Insane World 108:

Insane Escapism

Fay closed her eyes, ready to embrace the stillness of the night.

The clearing was lit by the soft crackling campfire that formed the hearth of the group. An array of sleeping bags, camping supplies, sleeping Pokémon and humans.

Some of the sleeping ones were dead quiet, others had more trouble sleeping quietly and instead produced a low rumbling sound. The Zorua, especially, couldn't stay gave the scene around her one last look. She felt oddly at home with this group. Sure, every single one of them was weird, but in a good way.

She didn't mind spending her nights like this.

She rested her head against her trainer's leg, using the combination of his warmth and the blanket as a nice pillow.

The aura of everyone at the camp blazed like a calm bonfire, proving warmth and safety. A brief home.

There were only two exceptions. Dust's Aura that was more akin to a fire consuming itself, shifting and phasing through its natural boundaries, twisting infrequently, sometimes even fading before reigniting itself. Then there was Ash's Aura. His was like a forest fire.

Luckily, by now, Fay had learned to ignore their Aura signatures and avoid them from her perception.

Fay's eyes drifted up, to the boundless black sky.

A thousand little lights hung in the heavens, arranged in a chaotic pattern that made the sky feel both alive and completely hollow.

An endless ocean of stars, her mother had once called them.

She wondered how such a marvelous creation could exist. And if she'd ever got to see them up close. Be one of them, a shining star of pure Aura. A pure light that could defy all the dark.

Fay's thoughts began to slip. Her senses began to dull and a numbness began to overtake her.

However, right before she closed her senses off completely she felt something in the distance.

Three separate sources of aura.

However, without realizing it the little Riolu fell asleep.

It was later, she didn't know how much, when Fay's eye slipped open.

Something wasn't right.

There were hushed voices, movement.

Her instincts screamed at her to get up. To lash out and fight.

With great effort she suppressed those feelings. Instead she tried to slow down.

She tried to remember what Dust had told her to do in such situations.

Examine the situation. Evaluate the odds and then make a plan of action.

She closed her eyes, instead using her Aura senses to see around her. Immediately a sea of flickering flames surrounded her. However, three particular ones stood out.

She tried to focus on them.

Three people were standing very close to her. Auras she hadn't seen before. Wait, no, only 2 of them were Human signatures. The third aura belonged to a Pokémon.

She pointed her ears slightly, trying to catch what they were saying.

"Which one should we take?" One of the voices whispered. Despite the figures trying to keep it quiet, she could distinctly recognize this voice as belonging to a female human. It was really high pitched.

"Not Pikachu," This voice sounded more masculine than the other one. Still really feminine.

"How about the Aipom?"

"Not the Aipom," A third voice mingled itself into the conversation. "We did that two times before."

"Fine, we let's switch things up."

"Wait, one of them is still awake."

"No no no! We can't have that, Meowth, put it back to sleep."

Fay's eyes widened. She extended her claws and got ready to jump up but all of a sudden, her senses were overwhelmed.

The figure in front of her was giving off purple psychic waves. The wavy lights turned into a vortex. Fay tried to make sense of what she was seeing but it just seemed impossible; the patterns were indescribable; like a-

Fay's eyes snapped open! She got up and shook her head, trying to lose the lingering dizziness.

"Pika!"

Her eyes snapped to the side.

She tilted her head.

It was still dark out. The bonfire had died down to a small smoldering pit of fire. The surrounding area was still untouched. Judging the position of the moon, it was still very close to midnight. In front of the charcoal pit, Fay could see Pikachu, also awake.

The rodent slowly approached her. He slightly moved his tail towards her.

A lightning shaped lightning rod was carefully balancing a glass of water.

"Chu," Pikachu quietly offered her the glass.

"Oh, thanks." Fay took the glass and gulped it down.

As her thirst was quenched, the memories flooded back as well.

"What?!" She asked Pikachu.

While trying to keep his voice down, Pikachu began to explain. Finally, when he was done Fay only had one thing on her mind.

"Seriously?"

Pikachu shrugged.

She shook her head. "That's insane,"

Again, Pikachu shrugged.

So, Team Rocket coming in; trying to kidnap either him or his teammates from Ash was just a Tuesday for them.

It bothered Fay slightly how relaxed Pikachu was. It wasn't the first time Fay had seen an abduction; but it was the first time she saw someone being this 'chill' about it.

"...so…" Fay began, lightly tapping the ground. Still trying to wrap her head around the situation. "Shouldn't we wake up the others?"

"Pikachu…" Pikachu pointed at Ash's face. He walked over to it and then, out of nowhere. Continued to zap him.

Nothing happened.

Fay considered it a little bit worrisome that Pikachu prioritized a good night's sleep over rescuing Luna. On the other hand, if she was completely fine and Pikachu knew it.

Fay had to shake her head.

"You're really not bothered by this at all?"

Fay wondered why Team Rocket even bothered to steal Ash's Pokemon if they got rid of them everytime. Was it just some game to all of them? Was this world truly this insane?

"Pika." Pikachu sighed.

Then, its ears perked up. As if it was struck by a brilliant idea. A gleam came over the lightning creature.

Fay slightly backed away. She recognized that look. She had seen it multiple times, and everytime it appeared; insanity ensued.

"Chu?" He tilted his head, an innocent pout.

"No!"

Fay backed away, taking another step.

"..." Pikachu's eyes grew big, it began to puff up its red cheeks. As if it was about to cry.

"Not falling for your tricks!" Fay tried, though her resolve was breaking down quickly.

"No! I won't help you rescue Luna!"

"...Pika…" Pikachu sighed. His ears lowered.

Fay was going to regret this.

And 30 minutes later Fay found she was right.

She was already regretting this.

She should have just lied down, pretended not to notice Luna's abduction and then pretended to be surprised the next morning.

They would go on a silly rescue mission and all would be well in the end.

Now, she was trailing behind a Pikachu in the dark. Something her mom had always warned about.

The Pokémon in front of her was happily wagging his tail left and right, clearly not minding the stroll through the moonlit forest.

Fay, on the other hand, was terrified.

There were sounds coming from all around her; the quiet whistling of the wind. The sound of something moving between the bushes, the giggles of a hiding Ghost Type. The shadows' growing eyes watching her.

"Are you sure we are headed the right direction?!" Fay asked once again.

"Pika." The yellow mouse answered wearily.

"Just checking." Fay muttered.

Pikachu waved his tail, spinning it in a circle while giving her a determined grin.

Fay didn't doubt that Pikachu could hold his own, but still. Being out like this, without her trainer. It scared her a little.

Around them, the forest cleared up, thinning out into an open cliff side.

"Wow." Fay awed as she took a step forward.

The view was simply amazing.

Underneath her the woods stretched out for miles, forming a dark green blanket filled with potential beauty.

Even though it was night she could still see life bustling inside the forest. The Pokémon who were most active under the cover of the moon swiftly moved around. Kricketot and Hoothoot still moved around and about. Singing their own nocturnal song.

Above her, the entire canvas of stars stretched out into eternity. Lighting the sky on fire and turning it into a beacon of light.

In the far distance she could see a city, the lights faintl7y glowing. Like a soft candle. That must be their destination: Alamos Town.

Fay closed her eyes and focused on her Aura senses. Slowly she could feel the entire forest in front of her come to life.

A sea of tiny flames stretched out for miles. She could vaguely sense their emotions. They were all so peaceful.

"Pikachu?"

Fay turned her head to the left. A blush formed. She had completely forgotten about his presence. Or why they were there.

"Sorry, I was just lost in my thoughts." She shook her head. "Anyway, what now?"

Pikachu walked towards the ledge. Fay thought he was going to jump over it but he simply pointed his tail over the ledge.

Fay followed and looked straight down.

"Oh."

Underneath the cliffside was a small camp set up. Just a tent, a quenched campfire, some camping supplies carelessly tossed around and a wooden cage with one sleeping Kirlia.

She could sense that the humans were in the tent. The Pokémon was inside as well, a smaller one.

Both seemed asleep.

Fay pulled her head back up and looked at Pikachu.

"Okay, what now?"

Small little sparks began to flicker around his cheeks. A mischievous grin appeared.

"No." Fay said. "If you do that you'll wake up the entire forest. Besides, this is our rescue mission."

"Pika?" The rodent rubbed his head.

"We got to do this quietly."

Fay walked to the side of the cliff, trying to find the best angle to drop down from.

It was a 20 meter drop (66 feet), nothing too fancy but she wanted to do it stealthily.

She saw some rock formations that were about the right height.

"You know Quick Attack?" She asked Pikachu.

He nodded, still scratching his ears.

"Watch me." Fay bent her knees, aimed for the right angle and ran forwards. She felt the energy built up around her just as she took her first leap. Without making a sound, she released the energy.

A flash later and she was standing on a small platform, created by blunt rocks.

She aimed for the next rock, this one a little lower, and released more of the built up energy.

With 2 more of those jumps, she had found herself standing near the campsite.

She looked up and saw Pikachu carefully following her example, albeit a bit more clumsily.

Still, he managed to get down without a sound, and only his latest jump had overshot its target.

Fay walked towards the cage with the sleeping Kirlia. Making no sound as she did.

Pikachu trailed behind her, following her example.

The campsite was littered with stuff that had been carelessly thrown about. From socks to half finished meals and discarded technological equipment.

Fay reached the cage without too much trouble.

It wasn't exactly sturdy looking.

"Luna." Fay hissed.

Inside, Luna began to stir. She lazily opened her red eyes and gazed around until she found Fay looking at her through the bars.

{Fay!?} Luna practically yelled in her mind. {Why are you here!?}

She tilted her head. {And why is he here?}

Pikachu waved his tail.

"You were kidnapped." Fay said in a quiet tone. "But don't worry, we'll get you out of there."

Luna blinked.

{No no no no no!} Luna began pacing around the cage, rubbing her head. {No this wasn't what I wanted.}

Fay stared at Luna. "What?"

Luna turned to Fay. {No, Dust was supposed to rescue me! He would rescue me from these evil doers like a Knight in shining armor.}

"Chu?" Pikachu asked.

Fay deadpanned as well. "You are saying…"

Luna sighed before she suddenly disappeared with a flash.

She appeared next to the cage a single blink later. A deadpan expression on her face as well.

"..." Pikachu shook his head.

Fay as well was at a loss for words.

Luna just scowled. Though she had a small smile on her face she tried to hide.

Ultimately, she failed. A light giggle escaped from her. "Hahahahahaa."

Fay too, cracked a smile. She chuckled softly.

Luna looked at her, trying to keep her expression straight but again she failed.

Soon, the two Pokémon began to laugh out loud, unable to contain their joy.

All the while, Pikachu just watched as the two girls were overtaken by the infectious laughter.

The laughter grew louder and broke the nice quiet atmosphere.

It didn't go unnoticed. Sounds came from the tent.

"Huh?"

"Stop laughing in your sleep James!'

"Wasn't me!"

Luna looked at the tent. Fay could see her grin grow even wider.

The Kirlia closed her eyes. Purple energy began to bleed out from her eyes and horns.

Her eyes shot open, unleashing a wave of psychic energy right above the tent.

All of a sudden, a rain of water poured down on the tent. As if an invisible portal on the bottom of the sea had opened up above the campsite.

The downpour of water stopped just as easily as it appeared but the damage was done.

Screams erupted from the tent. Curses and other unholy words Fay doubted her mom would allow her to hear.

"Chu." Pikachu whispered. A small trace of lightning arced off his cheek and leaped over to the drenched campsite.

A second wave of curses and screams erupted.

{Let's go.} Luna smiled. She took Fay's paw and Pikachu's tail in her hands before again closing her eyes.

Abruptly the peaceful atmosphere returned as they found themselves a few meters away from their own camp.

Fay wasn't sure what she had exactly accomplished tonight. She just knew that her mom had been right.

Don't ever follow a strange Pokémon into the dark.

A/N And another chapter was finished and uploaded. I am getting faster, right? Anyway, happy pride month you all. And for the rest, happy Morbius month!

Well, I hope this chapter was good for ya all. I wanted to add at least one chapter between the Gym Battle and Alamos Town.

Anyway, get your backpacks ready.

There's an insane world waiting for us!

But while you're at it; let me tell you about today's sponsor. Me.

I have a youtube channel, I just uploaded a 30 second review of Pokémon Arceus and my top 10 Morbius quotes. The channel name is Captain Pointless. Use the code in the description to get 100% off your first video.

That's CAPTAIN POINTLESS on Youtube.

Chapter edited by Arxalier.

Thank you so much for me for sponsoring me. Thanks to people like me, I can continue to make great stories about slice off life eldritch horror.

(Reviews)

Thank ALL of you for the kind reviews! I want to thank you all personally but I don't want to bloat the chapter, instead; here's a review I felt all of you deserved to read.

Neovilus Alpheim:

please leave sand on my bed. i like it when booty itch because of it. also, imagine if someone can counter-troll by spamming random positive reviews each chapter... hmmmʖ

A: Please remove yourself from my reality.

-CaptainMoonShine-