Back in the Pokémon World
Everyone is stuffed from the celebration feast
Ace: - Whew, that was a good feast.
Max: - Glad you liked it
Rocky: - I know I did
Splat: - How are your wrists feeling?
Ace: - Better. Still a little sore, but thanks for resealing my wounds when they reopened
Splat: - No problem
Marie: - So who is going to clean this up flicks her paws in disgust at large party table entirely full of dirty dishes, most of which have food remanences, some of which include bones
Flynn: - I can help
Clover: - I'll assist as well
Teresa: - I'll help too
Marie: - Ok. Let's start taking these back to the kitchen
Clover: - Alright
Before any of them could start taking the dishes to the kitchen, a portal opens above the table. From the portal, everyone sees Nathan fly out, as well as a Pikachu and a Meowstic that no one knows or recognizes
The Pikachu and Meowstic both scream as they fall out of the portal, crashing onto the table of dirty plates. They both land uncomfortably, but not in too much pain, just impact pain
Pikachu (Ben): - Wakes up first, and see what he landed on, or rather, in Ew, ew, ew, EW, EW—continues his little rant while booking it off the table, tripping on many loose plates and food scraps
Meowstic (Kenny): - Are you al-? OH MY GOD, what is this?! Ew, gross! Also books it off the table, and meets up with the Pikachu
Pikachu (Ben): - What the hell did we land in?! It feels like I have grease all over my back and face.
Meowstic (Kenny): - You think that's gross?! Pulls something out of his tail I got drumstick bones in my tails! Flicks the bone to the side
Max: - Um, who are you two?
Meowstic (Kenny): - Pauses for a bit after hearing the Dewott speak, then looks around the table and eventually finds a Boltund that looks like Ace Well it looks like we may not need to search far- looks back at Nathan -but you could've dropped us in a cleaner spot, Nathan!
Ace: - Wait, how do you know Nathan?
Meowstic (Kenny): - Yup, that confirms it. You're Ace.
Ace: - How do you know my na- wait, that voice. Gets a short flashback of the moments before he left for the Pokémon World K-K-KENNY?!
Meowstic (Kenny): - Yup, that's me.
Ace: - If that's true, then- points over to the Pikachu –Ben?!
Pikachu (Ben): - Ehehe, hey bro
Ace: - Why are you two here?
Ben: - We were told by Nathan that you were in danger here, but it looks like you, and a bunch of other Pokémon, just finished stuffing your faces, considering that we were dropped onto what was left of your banquet there.
Nathan: - Sorry about that. I thought they had cleaned up already.
Kenny: - Pulls another bone out of one of his tails Well clearly, they haven't yet.
Ben: - How many bones are in your tails?
Kenny: - I don't know.
Splat: - Try flicking your tails
Kenny: - Flicks his tails, and all but 1 bone shoots onto the ground, and he pulls out the last one. Flicks his tails again, and no more bones appear. That should do it, but we should get cleaned up, since we're both also covered in the juices of whatever meat that was.
Ben: - Also feels like grease was on those plates
Ace: - Wait, back up. You came because Nathan told you I was in danger? Of what?
Kenny: - Yes, he did, but he didn't say what it was, so we came to this world for nothing
Ben: - Hey, it wasn't nothing. We got to see that my brother was alright
Kenny: - Well yeah, but we only decided to come here because Nathan said he was in trouble, so false alarm I guess
Ben: - So what you're saying is that you think us coming here was meaningless?
Kenny: - That is exactly what I'm saying
Ben: - thinks he's out of earshot, but isn't Like how Ace's Pokémon Sword save became meaningless after I deleted it?
Kenny: - !
Ace: - Dark aura starts to form and his eyes flash red I'm sorry, Ben. What did you just SAY?!
Kenny: - Sees Ace's aura !
Ben: - What, what are you- turns to see Ace's aura. Sees it and goes completely white in fear
Ace: - Looks like he's about to snap
Ben: - I'm a fry-chu, aren't I?
Ace: - I couldn't have said that better my-SELF! Dashes at Ben as he says the last syllable
Rocky: - ACE! Runs in to help break the fight. Manages to grab Ace's tail, and attempts to hold him back
Kenny: - Tries the same, but drags Ben away from Ace
Ace: - Overpowers Rocky slightly, and manages to advance towards Ben slowly, fully in rage mode now
Splat: - ENOUGH! Uses psychic to hold Ace back
Ace: - Regains the memory of where he stopped in Pokémon Sword. I WAS ONE HIT AWAY FROM THE END CREDITS! I HAD A SHINY BOLTUND ON MY TEAM! AND YOU ERASED MY SAVE FILE COMPLETELY?! ALL THE TIME I SPENT PLAYING THE GAME ON MY BIRTHDAY IS NOW GONE?!
Ben: - Is now looking absolutely terrified of Ace, white as a ghost and shivering a lot. Y-y-yes. I'm sorry
Ace: - Barks like an angry dog
Teresa: - That's enough, Ace
Ace: - Looks to the side to see his mother standing there, and calms down a little bit
Kenny: - Who are you? Sees another Boltund to the side of the table. And why do you look a lot like Ace?
Ace: - Dark aura goes away, and eyes return to normal Sorry, mom, I shouldn't have lashed out like that
Teresa: - Darn right you shouldn't
Ben: - Mom?
Kenny: - Ace, why did you call this other Boltund, "mom"?
Ace: - Oh right, you don't know that.
Ben: - Know what?
Ace: - Of the three of us that were brought to this world by Nathan-
Ben: - Yeah?
Ace: - Kenny is the only one of us that is actually a human
Max: - Humans?
Clover: - Human?
Rocky: - More humans?
Ben: - Wait what? What does that mean?
Splat: - Ben- Walks up to Ben, and grabs his paw
Ben: - What are you doing? Why are you holding my paw? And why does your paw feel somewhat...famili- has a realization No, it can't be
Kenny: - What can't be?
Splat- Nods You and Ace were born in this world. You two were born Pokémon. You're not originally human.
Kenny: - WHAT?! My best friends are actually a Boltund and a Pikachu?!
Splat: - faces Kenny You must be who these two befriended in that "high school" as Ace put it.
Kenny: - I am, my name is Kenny
Splat: - Well, Kenny, you are correct. These are what your friends really are.
Kenny: - Oh my god, just wait till the rest of the football team hears about this.
Ace: - The football team?
Ben: - Gains back some courage Oh right, the team. I wonder if Alex and the others showed the team that video he took of Kenny and I as Pokémon
Splat: - releases Ace
Ace: - What video?
Kenny: - When Nathan changed Ben into a Pikachu and me into a Meowstic, Alex thought it would be a great idea to take a video of himself, Mark, Jack, Will, with us as Pokémon as proof to show the skeptics that I wasn't lying about how I said you vanished from the human world.
Ace: - How are there people who are skeptical?
Kenny: - Even though your disappearance was all over the news, someone on the team spread lies about you leaving cause you think we're not good enough for you, which is a load of nonsense. I know you wouldn't think of us as such, ever.
Ace: - Who said that?
Kenny: - Devon
Ace: - DEVON?! Gets mad again
Ben: - Ace?
Ace: - I'm still very mad at you Ben, but this is different
Kenny: - Huh?
Ace: - You don't know what Devon really is
Ben: - If you tell us that he's a Pokémon as well, I'm going to flip
Ace: - He's a dark Mew
Ben: - HE'S A WHAT?! Sparks a bit from his cheeks
Kenny: - Steps to the side to avoid the sparks reaching him Woah
Ace: - Yup
Teresa: - Wait, Ace, you never told me Devon found you here
Ace: - He did, right after I woke up in the med bay for the first time after my team's mock dungeon trial
Kenny: - Dungeon? Like a mystery dungeon, like those games?
Ace: - Yup, I got to go in one for real, though it was just a dungeon this guild uses for testing teams
Kenny: - This is a guild?
Clover: - Yup, and I'm the GuildMaster, Clover
Kenny: - Looks to see a Mewtwo talking to him A Mewtwo?!
Clover: - nods
Ace: - Anyway, Devon showed up in front of me in the med bay after I woke up, but he left before mom came to see me there
Ben: - Wait, why were you in medical care?
Ace: - Because I got my wrists bitten by Raticates
Ben: - First you trip over your own foot before you leave the human world, now you get bit by rat Pokémon?
Ace: - Your point, Ben?
Ben: - Did Nathan want me here to stop you from getting hurt in more dumb ways?
Ace: - Shoots a thunderbolt at Ben
Ben: - OW!
Teresa: - ACE!
Ben: - What was that for?!
Ace: - Can you stop bringing up my bad luck?
Ben: - Fine
Teresa: - Can you two stop fighting?
Ace: - Fine
Ben (whispers to himself): - Still a momma's boy I see
Ace: - Glares at Ben
Ben: - Ok, ok, I'll stop now
Ace: - Thank you
Ben: - Are you ok regardless?
Ace: - I am happy to see you and Kenny again, and I just got accepted into being part of an official rescue team of this guild, so yeah, I'm good
Kenny: - Well that's good. Maybe we can join your team
Ace: - Ummm, I'd say yes, but that's up to the GuildMaster as to whether or not you may join the guild, and thus my team
Clover: - You may join
Ace: - Wait what? Don't they have to go through a mock dungeon trial?
Clover: - They will, but they're more than welcome to join your team
Ben: - Awesome. So, what is this mock dungeon?
Kenny: - Before that, Ace, what was with that darkness surrounding you?
Ace: - Darkness?
Ben: - Oh yeah, that dark thing when you attacked me
Ace: - Oh that. Well, that was my rage mode
Ben: - Your what mode?
Ace: - Rage mode. Essentially a state of mind that allows me to use my rage to gain a power boost
Ben: - Ok, and why did you attack me with that
Ace: - smirks Because I can't exactly control myself while in that state. If I go in it again, I might just attack you again for no reason, because I wouldn't be in control of my actions
Ben: - Mooooooom?
Teresa: - Ace, please don't use rage mode on your brother
Ace: - Alright
Ben: - Thank you
Ace: - Heh, now who's the momma's boy?
Ben: - pouts
Ace: - Hehehe
Ben: - Alright, you got me this one time
Ace: - Aww, get over here pulls Ben in and rubs a paw on his head, messing up his fur
Ben: - Ack!
Ace: - Let's go
Ben: - I missed you too recovers So, this rage mode. Is it something only you have?
Ace: - Nope, all Pokémon can get into that state
Ben: - Gets an idea Oh, so I could potentially enter that state as well?
Ace: - Uh, yes?
Ben: - Grins
Ace: - Don't you dare try to use it on me
Ben: - Grin goes away
Kenny: - You two haven't changed at all since you came here
Ace: - Is that a bad thing?
Kenny: - No
Ace: - Ok
Kenny: - Wait, you said all Pokémon can enter that state
Ace: - Yes, that's what Splat told me
Kenny: - Splat?
Splat: - Me
Kenny: - Ah
Splat: - And it's true. All Pokémon can enter rage mode
Kenny: - But I'm not originally a Pokémon. Would that mean I can't enter that state?
Splat: - That's a tricky one
Nathan: - Well, when I changed you into a Pokémon, you gained many of the natural traits a Meowstic would normally have, and since rage mode is a trait of all Pokémon, you should have it as a possible state as well
Splat: - Well there you have it
Kenny: - And what does rage mode give as a benefit?
Splat: - A 20% boost to your power
Kenny: - Cool
Clover: - Pardon the interruption, but the mock dungeon has been reset, so whenever you two are ready, you may take your test
Ben: - Ok
Ace: - Oh, before you do that, how are things going in the human world?
Kenny: - Getting bad
Ace: - Wait, if you're here, then who's the captain of the football team?
Kenny: - The coach originally appointed me as captain, but Devon appointed himself as captain since he was the vice captain, even while Ben and I were there. I complained to Devon, and he decided to "be nice" and let me be QB, since you were also in that position. So, for who will take the QB position while I am here, I don't know.
Ace: - Did you tell the football team what happened when I left?
Kenny: - I did. First, I told Ben, who was at home at the time, then your human parents, when they nearly ran me over with their car, then a few others including Alex, Mark, Jack, and Will, as well as Sally, Ava, and Max, then the rest of the team the next day. Almost everyone believed me until Devon started spreading lies about what happened.
Ace: - What lies?
Kenny: - That you left us to find another school cause we were not good enough for you, and that you abandoned us because of that thinking. The people I named earlier, and the coach, didn't believe him, but the rest of the team did, and are likely now hating you.
Ace: - When I get my paws on Devon, I'm gonna scratch him up real good
Kenny :- However, before Ben and I left to come here, Alex recorded a video on his phone with Jack, Mark, Will, and us, as proof to hopefully get everyone Devon manipulated to believe me again, that I knew what I was talking about when I said to them that you were taken here by a Mew
Ace: - Well I hope they do trust the video.
Kenny: - I'm not expecting everyone to believe the video, but I hope at least some of the team does believe it's real, because it is real. Nathan was there when the video was recorded
Nathan: - I can confirm the video being real, since I was in the shot too
Kenny: - So that means we have even more proof that I was right with how I described how Ace left.
Nathan: - It would seem so
Ben: - I just hope Devon doesn't come up with a convincing excuse that the video was faked in any way
Ace: - Sees potential bad scenarios of what could happen if the team believes Devon
Ben: - Ace?
Ace: - Huh, what?
Kenny: - You spaced out
Ace: - Oh, sorry. I got a wave of visions of what could happen if the attempt to clear my name goes wrong
Ben: - Oh. Well, I'm sure the message will get across to some of the team
Ace: - I hope so, for all our sakes
Kenny: - And if it does go wrong, we'll be here to help you out
Ace: - If things go wrong, it will likely take me years to try to fix it, and we only have 2 years left before we graduate
Ben: - I have 3
Ace: - Still, we could easily run out of time to take down Devon and erase the damage he has done against me and my reputation
Kenny: - Like I said, we'll be here to help
Ace: - Thank you
Kenny: - Ready Ben?
Ben: - Yup
Clover: - Ready?
Kenny and Ben: - nod to Clover
Clover: - Alright. Marie will take you to the mock dungeon for your test
Marie: - Follow me
Splat: - And while you're doing that... Uses psychic to pick up the dirty dishes off the table ...Teresa and I will get these taken care of
Teresa: - We will?
Splat: - You volunteered
Teresa: - Right
Clover: - Thank you
Marie: - Now that you reminded me, you two should get cleaned up first
Ben: - Sees they're still covered in grease Yeah, we should
Marie: - I'll take you to the showers first
Kenny: - Thank you
Marie: - Guides Kenny and Ben to the bathhouse where Kenny and Ben can wash up
Ace: - I am just going to go on a walk.
Nathan: - I think I join you, Ace
Back inside where Splat and Teresa were cleaning up
Splat looked at Teresa who seemed to be upset
Splat: - Teresa, is everything ok? You seem to be upset after seeing your 2 sons back from the human world.
Teresa: - Well I am happy to finally see both my sons all grown after what happened that day.
Splat: - Then, why are you upset?
Teresa pulled out a picture from her fur, and showed it to Splat
Teresa: - I just wish to see Oliver and my other 2 boys again. Have the family back together as one.
Splat: - Then why not go and talk to Oliver and tell him that Ace and Ben have come back from the human world.
Teresa: - I don't know, Splat. It's been years since I talked to Oliver, after Devon broke our family in half.
Splat: - What, did you and Oliver have a fight?
Teresa: - No, it's 'cause Oliver did not want to send Ace and Ben to the human world, but I said it would be for the best since Devon wants to take Ace and Ben away from us. So, I decided to go behind Oliver's back, and take Ace and Ben to the human world with the help of Nathan, but ever since I did that, I feel a bit ashamed to go and tell Oliver what I did.
Splat: - I see. It would still be a good idea to talk to Oliver and forget about the past. It would be good for Ace and Ben to see their real dad and 2 brothers.
Teresa: - I guess you're right, but let's get back to cleaning up.
Splat: - Alright then.
Meanwhile outside the guild. Ace and Nathan are walking in the forest
Ace was thinking about what Kenny said about what is going on with the football team.
Nathan: - Hey, Ace, is everything ok? You've been quiet ever since we left the guild.
Ace: - does not say anything
Nathan: - Do you want to talk about it?
Ace: - I guess
Nathan: - Well, speak whatever is on your mind Ace.
Ace: - Well, I am just thinking about what Kenny said about Devon trying to take my place as the new captain on the football team. Like, I'm trying to understand what I did wrong to Devon, why he hates me, and why he wants me off the football team.
Nathan: - I'm sure that he doesn't hate you, Ace. You're just overthinking it
Ace: - How would you know, Nathan?
Nathan: - Because he is my younger brother
Ace: - Oh ok- suddenly realizes what Nathan said –WAIT, WHAT?!
Nathan: - Yup, Devon and I are brothers. He's younger than me by 2 years
Ace: - How old are you?
Nathan: - 43, and Devon is 41
Ace: - Really? But you don't look any much older than me
Nathan: - That's because I was about your age when I got my Mew power, and while we have the power, we don't age
Ace: - So you've been looking like you're 16 for 27 years?
Nathan: - I got my power and mark when I was 14, actually
Ace: - So it'll be 30 years next year?
Nathan: - Yup, 30 years for both of us
Ace: - I see
Ace and Nathan continue walking for a bit
Ace: - Nathan?
Nathan: - Yes, Ace?
Ace: - What were you and Devon before you two became Mews?
Nathan: - I was a Scorbunny, and Devon was a Sprigatito
Ace: - Sprigatito? Never heard of that one
Nathan: - What do you mean you haven't?
Ace: - In the human world, the latest, mainline Pokémon games to be release were Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Sprigatito is not a pokémon in those games
Nathan: - So, whoever made those games in the human world doesn't know they exist
Ace: - The company in the human world that makes the games is called Game Freak
Nathan: - You said that Sprigatito is not a pokémon in the latest games?
Ace: - Yes
Nathan: - Sounds like they need to rush to get the rest our world's pokémon represented that game
Ace: - It's part of a series of games, and usually each mainline game takes about 3 years to be released
Nathan: - Still sounds like they need to rush to get more of our species represented in future games
Ace: - While I agree that more species should be represented, and there will be, since Game Freak adds a bunch more in every new "generation" as they call each new main release, I don't think they should rush to get them all in the games
Nathan: - Why not?
Ace: - Cause if they rush, they could mistakenly release the games in a broken, unstable state, filled with bugs and glitches
Nathan: - Is that a bad thing?
Ace: - I mean they can fix them after release, but if it's released in a bad state, it could hurt Game Freak in the short term or their reputation
Nathan: - Alright then, it was a shot
Ace: - Anyway, Teresa, aka mom, said that I was taken to the human world because I and the rest of my family here were being hunted down by an evil Mew. Is that Mew, Devon?
Nathan: - Unfortunately, yes
Ace: - Was he always evil?
Nathan: - Pauses for a moment
Ace: - Stops walking as well. Nathan?
Nathan: - No, he wasn't always this way
Ace: - What happened that made him want to hurt others?
Nathan: - It'll be hard for me to explain
Ace: - I got time. Ben and Kenny likely won't be done with their mock dungeon for a while
Nathan: - Alright, I might as well tell you about my past
Ace goes to sit on a nearby rock. Nathan sits next to Ace on the rock, and begins to tell him about his past before he and Devon became Mews
End of Chapter 10