Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter Three-hundred and twelve: Blueberry Bungling, part five
The reborn trainers, along with Briar, Carmine, Rimu, and Ideku, made their way through the Area Zero under depths. They crossed over a natural bridge, but soon came to a stop when a flowering burst of crystal blocked their path. "What IS this?" Carmine said, "It's like a crystal trying to be a flower. It's completely blocked up the path."
"It does seem like we won't be able to proceed further with this thing in our way," Rimu remarked.
Turning to look at the reborn trainers, Carmine said, "Hey Dawn and Trip, what about those two Whatchama-dons that the two of you respectively own? Couldn't they smash through?"
Looking like she was thinking about it, Dawn replied, "I bet that they could, but it may not be such a wise idea. We ought to explore other options."
"Yes, exactly," Briar said as she turned to face the others, "This flowering crystal is most likely a manifestation of pure Terastal energy, so we have no clue what will happen if we try getting rid of it via the brute force method."
"So how do we take it down?" Trip asked.
As Briar contemplated how to take down the flowering crystal, the attention of everyone was drawn to a wild Glimmora who randomly came in. It was glowing and sparking with rainbow colors. "There are Pokémon all the way down here?" Briar said, "And this one seems to be glowing with a strange sort of energy I've never seen before..."
"Ms. Briar, please stand back," Carmine said, "You know full well you're no good in a battle. Let me or one of the others here deal with it."
Stepping forward, Ideku said, "I'll give it a whirl. Go, Cupidos!" Ideku sent out his named Enamorus to deal with the wild Glimmora who, upon being challenged, randomly Terastallized into a Tera Type none of the humans had seen; there were symbols of all the Pokémon types floating around a turtle like fixture with the Tera Star symbol above it, and the type symbols floated around in a circle around the whole thing.
"What on earth is that energy?!" Briar exclaimed, "It... it couldn't be?!"
Gesturing forward, Ideku called out, "Cupidos, use Earth Power on Glimmora!" Cupidos made the ground under Glimmora erupt with power, blasting right into Glimmora and breaking it out of its Terastallization, returning it to normal. A call of Extrasensory from Ideku saw to Cupidos defeating the wild Glimmora and sending it packing.
"Good job, Ideku!" Briar cheered, then she and everyone else turned to look at the crystal blocking their path as they noticed it was glowing. Suddenly, the crystal vanished, revealing a path to go down further on. "The crystal disappeared," Briar said, "Did defeating that sparkling Pokémon make the crystal vanish? It's just like in that report we saw a short while ago... What we just witnessed was a Pokémon wielding the powers of each and every type. That means that it must of had the Stellar Tera Type!"
"Wait, hol' up a minute there," Carmine began, "Was THAT supposed to be the so-called hidden treasure we're looking for? And the brown haired boy chased it off?"
"Carmine, that was a wild Glimmora," Dawn pointed out dryly, "The rest of my crew and I have seen the species before. There's no way it was the hidden treasure we're looking for."
"Yes, Sinnoh Champion Dawn raises an excellent point, Carmine," Briar said, "Besides, the notes left behind by the professors said that the hidden treasure of Area Zero is slumbering in crystal form. The wild Glimmora that Monarch Ideku fought off doesn't fully fit the description, so it's unlikely the Pokémon that the professors called Terapagos."
Shrugging, Carmine said, "I suppose that the only way to know for sure if it was the hidden treasure or not is to keep going. Come on." Carmine then led the rest of the party down the path that had just opened up, letting the expedition continue.
...
The party had to be careful when crossing through the next area as there were some thin natural bridges, but they eventually made their way over to another large flowering crystal that blocked off their path from continuing. "Great, we're at another dead end," Trip scoffed in annoyance.
"Maybe there's another wild Tera Stellar Pokémon nearby we can beat up and make the crystal blocking our path go away?" Kenny suggested.
"Oh come on, Kenny," Carmine scoffed incredulously, "Like that will happen a second-"
"That wild Noivern over there is glowing just like the wild Glimmora from earlier," Ideku said as he pointed out a wild Noivern that was glowing same as the Glimmora had done. Ideku sent Cupidos back out and had her fly over to Noivern. Upon being confronted, the wild Noivern Terastallized into the Stellar Tera Type. "Use Moonblast!" Ideku called out.
Cupidos conjured and cast a Moonblast right at Noivern, who barely hung in but its Terastallization was broken. Another Moonblast from the named Enamorus defeated the wild Noivern. As Cupidos flew back over to Ideku, the flowering crystal blocking the path dissipated. "...You were saying?" said Kenny as he looked right at Carmine.
"...Shut up," Carmine scowled as the party proceeded further down the path.
...
The party had entered a large room, and were blocked off by yet another flowering crystal. "Okay, we need to find the wild Tera Stellar Pokémon that's the barrier maiden so we can knock it out and get rid of the flowering crystal in our way," Mina declared.
Briar had everyone aside from Carmine go look for the wild Tera Stellar Pokémon that was linked to the new flowering crystal blocking their path. It was after the heroes went down a side path that they entered a large cavern room and spotted a sparkling wild Pokémon a ways away.
Flying over on their Pokémon, the heroes saw that it was a wild Iron Thorns. Ideku once more challenged the wild Tera Stellar Pokémon with Cupidos who, after Iron Thorns had Terastallized into Tera Stellar, defeated it swiftly with a few Earth Power attacks.
After the wild Iron Thorns was defeated, the heroes flew back over to go up the path back to where the flowering crystal was up to. But when they reached the entrance to that path, they were met up by Briar. "Oh, yeah the path opened up," Briar said, "And sorry about you guys doing all of the heavy lifting. But we do appreciate it."
Briar's Rotom Phone came flying out and floated in front of her. "Hmm? Oh, it would seem that the Terastal energy around us is growing more dense the further down we go." After putting her Rotom Phone away, Briar said, "Come on everyone, we've got no time to lose!" Everyone nodded along with Briar as they proceeded down the newly opened path.
...
After going down a path that wound down, the party got stuck at yet another flowering crystal blocking their path. However, this area had an underground lake that stretched on into a path that led away from the flowering crystal. "You guys go surfing down that path and see if the wild Tera Stellar Pokémon linked to the crystal blocking our path this time is down there," Carmine said to the reborn trainers, Rimu, and Ideku, "I'd go but I'd rather not get my clothes wet."
"I can push you into the water again," Kenny offered, "Just like how I did back in Kitakami at the Crystal Pool at the top of the mountain."
Scowling in annoyance, Carmine said, "I'm still mad at you for that."
"And I'm still mad at you for being a dick-waffle towards Kieran," Kenny said causally before he and the other heroes surfed down the path on water Pokémon.
Eventually, they entered a large cavern room that was basically a single lake with an island in the middle that had a large tree made entirely of crystal on it. A sparkling wild Garganacl stood on the island in front of the crystal tree. Ideku confronted it like he did the previous wild Tera Stellar Pokémon, and Garganacl upon being challenged by Cupidos had Terastallized into Tera Stellar.
But a fat load of good it did as Cupidos took it out in two Earth Powers. With the wild Tera Stellar Pokémon defeated, the heroes went back to where the flowering crystal was blocking the path, and saw that it was gone. As the heroes surfed their way back over, they heard Carmine call out, "Oi! The path opened up!"
When the heroes reached where Carmine and Briar were waiting, Dawn said, "It was a Garganacl this time. Ideku defeated it like he did the others."
"Man, I wish that Kieran were here," Carmine said, "We could have made him shoulder the burden for all of us instead of having to rely on you guys. I would have even made him call out to you guys for me if he were here."
Ideku had a very unamused look on his face as he regarded Carmine. "You're a piece of shit older sister towards Kieran. Everything that I got from Rimu before you and the others reached Naranja Academy before we left on this expedition is true."
"What do you know about what Kieran and I went through?!" Carmine snapped at the World Champion, "The losses that we've suffered? The struggle that we're facing in order to stick together as a family?!" Throwing her hands into the air, Carmine said, "Gaahh! We've got no time for this! Let's just keep going!"
As Carmine went down the path, Briar turned to look at the others. "You'll have to forgive her. We had to fend off wild Pokémon while you were taking down the wild Tera Stellar Pokémon, and as I'm not a trainer, Carmine had to do everything. Her team's just about spent, Sinistcha is the only active Pokémon she has left. So if Sinistcha goes down, you all will have to protect me and Carmine."
The heroes, though none of them liked Carmine, understood she's frustrated with having to fend off a lot of wild Pokémon and is down to one left. That said, the rest of the party went down the path that Carmine went down.
...
When the rest of the party entered the room, they saw Carmine pull a Tera Orb out and it was glowing. "Huh, it looks like my Tera Orb is reacting to something," Carmine said.
"My Rotom Phone is picking up more Terastal energy than ever before," Briar said as she had her Rotom Phone out. Putting her Rotom Phone away, Briar said, "Ooh, I just can't wait!" She then proceeded to dash down the path that was in front of everyone.
"We're finally at the finish line," Carmine said, "The hidden treasure!" Carmine then ran after Briar, just as excited as her.
"Uhhg, those two," Rimu scowled, "And Carmine dares to have the nerve to say that Kieran is the one between them to be the trouble maker." The heroes then had to run after Briar and Carmine down the newest path, one they luckily didn't have to battle a wild Tera Stellar Pokémon to open up.
...
After the reborn trainers, Ideku, and Rimu went down a path that was entirely made of crystal, they entered a large room with crystals all around. Near the front of the large room they saw Carmine and Briar standing in front of something. "What manner of dank shenanigans is going on here?" said Kenny, "I feel a disturbance in The Hose down here."
Looking around, Carmine said, "Where is it? Where is the hidden treasure?!"
Pointing at something, Briar said, "Look up ahead, Carmine! There's something among the pillars of crystal!" The two ladies dashed on ahead to where a perfectly hexagonal crystal chunk was stuck in a platform of crystal.
Carmine walked up to the crystal chunk in the crystal platform. "This stone is the hidden treasure?" Carmine said questioningly.
Taking out a book, Briar said, "Gimme a moment, I need to check something..."
Carmine, however, looked down at the crystal chunk after getting closer to it. "...If I can get the hidden treasure of Area Zero..." Carmine began. She then put her hands on the crystal chunk and began trying to pull it out. "I..." Carmine cried out, "...I can keep from losing my younger brother and my grandparents too!"
"Carmine, what in blazes are you talking about?!" Mina called out.
"Shut it, Mina!" Carmine called out as she pulled on the crystal chunk, "Kieran and our grandparents are the only family I have left! I've never known a day of real, full happiness ever since me and Kieran lost our parents in that accident! I've felt this empty void in me ever since that day, a void that's feels like it's threatening to grow more and more with every instance of Kieran trying to be on his own away from me!"
The reborn trainers, as well as Rimu and Ideku, all looked on with troubled looks as Carmine let things out. "I love my family, damn it!" Carmine screamed as she continued to pull on the crystal chunk, "I'd do anything to keep them from leaving me! I have done everything I could think of to keep Kieran from leaving me! He's stuck in Kitakami with our grandparents now, so now I know all of my family is safe and sound!"
Dawn had a hint of suspicion enter her expression. "...Don't tell me that Carmine had something to do with Kieran being expelled from Blueberry Academy..." Dawn muttered under her breath.
"Even you guys are at fault, Dawn and her friends!" Carmine cried out as she still continued to pull on the crystal chunk, "You coming in and getting all buddy buddy with Kieran made him more bold and willing to keep himself from me! You all were trying to break apart what family I still have left! I have been working so hard to keep what family I still have left together, and in the end it STILL was not enough! I can't stand it!"
The heroes looked on at Carmine as she was letting out how she actually felt. "My... my family is all that I have left," Carmine said as she STILL was pulling on the crystal chunk, "I need to... I HAVE to keep Kieran and our grandparents all together with me!" As she pulled on the crystal chunk, Carmine said, "If getting the hidden treasure of Area Zero... if getting a legendary Pokémon... is what I have to do to keep from losing anyone else in my family..."
Throwing her head back, Carmine screamed to the heavens above, "...THEN SO BE IT!"
Putting the book away, Briar said, "Found it! Yes, that crystal is totally what we're looking for! Go on, Carmine! Pull with everything you've got! Show us the hidden treasure of Area Zero!"
Carmine gave a considerable grunt of effort, a grunt that to Kenny sounded as if Carmine had just shat herself, and eventually she pulled the crystal chunk out away from the crystal platform, but the crystal chunk flew from her hand and landed on the ground a few meters away. Carmine ran to it and picked it up as Briar ran to catch up to Carmine. "There's no doubt about it," Briar said, "That has got to be it! This crystal must be Terapagos!"
The crystal then glowed in Carmine's hands and floated up, where it bathed itself in an aura of nearly blinding whitish blue light. Then, the legs, tail, and head and neck of a cute little turtle Pokémon popped out and landed on the ground. The Pokémon, smaller than most unevolved starter Pokémon even if the crystal chunk body is taken into account, closed its eyes, yawned, then opened its eyes again.
When it did, the small turtle Pokémon saw Kenny and instantly proceeded to walk on over to him, eager to get with Kenny. Seeing this, Carmine said, "No..." Taking out the Master Ball she got from Kieran's belongings, she expanded it and threw it at the Pokémon while yelling, "You're MINE!" The Master Ball flew at the turtle Pokémon, bumped into it, took it into itself, then fell to the ground and shook for a bit before making a ping sound, indicating capture.
"That... was Terapagos, right?" Rimu said as he and the other heroes approached Carmine who held the Master Ball that contained the turtle Pokémon, "You... caught it, right?"
"You caught it in what was basically a sneak attack capture," Ideku admonished, "Similar to how the girl who had tricked me had caught Reshiram back in Unova. That said, it may not be entirely fond of you for that."
"I don't care," Carmine replied. Looking down at the Master Ball that held Terapagos, Carmine said, "F-Finally... finally I have the means to keep from losing anymore of my family..."
"Very well done, Carmine!" Briar said, "The fact that you brought along a Master Ball tells me that you were well prepared for this! Now I can study Terapagos whenever I want... But! There's no time like the present! Think you can give us a little demonstration of Terapagos's power right now?"
Carmine turned to look at the heroes. "...Well, you heard her, Kenny," Carmine said.
"Why me?" Kenny replied.
"You were the main inspiration that made Kieran want to leave me behind!" Carmine said, "Now come on! Let's battle! I'm also itching to see what Terapagos can do, I wanna see how strong it is so I can best use it to keep from losing the rest of my family! Get ready so we can start our battle here and now, Kenny!"
Seeing that Carmine was being impossible to reason with, the heroes decided to just roll with things as they came. "...Fine, I'll tango with you," Kenny said.
"This time..." Carmine said, "...This time I'm totally going to win!" Tossing up the ball that held her latest catch, Carmine said, "Go, Terapagos!"
"Okay, Black!" Kenny said as he sent out his named Giratina, "Let's make it cringe!"
Right before any battling could actually have been done, Terapagos floated up and glowed as it transformed, become more disk shaped with its shell, and only its head and feet poked out along the rim. The front had this fur like trim, and out of the back were flowing furry tails. "Well alright, Terapagos!" Carmine called out, "Let's show Kenny what were made of! Use Zen Headbutt!"
"Black, counter with Iron Head!" Kenny called out.
Black rushed in, its head shining like polished metal, as Terapagos rushed in with psychic energy covering its head. But Black was quicker and slammed its head hard down into Terapagos. The attack looked as if it weren't very effective, as if made to be that way. But it still made Terapagos flinch, giving Black the edge.
Gesturing forward, Carmine called out, "Terapagos, use Water Pulse!"
"Black, use Dragon Claw!" Kenny ordered.
Black, its claws glowing with dragonic power, rushed to strike Terapagos, shredding through the Water Pulse and going on to strike at Terapagos, dealing considerable damage. Carmine scowled as even with a legendary Pokémon she has yet to do anything significant to Kenny's Giratina.
Throwing her hand forward in a sweeping arc, Carmine commanded, "Terapagos, use Earth Power!"
"Black, use Dragon Claw again!" Kenny called out.
The named Giratina flew over the Earth Power and went on to strike Terapagos with claws glowing fiercely with dragonic power. From the looks of it, one more solid hit would be sufficient to bring down Carmine's Terapagos. Carmine herself saw this, and she grew worried. "Terapagos, use Zen Headbutt!" Carmine exclaimed.
"Black, use Dragon Claw once more!" Kenny ordered.
The two legendary Pokémon rushed one another, but Black was quicker and struck Terapagos with Dragon Claw, making it reel back in defeat. "What the hell?!" Carmine exclaimed upon seeing her legendary Pokémon writhe in defeat, "I thought that if I just had Terapagos, if I had the hidden treasure of Area Zero, it... it would make me strong enough to... to never lose any of my family ever again... so why..."
"Carmine, you need to stop," Rimu said, "Look, I too know the pain of losing family to the void. But it's no excuse to-"
"No, something's not right," Briar said, cutting Rimu off, "It's Terastal energy output is far too low. Not to mention the fact that it looks different from the illustration in my book that I got here..." Suddenly, Briar looked like she was struck by realization. "Of course! Terapagos is made of Terastal energy! Quickly, Carmine! You must Terastallize Terapagos this instant! If my hunch is correct, Teraoagos will resonate with the energy from your Tera Orb, and the hidden treasure will finally reveal its true brilliance to us!"
"Uhh, are we sure doing this in here is a wise move?" Kenny asked.
But he and the other heroes were ignored as Carmine proceeded to Terastallize Terapagos. A huge bursting wind of power came from Terapagos as it was being Terastallized, making most everyone have to cover their faces with their arms. "I knew it!" Briar exclaimed, "My book was right! Terapagos in its truly awakened form! This is the hidden treasure of Area Zero!"
Terapagos now had the crystal turtle on top of its shell. Terapagos itself was on top of a shell, and the shell Terapagos was on top of was surrounded by a ring of floating crystal type symbols. The terastallized Terapagos released a burst of power, with a shot of energy flying right for Carmine who covered her face with her arms.
However, Veldora and Villetta rushed in and blocked the shot, keeping it from hitting Carmine. "As much as we hate your guts, Carmine," Dawn called out, "Even we wouldn't want you to get killed here! But things are getting out of hand! Return Terapagos to its ball!"
"G-Got it!" Carmine said as she aimed the Master Ball at Terapagos, "Come back, Terapagos!" The recall beam flew from the Master Ball to Terapagos, but it conjured a shield to block the beam, then it fired an energy shot that blasted the Master Ball from Carmine's hand and made it fall to the ground away from her. It was busted beyond repair or use, and a blue aura washed over Teraoagos as it once more was a wild Pokémon.
"H-Huh?" Carmine said, looking shocked.
"Dawn! Kenny! Trip!" Mina said, "You guys ought to tango with Terapagos! Me, Rimu, and Ideku will keep Briar and the idiot safe!"
"Got it!" Dawn said as she and the boys turned to face Terapagos, "Veldora return! Alright, Tsukune! Let's get goin'!"
"Villetta return!" Trip said, "Alright, Deelia! Let's rock it!"
"Black, you're still out so go join the others and cringe it up!" Kenny said as he sent his named Giratina in to back up Dawn's named Palkia and Trip's named Dialga. "Use Dragon Claw, Black!" Kenny called out.
"Tsukune, use Spacial Rend!" Dawn ordered.
"Deelia, use Roar of Time!" Trip commanded.
Tsukune went first and struck Terapagos with Spacial Rend. Although it was strong and scored a critical hit, it didn't do too much damage. "It must be using a barrier to reduce damage," Briar said, "Kids! Terastallize your Pokémon as soon as you can!"
Deelia then blasted Terapagos with Roar of Time, then Black struck it with Dragon Claw. The barrier looked like it was starting to come down, but Terapagos still had some barrier left. It then proceeded to use an attack where it made little stars fall down on all enemy Pokémon, hurting all three of the creation trio dragons.
Tsukune and Black were able to attack again with Spacial Rend and Dragon Claw, although Deelia was stunned. Tsukune's Spacial Rend broke the barrier, letting Black's Dragon Claw hit for full force. Terapagos then used Water Pulse on Tsukune, but hit only the front of its right thigh so nothing of note happened to the named Palkia.
On the next turn, Tsukune, Black, and Deelia blasted Terapagos with Spacial Rend, Dragon Claw, and Roar of Time respectively, actually bringing it to the edge of defeat. Terapagos struck Deelia with Zen Headbutt, but it didn't do much.
"Alright, I got this!" Kenny said as he Terastallized Black, revealing its Tera Type to be Dragon. "Sweetness!" Kenny cheered, "Okay, Black! Use Dragon Claw!" Black rushed forward and struck Terapagos with Dragon Claw, making it reel back. But it came back around and absorbed Tera Energy from Black, undoing its Terastallization and setting its barrier back up.
"Damn it! It got its barrier back up and took Black's Tera swagger!" Kenny snapped.
"Well its a good thing I haven't used my Terastallization yet," Dawn said as she Terastallized Tsukune, revealing it Tera Type to be Dragon as well. "Tsukune, use Spacial Rend!" Dawn called out.
"Black, use Dragon Claw!" Kenny ordered.
"Deelia, use Roar of Time!" Trip commanded.
Tsukune's Special Rend took a huge chunk out of Terapagos's second barrier, followed by a chip from Black's Dragon Claw, and Deelia's Roar of Time finished it off. Terapagos reeled back again, but it came back around, took Tsukune's Terastallization power, and used it to make a third barrier to protect itself.
"Those barriers are too hax!" Kenny complained, "You cheat, Dr. Jones!" Gesturing forward, Kenny called out, "Black, use Dragon Claw!"
"Tsukune, use Spacial Rend!" Dawn commanded.
The two legendary dragons struck Terapagos with their attacks, but only took out a chunk of the barrier. Terapagos then tried using Water Pulse on Tsukune again, but struck the front of its other thigh. Again, very little happened to the dual water dragon Palkia. The three dragons were all still in it fairly well, but the battle was dragging on.
"I got this!" Trip said as he Terastallized Deelia, revealing that it too had the Dragon Tera Type. "Deelia, use Roar of Time!" Trip called out.
Deelia fired its powerful attack and blasted away the rest of its third barrier. After it reeled back, Terapagos came back around, took Deelia's Terastallization, and use the power from it to make a fourth barrier. "Damn it, this had better be the end of it!" Trip yelled.
Pointing forward, Dawn yelled, "Tsukune, use Spacial Rend!"
"Black, use Dragon Claw!" Kenny ordered.
The two legendary Pokémon attacked Terapagos, and looked to have done significant enough damage to make bringing it down on the next turn doable. Sure enough, with another Spacial Rend, Roar of Time, and Dragon Claw from Tsukune, Deelia, and Black, Terapagos finally went down, going out of its super form and stood there swaying around in its base form.
"Terapagos ought to go into a ball now," Briar said, "Kenny! You ought to try catching it!"
"Got it!" Kenny said as he took out a standard Pokéball and threw it at Terapagos, who went into the ball which then landed with a light clink on a crystal platform. The ball only shook once before it made a ping sound, indicating that Kenny had caught Terapagos.
"Is... is it over?" Rimu said as everyone came walking forward.
"Is everyone alright?" Ideku asked as he looked around.
After everyone gave affirmative responses, Briar said, "Oh, what a relief. I had let my obsession lead you all into a lot of danger just now... It's simply inexcusable... I am so sorry..."
"You're right in how you're sorry," Carmine said, "You're completely fixated on this Terastal stuff! You gotta keep your obsessiveness in check!"
"Well aren't you the pot calling the kettle black," Ideku remarked dryly as he arched a wry eyebrow at Carmine.
Clapping her hands together, Briar said, "Well we got everything settled, and Kenny even caught Terapagos. I say that we head back out of here as quickly as possible, gather all of the papers and other research notes we left behind along the way, get out of here, and never return unless research makes it necessary."
"I'm good for heading back to The Jelly-Filled Donut," Mina said, "Crawling into bed, and being dead to the world for the next twelve hours." It was agreed that everyone would leave, and after recalling all Pokémon that were out, the heroes and their party all left the Area Zero under depths.
...
After dropping Ideku back off in Paldea, The Jelly-Filled Donut flew back to Blueberry Academy, with Rimu going along due to having personal business he didn't go into detail about. As the flying ship flew, Carmine looked out over the railing at the waters that the flying ship passed over. Carmine was in a funk when she was approached by Dawn, Rimu, and Rhyanna, the latter having a firm look on her face, but one that also held some understanding.
Dawn and Rhyanna were so focused on Carmine that they failed to notice Rimu getting his Rotom Phone out discreetly and hitting record. "Dawn told me that you're as controlling as you had been over your little brother because you had been traumatized by losing your parents," Rhyanna said, "Leading to an obsession with not losing any more of your family."
"...Well why wouldn't I be?" Carmine asked, sounding resigned and defeated, "It's literally the only way that I could think of to ensure that none of what family I have left ever leaves me."
"Do you at least remember how your parents died?" Rhyanna asked, "Me and my little brother Mitchell's dad died in an accident at work, and me and Mitchell's mom died to some illness I don't know shortly after my dad died."
"According to me and Kieran's Grandpa," Carmine began, "Me and Kieran's parents were killed in a minor attack launched on Kitakami by the now long defunct criminal organization Team Rocket. The attack claimed three more human lives, all adults around the same age as my parents. A boy named Elio and a girl named Selene worked together to drive off Team Rocket. Shortly after the attack was foiled, Elio and Selene moved to the Alola region."
Dawn nodded once, recognizing Elio and Selene as the 'official' names of the male and female player characters in the main series games in her previous life where said games were set in Alola. "Fair enough," Dawn said, "But still, being as controlling as you were over Kieran is not going to end well. He had to be allowed to be his own person." Folding her arms over her chest, Dawn went on, "Something he has plenty of time to do now, given he's been expelled from Blueberry Academy."
"It was for his own safety," Carmine said, her tone and mood unchanging.
Dawn's expression, as well as Rhyanna's, became more unamused with Carmine. "...You're the one who got Kieran expelled from Blueberry Academy, aren't you?" Dawn asked.
"Because I wasn't able to control him," Carmine replied, "I can't protect him, I can't keep him from ever leaving me, if I can't control him. So I told Kenny he couldn't use any of his special Pokémon in the battle with Kieran, which is a lie as BB League rules state there's no restrictions whatsoever on what Pokémon can be used in battles. Then I told Director Cyrano that Kieran had a lower ranking BB League member tell Kenny a lie to weaken Kenny's odds of winning against him."
"...So you set things up to have Kieran get in enough trouble to ensure he'd be expelled from school," Rhyanna said, "All because you can't let your little brother go." Folding her arms over her chest, Rhyanna said, "Carmine, you have got to stop being so controlling. It isn't healthy, not for your little brother, and certainly not for you."
"Then how do I ensure that I will never lose any of my remaining family?" Carmine asked, "How do I keep them from ever leaving me?"
"You can't."
Carmine was stunned by Rhyanna's answer. "Sure it's nice that you love them, but they are their own people, Carmine," Rhyanna said, "You have to let them be their own people, you have to be willing to let them be on their own away from you. Sure there's risk to that, but that's just how life works. There is no flawless answer that ensures we get all of exactly what we want all the time, and trying to get all of exactly what we want all the time anyway is borderline impossible. It's just a fact of life that we have to accept."
Looking resigned, Carmine said, "I'm... I'm not sure if I can accept it. And I'm not sure if I have to, given I have all of my remaining family in one place so it's loads easier for me to protect them and keep from ever losing any of them ever again." Carmine got up from leaning against the railing, and Rimu quickly ended the recording and put his Rotom Phone away before anyone knew he had it out.
To Rhyanna, Carmine said, "If you can offer a solution that both lets my remaining family be their own people while also ensuring I never lose any of them and can always keep them with me, then I would love to hear it."
"There is no answer that covers that," Rhyanna said, "You're going to have to be willing to let them go and be their own people. It's the only way to begin trying to at least attempt to fix the damage you had caused by getting your brother expelled from school."
"The only ones who know are the lot of us here," Carmine said, "And good luck trying to convince any of the people who can actually do anything about it that I had set Kieran up. Because unless one of you somehow had recorded our conversation, I highly doubt I'll get into any real trouble."
Rimu pulled off a very convincing scowl of annoyance. "Well you got us there, Carmine. None of us had thought to record anything."
"Carmine, you have got to come clean," Dawn said, pleading with Carmine, "Coming clean about the truth and working towards the real way to have a healthy family relationship is the only way you'll be able to fix things with Kieran."
"I don't have to fix things with Kieran," Carmine said, "He'll never know the truth. Neither will our grandparents, or anyone at Blueberry Academy who can do anything to punish me." Although she still had a defeated air, Carmine gave off a bit of a smirk. "...Looks like I have finally pulled off a win against you guys."
"Yeah, at the cost of what integrity you had left," Rhyanna scowled. Dawn and Rhyanna had realized that Carmine was never going to change her ways, that she was a lost cause, and that the only way she'll realize her errors will be if they blow up in her face so much that they break through and break down her ego and make her realize them.
They could only hope it won't be too bad for Carmine.
After everyone got to Blueberry Academy, the reborn trainers met with Briar in one of the classrooms. "I hope you're all feeling rested after our jaunt down to the Area Zero under depths," Briar said to the heroes.
"Kenny has never stopped being energetic," Dawn said dryly, "I think he has unlimited energy."
"I'd be a Red Ribbon Army Android if I had unlimited energy," Kenny said, "I just so happen to run on multiple clean, self sustaining energies, those being cringe, moxie, and The Hose."
"Anyway, onto why I called all of you here," Briar said, "Since our return, I've been writing up everything we've discovered on our expedition. Honestly, I've hardly slept. I got the okay from Geeta to turn it all into a book, but don't worry, I've made sure to skip a few details and omit names of those who were involved. So viola! A proof copy of the book, freshly delivered from the publisher, just for you all!"
As Briar handed the book to Dawn, Trip asked, "How in blazes did you find the time?!"
"I'm guessing she magic'd things to be done," Kenny said as he saw the book Dawn held.
Gently shaking her head, Briar said, "I had behaved recklessly in the under depths. I don't know what we would have done were it not for you all. You deserve a copy of the book, I hope it at least starts my apology to you all. Oh! I need you all to show me your Tera Orbs!" Curious, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip all showed Briar their Tera Orbs. "As I suspected," Briar said, "They're acting much the same as the one Carmine has."
"What do you mean?" Trip asked.
"I think it's because your orbs were directly exposed to the energy from Terapagos," Briar said, "Carmine said that ever since the under depths, she's been able to Terastallize her Pokémon without charging her Tera Orb."
"Sweetness, that sounds like we got unlimited charges for using Tera mojo in battle," Kenny said.
Briar's expression relented a bit. "Yes, that is one bit of good news. However, it's probably the only one right now. You see, Blueberry Academy is currently in the process of closing down. It failed to get proper financial suppliers ever since the Paldean wealthy elite had pulled out, so students here will be transferring to various trainer schools on the Unovan mainland. Blueberry Academy is going to be no more."
"Well that toads the wet sprocket," Kenny said, "And all because Lacey said the wrong thing to some spoiled brat."
Dawn thought about Lacey, who had given her a copy of her long cardigan which Dawn had since taken off and left in her room on board of The Jelly-Filled Donut. "How are the students taking it?" Dawn asked, "Do you know?"
"Aside from how a lot of blame is being thrown at that Lacey girl, I know very little," Briar said, "Oh, that Drayton boy seemed oddly relieved that it's not his fault he's leaving Blueberry Academy, he said his grandpa would be mad if it were his fault."
The reborn trainers didn't know what else to say. Things certainly had gone to hell for Blueberry Academy, which is now doomed to be no more. They had zero other business at the doomed trainer school, so they collected Rimu and boarded The Jelly-Filled Donut. Rimu asked to be dropped off at Kitakami, he says more of his personal business is there, but that was it. The students of Blueberry Academy will be able to get home on their own.
Get home and hopefully find another school.
END, CHAPTER THREE-HUNDRED AND TWELVE
Author's notes;
This chapter wraps up the Indigo Disk shenanigans, where it's Carmine who tries to catch Terapagos because she ultimately wants to keep from losing anymore of what family she still has left. Things blow up in her face, Dawn, Kenny, and Trip beat Terapagos with Kenny catching it, and everyone heads back to Blueberry Academy.
Dawn and Rhyanna also learn that Carmine had set up Kieran to be expelled from school because she was afraid of not being able to control him. Unfortunately, Dawn and Rhyanna have no way to prove Carmine's confession, at least to those who matter, and with Blueberry Academy doomed to be shut down anyway, it'd be a moot point.
Rimu, not that anyone knows it, does have proof of Carmine's confession. But he doesn't tell anyone about it. What exactly is Rimu planning with the recording he made in secret? That will be revealed in time, as the next chapter will cover a few other lesser points before Mochi Madness is covered here. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), Diablo (Iron Valiant), Veldora (Koraidon), Muffin (male Furret; shiny), Solstheim (male Ursaluna; Bloodmoon)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Godzilla (male Tyranitar), Elay (male Sandslash; Kantonian; shiny), Cell (male Scizor; shiny), Shallot (male Glaceon), Zarbon (male Machamp), Roshi (male Torterra)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Myde (male Empoleon), Deelia (Dialga), URL (Iron Jugulis), Donbot (Iron Hands), Robot Santa (Iron Bundle), Villetta (Miraidon)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Dragonite (male), Lucario (female), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Jolteon (male; shiny)