I descend the stairs and look around. This time there is no elaborate scene from my past, and I'm still aware I'm in the Ruins. Maybe the dungeon somehow realizes that approach isn't working, I think, feeling just a bit destabilized by the thought. I've never been in a place as strange as this…it couldn't be partially conscious somehow…could it?

Right now I'm just in a regular old room that matches the rest of the dungeon—stone walls, stone floor, no windows, etc.

I must say, I wouldn't hire the interior decorator for my home.

It's all very samey, except for one small detail. In the middle of the room stands Stephanie in her fennekin form, and she does not look pleased.

I brace myself, try to remind myself of where I am, and that this, in all likelihood, can't actually be Stephanie. There's no way she could've got here, let alone passed me to reach here first. I look around for some stairs, but don't see any sign of them.

"Gwen, we need to talk," she says. For Arceus' sake, it sounds just like her. "I'm actually in the middle of something, but if we can talk later—" "no Gwen, now." She says firmly, blocking my path.

I level a glare at her—it. Don't forget, it's not really her! "Ok. What." I say, gritting my teeth.

She—it—studies me for a moment, searching my eyes, then, "I know you know this isn't really Stephanie…after all, how could she be here? How could she do this?" The shape says, transforming into her human form. "Stephanie…" I breathe, taken aback. No! Still not her! Remember, it's just the dungeon trying another tactic! I back away from whatever entity this is.

"But consider this…after everything you put her through in this world…even if you get out of here in one piece…why should she stay with you?" The dark words wrap around my heart. This place…being here…I'd have to be blind to not notice the strain it's put on our relationship. It's been…an incredible test of our strength. The type of test most couples mercifully don't have to endure.

"Why, even you being here? In this dungeon? Have you any idea what it's putting her through? The fear? The anger? You chose Delcatty over her, after all," her human face sneers at me, an expression incongruent with her normally cheerful features.

Did I? Choose Delcatty over her? Over everyone? I wrack my brain, trying and failing to remember. The dungeon…it's messing with my memory…these are things I should know the answers to. "Face it," the figure continues, drawing closer as I continue backing away, "she'd never have you back now, even if you came back whole, unlike your friend. You should let go, just let the dungeon take you. It's not so bad, being here when you're not fighting every moment. You can finally get relief from this…get some rest. You know you want to."

It sounds so simple to stop fighting. How easy it would be to just…stop.

~no! You can't stop! Keep going! Find the stairs and GO!~

The voice jolts me to attention. I look at 'Stephanie' again, her features twisting into something unrecognizable.

"You're wrong," I say, standing firm, trying to force my memories back into place, "coming here…it wasn't just for Delcatty, it was to protect Stephanie too! Hoopa made me make that choice!" The figure recoils, like it's not used to being talked back to. "And Stephanie and I…maybe this is too much for our marriage, but…maybe it's not! I'll never know unless I keep trying! For her, for Elliot, for everyone!" The figure smiles, a sweet, sickly thing, then approaches. I make an effort to stand my ground.

"Have it your way, keep trying. I'll get you, one way or another." A shiver runs down my spine, and with that, the figure vanishes into a swirl of shadows, leaving a staircase in its wake.

I take a few steadying breaths. Whatever that thing was…was it the entity somehow controlling this dungeon? Showing me my fears? How many floors does this place have, anyway? Does it end, or does it just let you out when you've finally surrendered yourself?

No, stop that. I may be stuck in here with that thing, but it's also stuck with me. I'll keep going, floor after floor, all the way to the bottom. There has to be an end to it. I'll just have to take it as it comes, because honestly, what else can I do?

So I go forward, down the next flight of stairs, into the next challenge.

—

Coming down the stairs, bracing myself for whatever games the dungeon has in store, honestly the last thing I was expecting was a grimmsnarl crying in the corner of the next room.

Of all the psychological games so far…I just don't know. What the heck is this? There are no visible stairs, so whatever it is, it looks like I'm expected to deal with it first.

His back is facing me—I don't think he knows I'm here. Probably can't hear my footsteps over his own sobs. I approach slowly, cautiously, waiting for something to jump out of nowhere, attack me, whatever, but there's nothing.

"Um…excuse me? Are you…alright?" The crying abruptly stops and he whirls around.

"Mommy?" He says, before appearing to recognize me, expression going dark. Ah, of course. I should've known. The last floor was about Stephanie, this time it's evidently Elliot.

In a moment, he looms over me. "You!" He breaths furiously. I remind myself where I am, who this is—and isn't. "Me! What is this, are you supposed to be Elliot? Looks like I missed a growth spurt or two," I say with irritation. No reason why I should pretend to be scared for the dungeon's sake. I wonder if I could annoy my way out? Might make it decide it's not worth the bother and just let me through, especially if the alternative would be my spirit staying here forever.

Somehow I doubt my brilliant scheme would actually work.

I regard my opponent again, who looks hurt and bewildered. 10/10 acting going on here. "I-I am Elliot…time…it's different here, you know! For you it's evidently been short, but out there? You've been gone for years. We waited and waited…and you never came back."

I consider his words, screwing my eyes shut. No…it's a trick of the dungeon, it has to be…don't let it win! But…but how would I know for sure about the passage of time here? Delcatty was only gone for a short time, but she seemed to have aged so much. I assumed it was the stress, but…could it have been the dungeon? Can time…really work differently in here?

But…no, it has to be a lie. This can't be Elliot. I shake my head, backing away.

"I came down here looking for you…I know what you did!" He continues animatedly. I work to steady my breathing before giving my reply, "ok, tell me, what did I do?" "You kidnapped me all those years ago! You and that fennekin! You did something to my moms…took me and their pokemon! I know it!" He cries.

I thought I had the upper hand, but this strikes a surprising blow. I had been worried about how he was taking…well everything…and in a moment of panic, I had worried he thought we might have snatched him away from his parents—us. "No…no you've got it all wrong. You see what you are? A pokemon? Your mama and I…we got transformed too! See? I'm mommy!" "No! I don't want to hear your lies!" He says, winding up an attack.

For coming into a mystery dungeon, I failed to consider actually needing to…y'know, fight. My movepool is no more impressive now then it was back when I was last in this world. I vaguely recall knowing Scratch.

"If that was true, you'd never lead me to believe otherwise! You'd tell me!" "We tried! But you were so little! You couldn't understand!" I cry, dodging a Dark Pulse.

~remember Gwen…it isn't real…it's—~

The voice is cut off when a Sucker Punch lands, flinging me sideways. Not real? These moves feel pretty real. I cough, struggling to get to my feet.

"You brought me here! Did this to me! You're going to pay! Just like that fennekin!" No…no he wouldn't do anything to Stephanie…he wouldn't…

Because he wouldn't do anything like this at all.

The thought comes with surprising clarity. This…thing attacking me. It's not my Elliot. It couldn't be. Not the one who makes friends with everyone around him, tries to cheer us up when we're down, brings light into all our lives. Not the one who tried to stop my tears despite, in his mind, not even knowing who I am.

I grip tightly to my moment of lucidity, refusing to let it go. Another attack lands, and another. "No…it's…not…real," I breathe through gritted teeth. "Huh?" He stops in front of me, confused. I stand shakily, "you're…not…REAL!" I scream.

The shape wavers, hurt spread across its face, then disappears entirely. Stairs appear where it stood.

~well done Gwen! Keep going~

The voice encourages me onward, so I'll go onward. But…in a moment. I'm still shaking…reeling from the encounter. Real or not…it felt real enough. Seeing my fears unfold…living them…I hate to admit it, but it's wearing me down.

~but you're getting through them! If this is the worst case scenario…it shows you can handle it!~

Maybe, although if my adult son really was accusing me of kidnapping him, harming his parents, and attacking me? I probably wouldn't be screaming about him not being real.

Well, I've caught my breath, that's enough waiting around. I unwillingly drag myself down the next flight of stairs.