaf said he figured we'd know the whole sorry tale by now, but Yemer's apprehensive grimace made him raise an eyebrow. Then his eyes lit up in sick delight as he realized something. He said he didn't blame Yemer for not wanting to admit to what he'd done and told him to let him do the talking. Yemer looked terrified and visibly gulped.

Nuzleaf then confirmed my theory. The reason I lost my memories was because Yemer erased them. Naturally, Lyra was utterly shocked and gaped at him, but I was...I mean, he...I should've expected that, right? I theorized that was the case, but getting confirmation that that's what legitimately happened...

I guess...I wasn't really mad or shocked. Just...disappointed. I mean, I hate to sound like a parent who just discovered their kid stole something they couldn't return, but that's what I felt. And disappointment seemed like a better-suited emotion for the situation than hostile anger. Yemer was staring at the ground, his face twisted in guilt and sorrow. He was probably beating the hell outta himself already. Did he really need me to add to that? He was probably expecting me to.

Part of me wondered if he saw my memories before they were erased and knew that they weren't worth keeping anyway. Even so, they were my memories – experiences I had that made me the person I was. To have that portion of my life blank...to be the person I am and not know how...

It wasn't fair. It wasn't right.

"Irau..."

Lyra and I turned back to face Nuzleaf, and I mentally groaned as I saw the stupid smirk on his face. He rubbed his hands together, his excitement barely contained. He was gonna relish telling us his sinister plot, and we'd have to listen to the whole thing. I couldn't afford zoning out this time. I'd miss important details.

Ugh. We didn't even have a popcorn maker down here. Was that why he lured us? To trap us and make us suffer through his drivel?

Don't get me wrong, I wanted to know and finally get answers, but Nuzleaf looked a little too eager to lay out his plans for us. Almost as if he never gets the chance to do so, and finally having a captive audience was such a rare treat.

We really weren't gonna be in for a good time, so I decided to put this whole operation on pause and held up a vine to cut him off.

Listen, evil traitor douche, I know you're about to drop a whole lotta stuff on us and finally give some answers that I've been wanting, but uh...we had to go through a lotta crap to get outta the Voidlands, and we just journeyed through two underwater Mystery Dungeons and haven't slept in Arceus-knows-how-many days. In fact, the last time we properly rested was, like, 9 chapters ago. Any chance we could maybe get an intermission before we settle in for the rest of the show? I kinda gotta go to the bathroom, and Lyra wants stuff from the snack bar. Yemer's also complaining about wanting another soda.

Lyra turned her popcorn bucket upside down and emptied the unpopped kernels into the garbage. "Never lasts beyond the previews..."

Nuzleaf relented, saying he reckoned that was fair considering he and the other two Beheeyem didn't get a chance to finish their lunch break before we arrived. Alright, bathrooms are off to the side, ladies on the left, gentlemen on the right. Everyone needs to be back in the room in one hour, alright?

INTERMISSION START

A/N: Remember to take a break! Lord knows the game likes reminding me of that -_-