The waves didn't crash against the cliff. The leaves didn't drift in the trees. The life of Treasure Town had been lost, and it was left in endless grey.
The newcomers who breathed and lived, their voices were clear, as there was nothing to impede them, yet still distant. It didn't dare draw too close to those with life and fire.
It watched as the four stared and carefully began to edge their way into a place so familiar. A place that none of them had ever wanted to see. Not here. Never here. But always… always here.
I am always here.
Scout glanced behind him, thinking he heard a sound on the wind. "Did you… hear that?" he asked, concerned.
"What do you take me for?" Mane asked shakily. "Of course I did."
"There isn't much sound in this place," Sean said. "Anything is easy to hear."
Chatot simply nodded. They all took a glance behind them, but there was nothing to see. Nothing that breathed, nothing that lived.
So, they began walking forwards. "Let's get through this place as fast as possible," Sean suggested. There was no argument to be had about that.
Mane stepped closer to Scout, close enough to brush against him. Tension rippled through his body, he was breathing short and rapidly fast. "I don't want to do this," he admitted as Scout looked to him.
Hesitantly, Scout placed an arm around his neck and hugged him to him. Mane gave a shaky breath but smiled, his steps not stopping.
Scout began to tremble himself as they made their way further into the town. Vigoroth was merely the first pokémon they saw. Frozen in a half step, his eyes glassy, dust having formed on him, not a glimmer of life to him just perpetually locked in his last moment.
Kangaskhan stood in her shop, talking cheerfully to Marill. Azurill was nowhere to be found. They didn't speak with words or eyes. They didn't speak at all — only frozen nightmares.
Their smiles felt more like rictus grins.
"Don't dawdle," Chatot said softly, hurrying them away from staring too long.
Sean nodded. "Try not to stare," he said, pulling Scout's eyes away from the Kecleon Brothers. "It's not good for your head."
"S-sure." He nodded and darted away from where Wynaut was getting served, they had been giving a cheerful salute. Now it seemed like they were reaching for help.
They had only crossed the bridge when Chatot stiffened. "Oh," he said vacantly and spread his wings and soared forward.
Sean and Scout looked on sadly as Chatot flew to where Sunflora was giggling with Loudred. Neither of them was moving.
Chatot brushed a wing gently across Sunflora's face. The dust had settled on both of their bodies. A magmar had also been talking to them when time froze.
Scout felt his mouth quivering slightly as they approached. It was wrong to see Sunflora so frozen and Loudred so quiet. Their grins were natural but fixed. Their eyes were bright, yet lifeless.
"Chatot," Sean said quietly, they were all quiet. It felt wrong to even speak here. "We can't get distracted here."
Chatot didn't reply, simply continued brushing the dust off his dear apprentices. He brushed their shoulders, their heads, their legs.
"Come on, Chats," Mane said, plastering a rigid smile on his face. "You'll have plenty of time to mother hen them when we get back."
Chatot gave a tired chuckle and lowered his dusty wing. "Right."
Sean and Scout exchanged an uncomfortable look. Mane's optimistic loudness was needed, but felt out of place here.
"Is everyone frozen?" Scout wondered out loud. They still had to talk after all. It seemed that way, from where Team Flame stood to joke together, and where Electivire was posing for Chansey.
The four continued looking left and right, taking in faces they knew, remembering voices that couldn't be shared.
Treasure Town was a graveyard.
"Probably not," Sean answered, which caused his companions to stop.
"What?" Scout demanded.
"Did?" Chatot continued.
"What?" Mane said, breaking the chain.
Sean gave a weak shrug and a weaker, painfully uncomfortable, smile. "This isn't the first place I've seen frozen like this. But in those places… I remember Sahra Town specifically had only half of its population frozen. Half didn't. And it was random, no location factoring in that they could tell."
"How could you tell?" Mane demanded. "I thought you couldn't understand pokémon?"
"Saniya was there with us at the time," Sean answered. "She translated."
Chatot took a deep breath. "So… someone could be here still?"
Sean shrugged again. "Maybe. I'd really hope not though. You three don't deserve to see what this place can turn pokémon into."
"How… long has it been like this?" Chatot asked. "Do you know?"
Sean frowned. "Not… really. Saniya couldn't quite explain it, but she said something to the effect of 'time is all jumbled up, some places have gone for longer, some places shorter'. It's, uh, not helpful I know."
"Speaking of time," Scout said, wanting to get his mind on anything else. "I was wondering, uh, how old am I?"
Sean blinked at him and then almost smiled. "Hah, that's a funny question. I don't really know, I guess. You're at least, I dunno, five? I was twelve when I came here and Saniya calculated about four years."
"You're that old?" Mane asked as Scout said.
"You're that young?" They looked to each other.
Sean grinned. "Humans age differently," he explained to Mane. "Twelve is only just starting puberty, sixteen is still considered a kid."
Mane blinked as Scout caught on to what he'd said of him. "Wait, I'm five?" He frowned, that didn't seem right. Nor did what Sean said. He thought he had been at least 18/19, not sixteen.
"So am I," Mane offered and Scout boggled at him for a moment before recovering. "Around that age at least."
"Huh. You come across as so much older."
"Oi, I AM an adult! Rai and I are the same age, give or take a few months."
Scout looked dizzy, pokemon aging was not his anticipated education today.
Scout made a low, weak, sound before chuckling. "I feel," he began, voice shaking. Then something clacked behind them.
The sound, soft and tinny, rung out as loud as a drum to the ever-present silence and anxiety of the listeners.
Scout and Sean twisted around first, Mane quickly spinning back as well. Mane sparked briefly, before coughing. He could barely light a matchstick, let alone form a proper fireball.
With his arm still hanging numb, Scout wondered if he'd be able to do anything in his state.
Sean's aura tassels rose, but he counted only three vague signals and dropped them with a sigh.
Three.
His heart lurched, and Sean spun back around. "CHATOT!?" he called, causing the other two to jump.
"What is… it?" Scout demanded, melding into concern.
"Where is Chats?" Mane asked, voice getting high.
"You have got to be kidding me," Sean groaned, rubbing his face. He was so tired. Cupping his paws, Sean shouted. "CHATOT!?"
No response.
"This." Scout voice clipped and came in bursts. "Isn't. Happening. This. No. No. No." The meowth began to shake badly.
Mane stepped forward and added his voice to the mix. "CHAAATTTS?"
Sean cringed, his ears were sensitive, and even Scout was broken out of his shaking by the volume Mane put out.
"He'll have to have heard that," Scout muttered, trembling still.
"All that means is he'll know we've noticed he's gone," Sean said, stepping forward. "Come on. We've got to look for him before something happens."
"Something already happened!" Mane pointed out, trotting along.
"Something worse."
"Why are you so cagey around the words?" Mane asked, Sean scowled. "Seriously? We get his life might be in danger if you've had anything to say about this whole place and time."
"I didn't want to have to say something so blunt," Sean snapped, jerking his head back at their trailing meowth. "Scout can be… sensitive."
Mane gave him a flat look. "And you care about this here and now… why?"
"Because why is it so bad to be a little nice?" Sean snapped. "I know it. You know. And I know Scout knows it. Stating such things is horrible, and we need to keep morale as best as we can."
"Cool." Mane nodded, accepting that. "Just wanted to know why. Explaining is fun."
Sean breathed out a heavy breath as Scout caught up. The meowth was quiet again.
"Is he always like this?" Sean asked tiredly. They were all tired.
"Yeah," Scout answered.
"You do know it's rude to talk about someone who's listening?" Mane said, voice light and teasing.
"Really now?" Scout snapped. "Doesn't that person know it's rude to listen to other people's conversations?"
Mane turned back to give him a smirk. "Nice one."
Scout rolled his eyes, and Sean stepped up to walk, in-between them. "Play nice, children," he muttered.
"But, bro," Mane pleaded, voice higher.
Scout groaned. "Just stop," he asked. "I've got a headache, and you really aren't helping."
They passed a gaggle of frozen figures. It was hard to think of Spinda and Wobbuffet so still and quiet.
"I have a remedy in mind!" Mane said, eyes locked on the frozen ones. His voice shook slightly, but he swallowed it. "It's called-"
"I don't want to hear it," Scout snapped. "Just look for fricken, argh, CHATOT!?" His voice broke on the call, and there was no response.
Sean gave Scout a concerned look. The meowth was beginning to cough wetly, covering his paw. Something dark lingered on his paw, but it was hard to see in the dull light. Then Mane veered off the path, heading right.
"Where are you going?" Sean demanded, trotting after him as Mane sped up.
"The dojo!" Mane replied. "Come on. Gotta look everywhere!"
Sean groaned, and Scout overtook him, running after Mane. "Slow down," Scout yelled. Mane did so... just a tiny bit.
They ran around the track, passing by Zigzagoon and Mr. Mime, to find the door to the dojo. "Hey! It's open!" Mane cheered, poking his head in.
He immediately recoiled.
Scout caught up with Mane at long last and panted for breath. He wished he could run longer, Marowak would be disgusted at him getting winded so quickly, but he'd been going all day with injuries.
His vision went blurry for a moment, and he slurred out. "Run off again and I'll see what happens to… ooh." He grabbed his head, groaning as he took some needed breaths.
Mane oozed up next to him, rubbing up before bouncing his flank against him, nearly knocking Scout over. "Hey," he said. "Take a look inside!"
"Hmm?" Scout cracked his eyes open. He didn't want to; he could go to sleep right here. He remembered what they were doing and went straight. "Did you find Chatot?"
"Nah." Mane shook his head, grinning. "Something better!"
"What?"
"Take a look!"
Scout frowned. Mane had that sleazy grin that boded poorly. "What is in there?"
Rolling his eyes, Mane explained a little. "Marowak is giving someone some 'after hours' training!"
Scout continued frowning, trying to work out why that sounded so wrong. His eyes widened. "You're sick!"
Mane laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, come on."
"No. Mane, what is wrong with you?"
He rolled his eyes. "You're such a spoilsport. No ones in there with Marowak. It's perfectly innocent. You really don't know how to deal with jokes, do you?"
"We are around frozen people we BOTH know," Scout growled. "What part of you thinks that making jokes about this is appropriate in ANY WAY?" His voice echoed as he shouted, cascading across the dark and quiet place.
Mane's eyes widened, and he blinked a few times. "Oh, uh… wow. You're really upset," he said, taking a step back. "I think you need to calm your nerves. I know a tried and true way to do that!"
Scout's eye twitched. "Okay," Scout snapped. "WHY do you keep acting like that?" Mane paused and gave him an affronted look. "Seriously. It's not the time to FUCK around, Mane! Just stop making your comments!"
Mane looked to consider it for a moment. "Mmm… Nah. This body is just too hot to keep contained like that!"
Scout felt his eye twitch. "Go for an hour."
"No."
"Thirty minutes."
"And how are you going to keep the time?"
"I'll count," Scout growled and raised his paw. "One. Two. Three."
Mane let him count to twenty-seven before he interrupted. "You sure look like you know what you're doing with those paws of yours," he crooned, and Scout dropped it.
"Shut up."
Mane blinked. "You didn't just tell me to shut up!" he gasped. "Never. Not sweet, kindly, sexy, Scout."
"Shut. Up."
Mane rolled his whole body. "Nah."
"WHY?" Scout exploded. "Why do you have to do this? All the time?"
Mane laughed at his emotions, and Scout flipped from furious to tired. He was having trouble catching his breath and Mane gave him a pitying look.
Scout snarled at him. That seemed to flip a switch.
"Fine," Mane said, uncharacteristically soft. "You want to know?"
Scout nodded, desiring only answers to fill the static in his ears.
"It's because I'm terrified," Mane said plainly. "I'm scared. I'm trapped in a hellscape with only a maybe out, having to dodge murderous pokémon literally hunting me down, along with travelling through dungeons with ferals more crazed than I've ever seen."
Mane paused to take a breath, while it was Scout's turn to blink in surprise. "Now I'm in my own home, but it's frozen and everyone is effectively dead and displayed for my eyes to see. I grew up with these people and they're all gone I'm... scared. This is how I'm coping, Scout. I'm sorry if that offends your delicate sensitivities, but I can't deal with this any other way."
"Oh."
"Yeah," Mane snarled, heat entering his voice. "Oh. Seriously," he scoffed, tossing his head. "You strut around like you know what's best and right and perfect for everything and when something 'offends' you, you get all pissy and passive-aggressive. Don't think I hadn't noticed, even before I joined Rai's team."
Scout took offence to that. "Rai's, AND mine," Scout shot back, and Mane raised a fiery eyebrow. "We made the team together."
"Sure." Mane nodded with a smirk. "Roll right over you being passive-aggressive, just go straight to 'this is what is correct, and I know it' because why act differently?"
"And who's being passive-aggressive now?" Scout demanded, and Mane laughed. The audacious sound carried for miles, but it was just for the rapidly angering Scout.
"You're doing it again!" Mane laughed, bitterly pawing the ground in fractured amusement. "Do you even notice you're doing it?"
Scout hesitated, beginning to frown.
"It's almost funny. The way you behave sometimes." Scout glanced up sharply at Mane's mocking expression. "You're always looking like you have something more to say, some secret you can't wait to share so you can show just how smart and clever and right you are. You know, if you ever shared stuff, things might not be going to literal fucking hell."
"You are NOT blaming me for this," Scout growled, tail lashing. "This? THIS? Are you blaming me? FOR THIS?"
"Maybe," Mane sang, making sure the notes carried. "How would I know otherwise? You don't tell ME anything, heck you don't even tell Rai anything. Hiding everything of worth from your so-called 'best friend.'"
"And what are you basing this off?" Scout growled, ignoring the stabbing feeling in his arm and chest. "Newsflash, I did have amnesia, I don't remember being here."
"Oh please," Mane snorted, rolling his eyes. "Newsflash, amnesia doesn't work as you claimed. You don't just lose everything but a few tiny details. There is no way you didn't know what was going on, or at least not had SOME sort of idea from the start. But did you tell anyone? Chatot or Wigglytuff? Rai? No. You didn't. You claimed you couldn't remember anything."
Scout nearly stepped back, but he had to defend himself. He had to. "And YOU'RE an expert on amnesia?" Scout demanded, pointing the finger.
"You think you're the only pokémon in the world that's ever had amnesia?" Mane shot back. "But you know what? I get it." Mane's tone changed. "I get why you didn't say anything. This is clearly a big deal, we're in a literal dead world and you couldn't risk everything just to share some details, no matter how much it would have helped."
Scout blinked. "What?"
Mane continued, but he began to grin like a sharpedo, smoke curling around his maw. "I get that. I understand that. I accept that. But what I don't accept is the way you behave. You come at me, rolling your eyes, giving little comments to yourself and Rai, or snapping at me 'Oh Mane you're such a gross flirt. Stop, wah-wah' and you think you have the right to tell me how I should act because you just KNOW what the best way is."
"I-I. Do not. I do not. I do n-not think like that," Scout stuttered, vision nearly going black with a headache. "Or act like that. What about you, then?" Scout waved a paw violently on his numb arm, grunting as sharp pain shot through his paw. "The flirting is just weird, but whatever. Like you said 'I accept that' it's who you are. But what about the way YOU have been behaving towards Rai for the last HOW MANY YEARS."
Mane's lip curled, but Scout continued. "Mercilessly bullying him at the slightest proclamation, ruining his self-confidence, picking on an ORPHAN for what? Some self-justified act of 'toughening him up'? You can talk about what I've done and acted all you want, but I haven't behaved nearly as viciously as you."
"Ah…" Mane sighed, smiling. "There it is."
Scout snarled. "What?"
"Doing it. Again," Mane laughed, bordering on hysterically. "You're turning it back on me again! Am I a horrible excuse for a pokémon? Sure am. I'm rude, aggressive, a nasty flirt, and a bully, with criminal parents and a home where everyone, literally everyone, dislikes me. At best. That's all true. It's all earned, I deserve it sure I get that."
He stopped laughing, and instead, his expression changed to a vicious glare. "What's also true is that you are a liar who refuses to accept blame for what you have done and whenever something does come your way, you find a way to make the other party look worse and you so righteous in comparison."
Scout couldn't gather the words to reply, so Mane continued.
"I chatted with Riolu a little when you were napping. He told Chats and me what you guys needed to save time. Some 'Relic Fragment' that belonged to our best buddy Rai. You knew about that all this time, didn't you?"
Scout stared at him. Mane grinned again.
"Oh, don't look so stunned. You're not as good at hiding as you think. Rai's noticed, you know? He knows that you're not entirely honest with him. If even he can see it, do you think everyone else can't as well? Or, well, actually only anyone who's spent much time with you, which is just Rai, and now me. Clever, really."
Scout still just stared in silence, trying to find the words to defend himself. There weren't any.
"Look," Mane said, expression melding back into a calmer state. "I get it. I get you saving the world is more important than anything. I reaaallly do get that. I even think you don't want to hurt anyone. I even think you and Rai ARE a talk away from expressing your undying love and passion for each other. I do know you care about him. But I also know that you're not as nice of a guy as you think you are."
"A-and what about you?" Scout asked. "Everyone you've done, just… whatever in comparison?"
"Seriously?" Mane asked, genuinely baffled. "You still don't get it? Who's the better person between us? You. That's the answer. But being better than me isn't that great of an achievement. And between you and me, not only do I get that I'm a dick. But I'm actually trying to change."
Mane shook his head. "I'm a piece of shit but I admit it nwo, I'm trying to be better. I've been acting as nice as I can, getting used to it, acting the good, responsible, apprentice. Have I been good at it? Eh, probably not."
"So what?" Scout whispered. "Just because you admit it, it's okay?"
Mane groaned. "You really are this dumb? Really? I know you pretty well by this point. I can tell you've felt guilty about all the lying and manipulating. And that's fine; I already said I think you're a good person."
Mane sighed, he was calmer now, getting this off his chest. "But you leave the guilt as all there is. You don't try to change or make yourself better. You just stew in your own guilt until you decide you've punished yourself enough to make it okay."
Scout shifted uncomfortably, but Mane wasn't done. "Then you keep doing the thing you were guilty about. At least I'm trying to change, but you're just acting, denying everything, shifting the blame onto anyone else if you're called out. And you're not as good at it as you think you are."
Scout's face burned. He would have far preferred to have been set on fire to this.
"I…."
"Don't bother," Mane said, rolling his eyes, "admitting it all now. Doesn't that just prove my point? You'll either feel guilty and keep doing it. Or you can actually make a change. Maybe actually think about that for once? Tell someone what you really think. Maybe Rai when we get back? Either way, I'm done. Let's just find Chatot and get out of this creepy place."
He began walking off, and Scout forced himself to follow. Had he really been trying to shift blame, make himself look better in comparison?
He thought about what he hadn't said, and what still hadn't been told.
Mane didn't say anything else as they walked. He'd gotten what he wanted off his chest.
"I…" Scout said, noticing something at last. "Where's Sean?"
Mane stopped cold. "Shit."
"And," Scout's voice was going high. "We've got company."
They both turned as something large and crackling with electricity approached.
"Oh, no."
Chatot took a deep breath. He couldn't bear to imagine it, but he had to ask. "So… someone could be here still?" It was in front of his eyes, but could it be an illusion?
The riolu - who he still had trouble considering to be Sean - shrugged again. "Maybe. I'd really hope not though. You three don't deserve to see what this future can turn pokémon into."
"How… long has it been like this?" Chatot asked. "Do you know?"
Something clacked behind them and they looked.
The sound, soft and tinny, rung out as loud as a drum to the ever-present silence and anxiety of the listeners.
However, Chatot wasn't listening. Right as the others turned around, he looked to the left and began to walk. He heard their voices, fading like they were being covered with water until there was nothing but a warm feeling in his beak and pressure behind his eyes.
It feels so good? Doesn't it?
Chatot agrees.
"Chatot!" Wigglytuff beamed, bouncing to where he was roosting. "This is where you got off to? Silly bird, let's get you home."
"Ah, Rhythmlytuff," You said. He felt so happy to see Tuffwiggly again. I could almost cry. "Ahem. Guildmaster, how wonderful it is to see you. It feels like an age since we've spoken."
Wigglytuff giggled and picked me up, cuddling you against his warm belly. "Yes," he said. "But I'm here now. You're here now. Let's go home."
I roosted comfortably in Wigglytuff's embrace. You felt so warm, so safe. Chatot was home with Wigglytuff now.
Wigglytuff hummed a lovely song as he carried us. His embrace was as steady as we all thought it'd be. Strong, sturdy, yet warm and soft. This is Wigglytuff. Chatot's partner. Chatot's friend. Chatot's life.
The pathway to the guild was as it always was. Pokémon bustled back and forth, many of them even were taking a rest to talk or wait. Most were waiting. What were they waiting for?
Chatot didn't worry about that. He couldn't see them, but they waved to him anyway. People always wave when you pass them, pokémon are friendly like that.
The gate of the guild, a sturdy object, held firm. Wigglytuff didn't pause at the grate, and the Guildmaster didn't need to. With a blink, he was inside. And we came with him!
Don't mind the bones scattered around Chatot's roost. Those were fake. Those weren't Chatot. Chatot is here now, Wigglytuff is thrilled!
Wigglytuff continued to carry us all in his sturdy embrace. One didn't need to fear when Wigglytuff was here. Treasure Town was safe because Wigglytuff was here.
As is proper, Wigglytuff said hello to everyone as he passed.
"Hello, Bidoof."
"Yep-yep. Gosh, golly."
"Hello, Sunflora."
"Hello, Guildmaster and Chatot."
"Hello, Neirdae."
"Hello, Corphish."
"Hey."
"Hello, Loudred."
"YEAH, HI!"
"Hello, Chimecho."
"Hello, Guildmaster."
"Greetings."
"Hello, Elle."
"Hi!"
"Hello, P1ka."
"It's nice to see you."
"Hello, Setech."
"Hey."
"Hello, Taho."
"Lol!"
"Hello, Pichu, one and two."
"Hi-Hi!"
"Hello, Tez."
"It's so nice to see you!"
"Hello, Epsy. Hello, Robbie. Hello, Neo. Hello, Julia. Hello, Haru. Hello, Arcanine. Hello, Zorua. Hello, Alpha. Hello, Mikey. Hello, Sud. Hello. Hello, Coda. Hello, Klonoa. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, Sirius. Hello. Hello, Bench. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, Flow. Hello. Hello, Fizzo. Hello, Danirbu. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, CC. Hello. Hello. Hello, Rocket. Hello. Hello. Hello, fruits. Hello. Hello. Hello, Axotol. Hello, Jermy. Hello, Wally. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, Flocon. Hello, Kirby. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, Tikki. Hello, Layse. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, Loop. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello, Emo Lord. Hello. Hello, you."
"It's time to take a nap," Wigglytuff said, pooped from all the hello's he had to give. Make sure to say hello back!
Sleep is a fantastic idea. Rest is what you need for strong bones and flesh that doesn't yield. Sleep lets us dream.
Wigglytuff took everyone to the best room. It's the one at the back. It's always open for new recruits. Poor Shinx never got to sleep in this room.
But Chatot and Wigglytuff can!
Chatot roosted comfortably in Wigglytuff's embrace, and he cleared his throat to begin the night-time song. "Nighty-nighty sleepy-head. It's time to go down to your bed. There are dreams and-"
"Yawn." Wigglytuff yawned. "Let's just go to bed."
"Of course, Guildmaster." Chatot would sing the wake-up song later then.
Shall we see what's approaching the two kitties?
Scout and Mane stood frozen. With black and grey fur, faded blue patches, and the classic star-tail, it could only be a luxray that approached them.
"This can't be happening," Scout laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "No, no no no."
"L-Leave!" The luxray roared. "Leave. Now. Why others? Why more? Leave. Go. Leave. You are not. Here. Allowed. Here. No. Leave. Leave. Why more? Leave. Or I will. I will. I will. I will."
"You'll leave?" Mane asked. "Great! Now shoo. Go! Go away!"
The luxray shook its head, tossing an old necklace around its neck. "LEAVE!" it roared, electricity sparking out everywhere and jolting some of the bodies.
"Please don't go all Frankenstein on us," Scout laughed, again. He couldn't handle this; this was no bueno. This was no good. This was not allowed. He would not accept this.
Several frozen pokémon fell in heaps, collapsing against the ground in dull thunks. Both Scout and Mane flinched.
"No," Scout moaned.
Mane's voice broke as he forced himself to look at the luxray. "Rai?"
The luxray paused. It cocked its head slightly and took a half step forward. "LEAVE!" it screamed, and neither of them moved.
It howled in frustration and electricity built up. Scout continued to laugh weakly under his breath, while Mane just stared. Lightning struck, and their fur went up as the town square was bathed in electricity.
Like a horde of puppets with their strings cut, everyone frozen in time collapsed to the ground.
"Cool story, bro," Mane said, grinning weakly.
Then Sunflora stood up.
"No…," Scout moaned again.
Loudred stood up.
"No…."
Everyone stood up.
Mane's face twitched erratically. It was like he was being shocked with electricity. He tried to make words, but nothing was coming. The risen pokémon all wore blank stares with glassy eyes. Electricity was crackling around their limbs and bodies, causing frozen muscles to twitch.
Only Luxray and its eyes glowed brightly, sunken pits of yellow. It growled deeply, far deeper than before. "Leave. Forever."
"The electricity," Scout whispered, mind focusing on all the wrong things now that he had reached the apex of panic. "He's moving their bodies through electricity."
"Yeah, I gathered that," Mane croaked.
The frozen pokémon rushed them. Flinging in a wave of bodies, Mane and Scout screamed. Mane tried to blast them with fire, but they were still frozen in time, no amount of fire could so much as touch them.
Scout just went into absolute panic mind and froze up, being tackled and smothered in seconds. Most of the controlled pokémon, however, were sent at Mane.
Both pokémon suffered a moment of remembrance. Scout remembered the parasect, but Mane remembered being buried by the electrike in Amp Plains.
He screamed. Howled. Thrashed. Even used up every spark he had. Nothing helped.
With Scout not getting bitten and eaten by the horde of zombies he imagined them as, he had a better chance to recover. He recoiled, pulling himself out of the pile of bodies and darted out.
Mane was still thrashing, but he was not screaming anymore. He'd run his throat ragged, and there was no air down there anyway.
"Mane… HANG ON!" Scout slashed his paw open on the horns of a tauros and began firing Shadow Balls into the horde.
While the insubstantial fire hadn't done much, the force caused by exploding Shadow Balls did help and threw jerking pokémon off Mane.
Scout plunged in, shoving and slashing out with everything he had, with just the one arm, to remove enough bodies to grab Mane's tail.
He didn't worry about breaking anything. He just pulled until Mane was out.
"RUN!" Scout screamed, but Mane didn't respond. His eyes had glazed over, but tiny puffs of air proved he was still living.
Scout groaned and tried to pull Mane onto his back, but with just one arm and his own injuries plus Mane's weight, that seemed impossible.
The luxray howled again and sent out another wave of electricity, commanding the frozen pokémon once more.
"RAI STOP!" Scout screamed, voice breaking over the luxray's own roars.
It did not stop.
A moment was needed, and Scout slashed Mane across the face, cutting his cheek, and the litleo finally reacted. "RUN!" Scout screamed again, and Mane rolled onto his feet and legged it with everything he had.
The horde pursued them until they passed the guild, in which they all collapsed again like puppets. Scout glanced back, just once, to see the luxray watching them leave. Yellow eyes were glowing brightly, watching them run.
Scout followed Mane as the litleo veered left. They are running purely on autopilot. Scout himself didn't even think to where they were going until Mane ran right into a door and began banging his body against it.
"Mane? Mane!?" he grabbed the litleo by the shoulder and, without any fire left, Mane headbutted him in the stomach before going back to beating himself against the door.
"Open. Open. OPEN!" he screamed, scratching at the wood. It was impervious to the touch. It was frozen in time.
"There's an open window here," Scout coughed, pointing. Mane looked and raced for it, trying, and failing, to jump up.
Scout grabbed Mane and hoisted him up before jumping up himself. His right arm was moving, with a lot of protesting, and once he fell inside, he felt his muscles scream in protest.
Groaning, Scout tried to pull himself up but could only get onto his behind rather than his feet. In the ever-present dull, but always visible, a light he saw Mane scurry over to his bed and begin petting at the blanket that laid there. A fine sheet, finer than even Chimecho's in the medical bay.
"Frozen," Mane mumbled, feeling the unforgiving creases almost cut at his flesh. He couldn't feel the blanket, only this afterimage.
He forced himself back and turned and froze. Scout tensed and looked the same way. Right by the door, another Mane stood frozen.
Scout's eyes went wide, and Mane's squeezed shut. "Fantastic," he whimpered, stepping back and stepping on a sharp edge of his blanket. He recoiled and lifted his back paw, glancing back at the blanket that hurt him. The one nice thing in his life, hurting him.
Scout was staring at Mane's frozen version, not realising the still-living litleo had begun to shake. It was only when Mane started to cry, did he look away from his frozen form.
With his face in his paws and tail curled around him, Mane began to sob into the ground. "I just want to go home," Mane whimpered as Scout found a heroic seventh wind to get up. "Please. Anything. Just let me go home."
"D-do you want to talk?" Scout asked, coming close, but not too close. "Or do you just want… something else?"
He almost said comfort, but he wasn't sure if he could give it. Upon thinking, he was relieved he didn't. He didn't want to know what Mane would say.
"I just want to go back," Mane breathed, exhausted. "I hate this place. This is hell. This is actual hell. How the fuck did you survive this place?"
"I don't know," Scout answered, and Mane lifted his head to glare at him. Even with the tears, he looked fierce. "I don't. I really don't."
Mane stared at him before quirking a defeated smile. "Heh. Sure."
Scout looked away but accidentally looked at the frozen Mane at the door. "I don't remember being here," he said. "I don't remember Sean. I thought I was him. I still… I feel like I am. But... I did remember what the future was, I did remember what had to be done."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Mane asked, resting his head on his paws now. It was more comfortable than anything else in here.
"I was scared," Scout answered and scoffed at himself. "I'm a coward. But that doesn't make it alright. I was scared I'd mess something up. I thought I knew… how things should go, and… yeah, I thought I knew more than I did. I'm not Sean and that… that's terrifying to me. Because I don't know who Scout is."
He was close. Right on the cusp of telling Mane everything. But... but Mane was fragile and overwhelmed they were exhausted and it... just wasn't time.
Mane's eyes began to droop as Scout yawned. "To me, you're some sort of relentless meowth. How are you even still alive?"
Scout smiled slightly. "Heh. I don't know. I'm sorry you ended up coming here, this is my fault."
"No…" Mane said before blinking. "Well, yeah, it is. But I did jump through to save you. The only fault you have is being a secretive liar and a weirdly attractive friend."
Scout groaned. "Not this again," he said, but he was smiling. Mane stuck his tongue out at him.
"I don't mean that way," he chuckled. "Well… a little that way. I mean, more… there's something about you. You got Rai to join the guild in a day. I didn't start with the bullying. I did try other ways first. As pathetic as that is. But you? Did it in a day. Then I joined the guild. Grovyle even joined that stupid expedition to see if it was you, I asked Sean."
Mane yawned and rolled over. "I really don't know what it is. Pisses me off a little really. You're good at making people like you."
"Sorry. I think."
"Heh. Yeah, you should be. How are you going to make it up to me? I can think of a few ways…."
Scout gave him a flat look but then thought back to what Mane had said about his overactive flirting lately. "Are you alright?" he asked, before scoffing at his own question. "Stupid question."
"Yeah. It is."
"I mean. Do you want to talk? Or do you want me to listen?"
"Not really," Mane admitted. "I was planning on waiting for you to go to sleep, then bawl my eyes out."
Scout frowned and began to sit up.
"I'm kidding."
The meowth slumped down, but he still had a cute frown on his face. He had a feeling Mane wasn't really kidding. He got up and stumbled over to Mane, pressing against him. Mane was like stone at first but then he pressed back almost desperately for any comfort he could get.
"While I'd love to talk feelings till the tauros come home." Mane and Scout screwed their faces up at that comment, remembering the one that had been frozen. "Ahem. But we should probably talk what we're going to do. Chatot and Sean disappeared on us. And I doubt they're together. We need to find them before they go crazy or whatever."
"It isn't fun," Scout agreed, eyes sliding shut. "Being alone here. Your heartbeat starts talking to you."
"Creepy."
"Your face is creepy."
Mane laughed. "But seriously. We should check out the guild. Someone might be there."
"I think that luxray might have something to do with it," Scout said. "It mentioned 'other' intruders. And what about the beach?" Scout suggested, eyes entirely shut now, "that's where stuff usually…" He trailed off and fell asleep.
Mane yawned, and his head fell as well. In the silence of the future, their breathing could be heard.
With only frozen Mane as a guard.
Neither noticed as it slowly began to move.
Chatot gasped awake.
He nearly fluttered off of the cold patch of straw, but there was nowhere in sight to flutter to. He blinked several times, trying to get the sleep out of his eyes.
"Where…?," he murmured, looking around. This was the guild. This was… this was Team Ion's room.
But only one bed of straw?
Curious, Chatot picked himself up and began to hop his way down the room. He wasn't sure how long he rested, but he felt better. Compared to what he was, at least. Still rather lousy yet, in comparison to before, this was golden.
"I can't believe it!" a high and cheerful voice called out.
Chatot paused, eyes widening as his heart did a flip. "Rhythm?" he gasped and took flight. This had been just a horrible, horrible dream. He wasn't sure why he was in Team Ion's room, but if Wigglytuff was here, then it was over, nightmare or not.
Chatot zoomed to the entrance to the rooms, but then landed. He found it in him to stop, take a breath, and re-evaluate the situation. He shouldn't blindly accept all was well.
Sean's words and warnings about the future returned to his mind, and he decided that being careful was the better option. There is no reason for him to be in Team Ion's room, rather than either his own perch, the medical bay, or even Rhythm's room.
And the place was quiet. So, painfully, quiet.
So, he paused and listened out with his sharp ears, perfect for catching every apprentice that tried to sneak around.
"Yeah. I found him, Lucky. It's so nice to have him back!"
That was Wigglytuff's voice. Wigglytuff giggled. "Yeah, he's a fussy thing, but he's safe now."
Chatot leaned in a bit more, hoping vainly that'd help. Wigglytuff was talking to someone, but he couldn't make out even a murmur from whoever else was around.
"I've got him in the new recruits room! It's fitting. It's like recruiting Chatot all over again!" Wigglytuff giggled. "Oh, come on, you know this is the one. He's not like the others; they were liars." Another giggle.
Chatot decided he should ask some questions. One didn't build an information network like his without asking pertinent questions. He hopped out, and Wigglytuff's voice fell silent.
The room was dark. There was no change in the light outside, endless dusk, but the room was still dark.
"Erm. Guildmaster?" Chatot called, hopping further in. "Guildmaster? I'd like to speak to you and ask a few questions."
Something was off. Why was Wigglytuff here if this was the future? Chatot tried to remember how he got here, but after hearing something in the town square, everything else was fuzzy at best.
"R-Rhythm?"
He is not in this room, Trill.
The silly bird just goes back to bed. Wigglytuff is waiting. You're leaving him cold.
He blinked, having hopped halfway back before coming yo his senses.
Thoroughly unsettled now, Chatot looked back and forth. The door to Wigglytuff's rooms was cracked open. There was a window, as well as the incline to the floor above. He was feeling drawn to the window but breaking it was a bit foolish. The guild was the safest place on the continent, possibly the world since Rhythm was here And no one knew where the Legendary Lucario was.
He wanted to look around, possibly find anyone, but Croagunk's shop was dark, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to see Croagunk frozen.
Chatot headed for the incline. He flutter-hopped his way up to the middle and found the room crowded. "Oh, what's this?" he asked on reflex. It was one of his duties to make sure the notice boards didn't get too crowded with individual teams taking too many jobs. Yet, every pokémon was dull and lifeless.
He swallowed any further words and continued to the top. Only to squawk in shock when Wigglytuff rolled down.
"Chatot!" Wigglytuff beamed, opening his arms for a hug. "What are you doing up already silly bird!" He grabbed the stunned Chatot in his arms and began carrying him down.
"N-now, Wigglytuff," Chatot stuttered, particularly thrown at this instance. "Put me down. I must go out to find the others."
Wigglytuff paused. "Others?" he asked, voice quiet. "Who?"
"Scout and Mane and Sean, er… ahem. Meowth and Litleo and Riolu. They must be in a panic looking for me. How did I even get here? Wigglytuff? Wigglytuff?"
Wigglytuff tittered happily. "Oh, you don't have to worry anymore!" he said cheerfully. "They are gone now, moved on. They have left us like all the others. It's back to you and me, leading the guild as always! Apprentices come and go, but we're always here."
"But," Chatot protested and tried to pry himself from Wigglytuff. "Rhythm, release me."
Chatot had long since put up with Wigglytuff's touchy-feely behaviour. He wasn't the most affectionate of pokémon, but Wigglytuff was certainly in the running for most. He respected Chatot's boundaries though, and always put him down when asked.
Wigglytuff did not let him go.
"Rhythm? Did you hear me? Let me go."
Wigglytuff began to hum a beat. It was a little offbeat but cheerful. "You don't have to worry, Chatot," Wigglytuff said. "You're safe here. You're fine here. With me! We've reunited again. It's been so long since I've seen you. Only fakers. Boo-boo. You don't have to leave again, not ever!"
Chatot fell silent, and Wigglytuff carried them back to the room. "Sing me my bedtime song again," Wigglytuff requested, and Chatot stuttered out the beginning.
"N-night-night sl-sleepy thing. It's time to go to sleep. There is fun and… and fun to see and play. Rest your head, down you lay."
Wigglytuff smiled and cuddled up. "Thank you, Chatot," he breathed, breath sweet with something else behind it. Chatot simply lay frozen. He called him Chatot, not Trill. That wasn't the bedtime song, not at all.
He shifted slightly, but Wigglytuff's grip on him was iron-hard, and he could barely move. Chatot just fell silent and began to match his breathing with Wigglytuff's, waiting until the Fairy-type fell asleep.
Once he was confident, Chatot began to untangle himself. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to feel. Whatever had happened to his Rhythm, if it even was, he couldn't deal with this right now.
It took a minute. Or an hour. It is hard to keep time in the future. But eventually, Chatot was out. He crept out very carefully, hoping Wigglytuff would remain asleep.
He glanced back a few times, Wigglytuff rolled over and mumbled something, before speeding up.
"Yep," Wigglytuff said, right as Chatot reached the entrance again. The Flying-type froze. "It's been so fun having Chatot again, Slink! So much fun."
Chatot looked back in confusion. He could still see Wigglytuff in the room from here, even if from a distance it didn't look so much like Wigglytuff.
"You said it, Tez. Can't wait to play some more!"
Chatot looked to the window again. He had made an error in trying the normal exit before. He flew into action and readied an Air Cutter, sending the blade of air at the fragile window while flying at it.
The Air Cutter bounced away in a puff of air and Chatot slammed into the window beak first. He cursed and bounced off. There was no sound of his attack or collision, but his curse echoed through the empty building filled with so many pokémon.
He grunted and grabbed his beak with a wing. A giggle was all he had to prepare himself before Wigglytuff swept him up in his arms again.
"Silly, Chatot," Wigglytuff giggled, rubbing his head. "We don't need to play outside tonight." He began walking them back to the room.
Chatot still thought he could see something in the room.
"W-why aren't we going to your room?" Chatot asked Wigglytuff gave a dismissive titter. "No. The Guildmaster should not stay in the apprentices' rooms."
"You are not the Guildmaster," Wigglytuff snapped, and Chatot flinched. "Now, now, Chatot. We're friends, but we have to do what I want first. We can go later."
Chatot pulled himself free and hopped onto the cold ground in front of them. "I am sorry, Guildmaster," he said sternly. "But I cannot stay here any longer. My compatriots in this endeavour are surely concerned, and we do not have time to waste here."
"Being with me is a waste?" Wigglytuff asked softly. Chatot paused.
"Of course not," he said.
"Then stay." Wigglytuff smiled, and Chatot felt lighter. It was a little strange, he couldn't help but wonder why Wigglytuff had such a toothy smile, but it was okay. Wigglytuff was here.
"All I want is for us to be together again," Wigglytuff said, and Chatot began to sway. "Wigglytuff and Chatot again. The real Chatot, this time. Not the other ones. Those were fake Chatot's. They were wrong, and they had to be removed. I want the real Chatot, and only the real Chatot would be kind and stay with me. Aren't you the real Chatot?"
Chatot wobbled. He was the real Chatot. We all are. How swell to be Chatot. To be the second in command of the Wigglytuff Guild, how kind and generous Wigglytuff is.
"I…"Chatot said he wasn't sure why I wasn't giving in already.
"Note," Wigglytuff soothed. "Join me."
Chatot froze.
That was not his name.
Wigglytuff opened his arms for a hug, Chatot leapt forward in a flurry of wings and feathers and startled the Fairy-type, flying over him and out into the room.
"CHATOT!" Wigglytuff screamed and began to pursue. "NO-NO-NO-NO-NO!"
Chatot did a barrel roll and avoided Wigglytuff flying from the roof. He got to the second level and ducked around three more Wigglytuff.
He Wigglytuff'd and Wigglytuff'd until he was Wigglytuff'd out of Wiffletugg.
Chatot nearly reached the top of the guild when Wigglytuff's paw came out of nowhere and grabbed him by the wing. Chatot pulled, and he felt several feathers be torn off, but his wing was free.
Wigglytuff screamed at him to stop, as Chatot reached the top.
A skull of a chatot was knocked clattering as he slammed to a stop. He stood on the femur of a chatot, and tripped, falling back into his old roost.
Chatot squawked a high chirp before falling silent like the others.
Bones. Bones of birds were everywhere. Skulls leered at him from corners, white and brittle, and bones littered the ground. Littered his roost.
Wigglytuff's weak sobs reached him but didn't startle him out of his shock.
"Why?" Wigglytuff asked, coming up the incline with tears running down his face. "Why do you always run? Why do you make me do this? Why, Chatot?"
Wigglytuff hefted a crude hammer and cruder nails. Chatot spotted one thing in common with the bones: the feet were all side by side, with nails driven through them.
"Why do I have to hurt you? Why won't you be Chatot for me?"
Chatot leaped out, squawking and flapping violently. He slammed into the grate and tried to go for the hole everyone went through when they wanted to sneak by him. Before he could, Wigglytuff grabbed his tail feathers.
"You'll have to stay here until you love me," Wigglytuff sobbed and raised the hammer.
Chatot struck him with metal-coated wings and knocked him and the hammer back.
Zooming forward, Chatot slammed into this accursed depiction of his closest companion, and they barrelled down the stairs.
"CURSE THIS WRETCHED WORLD!" Chatot cried and threw Wigglytuff into the throng of frozen pokémon.
He flew further downstairs. He couldn't get to the grate, he knew trying the same trick wouldn't work twice, and all the other windows were likely frozen. He knew there was one, one that should already be broken.
Wigglytuff never let him get someone in to repair the window he accidentally broke. The one in his meeting room. It would be open. It had to be.
Chatot flew as fast as his partially-plucked wings could take him and headed for the doors. They were ajar, and he slid through them without hesitation.
What he found, however, caused him to hesitate.
Wigglytuff was already here.
On his chair.
Dulled fur, dust building up, glassy eyes.
He was frozen in time.
Gone. Not him. Before him. A frozen corpse sitting on his tombstone. Trill's Rhythm, forever silenced.
A pitiful sniffling caused him to turn around, dire fury lighting his eyes. "You aren't Rhythm," Chatot spat and the monster pretending to be him screamed.
"I AM WIGGLYTUFF! I AM! I JUST NEED A CHATOT!"
Wigglytuff threw himself at Chatot, and Chatot met it with wings bared. A Hyper Voice nearly blew him back, but it was nothing to the real thing.
Wings coating with temporary metal, Chatot slashed at the false idol and matched his own Hyper Voice with Mirror Move.
Wigglytuff's fist lit up with crackling electricity, and Chatot's eyes widened. Wigglytuff launched himself at him with the Thunderpunch, aiming to clobber Chatot out of the sky.
Chatot flew back and twisted, catching Wigglytuff with his wings and talons. He pointed the fist at the other, non-broken, window and threw Wigglytuff with all his force.
The electrical attack punched straight through the glass and Wigglytuff fell out of the building. Chatot flew for the other one, the one he'd accidentally broken all those years ago, and ignored the false Wigglytuff as he screamed his name.
He raised his head and forced himself up, burying the horror of what he'd experienced. The worst was seeing the real Wigglytuff, frozen, and lifeless. That, of all things, was the greatest horror to Chatot.
He began to search for others from the sky. Only to be lanced out of the air by a sudden burst of electricity.
He'd landed with a harsh crash.
Scout had woken up to a knocking sound. Something is calling his name. Then he and Mane had jolted up to the distant sounds of screaming and came running, only to hear something scream Chatot's name and then a lightning bolt blasts him out of the sky.
Scout had not slept as much as he wanted, but was at least feeling much more alive.
"Chatot!" Scout cried, running with his lamed arm. It wasn't very far to find him.
"Chatty's!" Mane also yelled, with some actual energy rather than pure fumes.
Chatot shook his head and pulled himself up. "What was that?" he asked, not particularly worse for wear.
"Thunderbolt," Mane said, rather helpfully, as Scout helped Chatot regain his bearings.
"Your feathers… are you… what happened?"
Chatot brushed him off. "Just a small situation I freed myself from." He gave them a critical look over. The two exchanged a glance.
"What did you tell me in the medical tent at the base of Foggy Forest?" Chatot demanded, peering suspiciously at Scout.
"What?"
"Answer the question."
"Th-that I was… human."
Mane gave him a look as Chatot relaxed. "Good. Now, what is going on?"
Mane glanced to Scout, and he nodded.
"What happened?" Mane asked, and Chatot just shook his head at him.
"I see you have lost track of Sean. Do you have any leads?"
"We found a luxray that can move the frozen pokémon to attack," Scout said, grimacing. Mane nodded in agreement. "And it mentioned 'others' before it attacked us. Sean had already disappeared by then."
Chatot nodded. "We shall find this luxray then."
"Also," Scout began, but couldn't continue. He shared a look with Mane, and together they tried to beam it at Chatot. The bird's eyes widened slightly, and he swallowed.
"We'll deal with anything that comes our way," he said, and they nodded. Scout kept a firm hold on their Treasure Bag.
It didn't really have much in it. But it felt nice to hold.
"Scout?" He heard a whisper.
And now it was talking to him. Scout shook his head. Great.
Treasure Town provided no information. Only that all the frozen pokémon were returned to their previous positions. Sunflora chatted away with Loudred as Magmar came close. Everyone was calm and unmoving. Horrifying, lost, frozen, gone.
"Of course," Mane scoffed as they passed, refusing to flinch at any pokémon. "Of course it'd be back at Sharpedo Cliff."
They passed Kecleon, Kangaskhan, and finally, Vigoroth. The dungeon they had exited from still floated ominously in the sky, but before that stood Luxray.
"This is not the place for you," Luxray said, eyes narrowed. "Leave."
"Where is Sean?" Scout demanded as Chatot and Mane exchanged puzzled looks. Scout turned back and forth to keep an eye on their backs.
Luxray frowned. "Sean?" it asked, before shaking it matted mane. "I do not know a 'Sean.' What I do know, however, is this place is dangerous. You must leave quickly before it is too late. If you do not leave, the same fate will befall you as it has me, and those few others."
"Wha?" Scout spluttered. "What? What? What? Warning us? Talking normally? You attacked us! With lifeless, frozen, pokémon! Why should we trust ANYTHING you have to say?"
Luxray cocked his head at him as Scout glanced back, hearing something. Its eyes flicked from Chatot to Scout to Mane, curiosity on its face. "Who…?"
"Guys?" Sean shouted, and the three pokémon jumped. Scout turned back to see Luxray back off, something swinging around its neck as it turned, while the other two turned around to the source of the voice.
Luxray paused upon seeing him staring, before ducking into the entrance to the home dug into Sharpedo Bluff. Something ached in Scout's heart.
Sean came running. "How the hell did you three get back here?" he called, rushing forward with something in his paw.
"Sean?" Mane and Chatot gasped.
Sean paused, catching his breath. "Oof." He looked up sharply. "How long has it been since you've seen me?" he demanded and again, the two were left confused.
"A few hours at least," Mane answered, turning back. "We, uh… kinda fell asleep."
"You fell asleep?" Sean asked flatly. Chatot nodded as well.
"Surprisingly nice nap."
"We got attacked by the frozen townsfolk!" Scout yelled, turning back to see Luxray was gone. "The luxray controlled them somehow! It was the worst. Thanks for the warning."
Sean frowned. "That… sounds scary. You alright?"
"It happened," Mane said, frowning as well. "This whole day has been confusing."
Sean smiled. "Considering it started in the dungeons, getting this far is pretty impressive."
"Where did YOU go?" Mane asked. "Did you sleep?"
"It's not been so long for me." Sean shrugged but opened his paw to show the Relic Fragment. "Look what I found though."
The three gawked at the sight.
"How?"
Sean grinned. "Things don't change in the future unless something HUGE happens in the past. That's what he said at least. Just because a few pokémon have been scuttling about in the past, doesn't mean anything's changed yet. So, the Treasure Key is in this time and place! I found it. Neat, huh?"
"Maybe that's why Luxray was so psychotic earlier?" Mane muttered, Scout just kept staring in confusion.
"Ahem. Can we leave now?" Chatot asked, looking around. "I've had enough of this. And we have wasted too much time."
Sean nodded. "Good idea."
They made their way through the town. Sean kept a close eye on all the frozen pokémon. They didn't move, thankfully.
They passed the guild. Mane kept a close eye on it. No facsimile of his partner came after them, thankfully.
Scout watched the path to the residential area. He hadn't had time even to think, but he was sure someone had called his actual name to wake him up. Nothing was there, unfortunately. He looked to Sean, the band of the Relic Fragment swinging back and forth.
"Don't… trust."
Scout shook his head. There was that voice again. He looked at his bag.
"That's… not… Sean."
His breath hitched.
"Hey, Sean?" Scout asked the riolu, glanced back.
"Yeah?"
"Where did you find that? I thought I saw it around Luxray's neck. Also... I've never heard you call the Relic Fragment by that name. You always called it the Key to the Hidden Land."
Sean sighed. Chatot sighed. Mane sighed.
They turned to him. Eyes were blank and lifeless.
"You had to interfere."
Scout jerked back. All three of them?
"You had to listen."
Scout immediately began running. He wasn't dealing with this. Hahaha, you can't run.
"You had to fight."
Scout sprinted as fast as he could, bolting on all fours, he was approaching the paths to the residential areas again. He could feel whatever was behind him approaching. It wasn't running. It didn't need to run.
A roar shook the silence around him as lightning fell like a gods wrath. It missed him, miraculously, or perhaps was never aimed at him.
Eyes of burning gold gleamed through the smoke caused by the attack and Scout coughed for breath, slamming into a powerful body.
The luxray didn't even grunt as he ran into it, looking down. It was close enough to smell, a caustic ozone bitterness permeating the wretched creature.
It stoof still, silent, as Scout's meowth insticts overtook him, eyes locked on the grimy artifact around its neck.
He ripped it off and then ran again.
"Turn right." The voice was back, Scout obeyed. He was running right along the path. He continued sprinting, and he felt whatever was behind him ripple with annoyance. He spotted the house that Mane owned and yelled out.
"MANE!"
Mane came bursting from the open window. "THERE YOU are?" His eyes went wide, and he yipped almost canine-like at the things approaching. "FIRE BLAST!" he yelled, using the move as he did so.
The darkness retreated from the light and the heat, hissing, and whispering.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Mane demanded. "I woke up a few minutes ago, and I was already going crazy and I swear the frozen me MOVED and was covering its fucking eyes like some sort of twisted peekaboo!"
Scout panted for breath, hyperventilating from the terror. "Please tell me you're really Mane," he begged. "Flirt, make inappropriate remarks, actually answer questions as they are!"
"Woah-woah-woah!" Mane gasped, waving him down. "What is going on?"
"I thought I heard Chatot and the two of us, both of us, me AND you went to help. But it wasn't Chatot, and it wasn't you, and it wasn't Sean, and I am terrified, Mane. I am freaking out."
Mane backed off, Scout's claws were coming out, and he was darting each direction for threats. "Tell me something only me, and you know. Right now. From the past. Or I swear I will go insane."
"I, uh, uh, uh. I-I-I don't know. What do you want to know?"
"I didn't ask it questions. It just asked each other. That's it! Tell me something NOW. Tell me how we first met?"
"Okay, okay, okay. I uh… okay. We met outside Kangaskhan's Storage. You knocked me out with a sleep seed. I joined your team after we were nearly killed by Shadow Pokémon. Is that enough?"
Scout's breathing began to settle. "Y-yes. I think so. Holy shit, what was that?"
"I don't know," Mane said, looking positively spooked. "What happened?"
Scout grimaced. "I-I don't even know." He looked to his bag, frowning suspiciously. He opened it and began digging through it, taking common checks to make sure nothing was coming to attack them.
"What are you looking for?" Mane asked, not sure if he should step closer.
"Something has been talking to me," Scout replied, still looking. "Not like the… well, it said that Sean wasn't the real one. That's how I got out of there. I was completely fooled. It sounded like it was coming from my bag."
He grabbed everything. From the glass from the desert to the seeds, to the apple, to the orbs, to the one Yellow Gummi. And that was it. He dug the glass out again, and it was the only interesting thing he could fathom could be doing this.
Nothing but his reflection. He couldn't see through this glass. Scout sighed and dropped it back in, placing the stolen artifactwith the rest. "Okay. We better find the others."
Mane couldn't help but notice Scout was watching him very carefully, so he decided to flirt some more.
It helped, for once.
"What was that burst of lightning? Scout asked, looking around. Mane nodded. "Earlier?"
"I did hear something. Then you were just gone."
They trotted until they neared the guild. Mane began to cringe away from the frozen pokémon, Scout noticed keenly. The other one hadn't.
They followed the sound of coughing, to find Chatot smouldering. He was up, but not in a great position. Mane went running forward, and Scout caught him by the tail.
"Ow!" Mane yipped before giving him a sultry look. "Kinky."
"What did you say to me the first time we spoke together privately? And where did we speak?" he demanded. Chatot wobbled slightly but blinked.
"The guild larder," he answered. "And I told you to be careful of rumours. After Boulder Quarry."
Scout relaxed. "It's Chatot."
Chatot ruffled his scorched feathers. "But of course," he snapped. "Who else?"
Mane laughed. "Definitely Chatot."
"Sorry," Scout said, glancing around. "I got tricked earlier by some… things that looked like you, Mane, and Sean. I really don't want it to happen again. I will cut someone if it does."
He bared his claws constantly.
Chatot noticed that he was keeping a close eye on both of them as they walked out into Treasure Town once more.
"Never thought I'd be tired of this path," Scout muttered, looking around. "But I really don't want to go back into town again."
"Well neither do I," Mane said, eyeing Sunflora and Loudred fearfully. "If that luxray attacks again."
"That luxray actually," Scout trailed off. "I don't even know anymore."
"To turn our noble town into a beacon of horror," Chatot spat. "Unforgivable."
"I'll apologise to Leaves and Loud Lad when we get back," Mane snapped. "But for now, if they move I'm going to explode them."
"Should we start calling?" Chatot suggested.
Scout screwed his face. "I'm pretty sure calling is how the horror monsters find us," Scout snarked.
Mane gave him an odd look. "I'm pretty sure whatever is here, knows we are too."
Scout considered that. "I guess."
"SEAN!?" Mane bellowed, putting some Hyper Voice into it. Both of his companions staggered from the volume.
There was silence.
Then.
"LITLEO?" Sean yelled, staggering out from the bushes. Scout tensed. "Holy fragaroly. You have no idea what I've been through."
"Stop right there or Mane is going to roast you!" Scout snapped.
Sean paused. "He is?"
"I am?" Mane asked.
"Back in Treasure Town," Scout began, and Mane rolled his eyes at the melodramatics. He hadn't experienced what Scout had, "a couple of days before Dusknoir sent everything to hell. You came to speak to me. What was that about?"
"About Dusknoir," Sean answered, nodding firmly. He saw what Scout was doing. "We had a bit of a roundabout conversation. I even hinted, so strongly, I was from the future. I even winked."
Scout swallowed and smiled. Sean nodded back. "How did you three end up here?" he asked. "Different answers from all of you."
"Oh, come now," Chatot sniffed, but Scout answered.
"Dusknoir threw me into the portal."
Mane rolled his eyes but answered. "I tackled Dusknoir through."
"And I," Chatot sighed. "Was grabbed by the beast and dragged in as well."
Sean and Scout breathed a sigh of relief. "Had an experience did you?" he asked, trotting up. Sean was covered in leaves and small scratches. "I've had some fun myself."
"If there are doppelgangers," Scout snapped. "Why didn't you mention it earlier?"
Sean gave him an apologetic look. "Whatever it is… I can't even be sure. This place is dangerous."
"How did you lose us, by the way?" Mane asked, trotting along as they all, very quickly, began to leave. "You were right behind us."
"I got lured away," Sean answered, pursing his lips. "Something that made me all 'suggestible.'"
"The same happened to me," Chatot squawked. "I was… anyway." He looked away.
"We just took a nap," Mane said, sticking his tongue out. "Pity my future self was frozen. I could have had some fun there."
"Oh my god," Scout and Sean said at the same time, and Mane laughed. After Treasure Town, they needed to laugh. Despite that, they hurried their step.
Mane kept an eye on any pokémon they passed. They didn't move; he was thankful.
Chatot tried not to look to yearningly at the guild. Whatever had happened to him was bizarre and painful. He didn't even want to imagine. But no false Wigglytuff came after them, he was thankful.
Sean watched the roads again, but also kept an eye on his bag. His shoulders grew tense as he waited for everything to go wrong again.
"They're… safe." He heard a whisper and sighed in relief. Scout saw the Relic Fragment lying innocently on the ground. "Don't." He realised he still held the thing he took off the luxray.
He left it alone. And left the wails of Treasure Town alone.
They watched as the intruders left town. Luxray and Wigglytuff kept a close eye on them as they left the boundaries and escaped.
Luxray shivered, and Wigglytuff giggled.
"Failures. After them."
The two moved, shifting shape and form as they rushed forward.
Scout's whiskers twinged, and he paused, glancing back. Sean's tassels quivered, and he looked forward with a smile.
"Watch out!" Scout cried as the something surged after them like a tide of shadows. Chatot squawked in shock and Mane's mouth burned with flames.
"Bang."
A burst of pink light annihilated the shadows and bathed the world around them in light almost as bright as day.
The light burned away, and a floating, pink, pixie was left. She turned back with a grin. "How's THAT for an entrance?"
Reading over this old chaos has been fun. A first attempt at some horror this was, mostly preserved.