Chapter 170 – Accidental Connection
In less than a second, a bolt of black lightning zig-zagged across the sky and splashed onto the soil on Owen's side of the bridge. Motes of white light drifted around where Tapu Koko landed, his intense eyes focused entirely on Owen. Electricity—its natural color as well as its unnatural, Shadow-and-Radiant-tinged variety—arced across the halves of his shield.
"Tapu Koko!" Owen greeted. "Hi! How are—"
He held a shield half up toward Owen. "Quiet."
Owen shut his mouth and stood stiff. Zena glanced between them and said nothing. Barechest offered a respectful nod.
But Mu was still playing with the Void Shadows. Tapu Koko's attention was slowly drawn to the Charmander necromancer.
Zena looked ready to leap in to defend Mu. Owen wasn't familiar with Tapu Koko's body language, but if he could extrapolate from bodies he knew, he didn't seem hostile. And Owen wasn't sure if fighting him was a good idea. Battling his brother was one thing, but a guardian of the island? Right near his home, on his turf?
Tapu Koko inspected Mu in silence. She finally noticed him and tilted her head up, up, up until she fell onto her back.
"Hi!" she greeted.
Tapu Koko once again sank a little lower and Mu showed no fear in response. Then, he faced Barechest expectantly.
"Everything okay?" Barechest asked. "Seems there's… a lot of strangeness happening here, yeah?"
"You could say that," Owen said, looking between Barechest and Tapu Koko. Maybe he should explain now that he was listening.
"Okay," he said. "Here's what's going on. . ."
They took a seat and talked. Barechest's expression went from puzzled to concerned to trailing over to those tainted wild Pokémon that Mu was playing with. Tapu Koko's expression was entirely inscrutable. Even to Owen's Perceive, the guardian of the island gave nothing away.
By the time Owen was finished with the explanation, Barechest was approaching one of them, kneeling.
"Wait," Owen said, "I don't think you should—"
"It's alright," Barechest assured him. "I'm a professional with this, yeah? Regional variants… This might be the same thing."
"Regional… variants?"
"In some parts of the world, Sandshrew are well-adapted to sandy environments. Here in Alola? They're happy in the high snowcaps. Maybe these 'Void'-adapted Pokémon are the same."
"But… that's very different," Owen said. "You—"
"It is," Barechest said, holding out a finger horizontally. The little Fletchling hopped onto it and chirped happily. "When you first encountered this power, it must have been scary. But here, from your daughter? Looks like they behave like normal Pokémon to me."
Tapu Koko observed the same way, hovering behind Barechest. There was a curious trust between the two of them that Owen sensed. The lead professor of this region must have built up a great deal of credibility for the local god to trust him in this way. Owen wondered what his story was.
"I'm… I'm very sorry for this," Owen finally concluded to Tapu Koko directly. "If there's a way to reverse it, I'll find a way. But…"
But they were still trying to save their world. And they were already making things worse here…
Tapu Koko moved with purpose toward the Void Shadows taking the forms of their old lives. He descended and placed his shield over them, bringing them all close. They chittered in greeting, a few trying to climb his arms and onto the top of his shield instead. Tapu Koko allowed it.
He also seemed to glance at Owen. His gaze focused on something on Owen's chest. Owen wasn't sure what that meant. Following his gaze more closely, it was the necklace he'd fashioned out of Amber's claw bone…
"They are," Tapu Koko finally said, "of the island. I will guard them the same way. They are friendly. I will learn about them."
"You will?" Owen asked.
Barechest smiled and stood up. "I don't need to understand you to know how you feel," he said. "Sounds like Tapu Koko knows what to do here, yeah? Those 'Void' variants will be just fine under its care. Let's trust the island's guardian to handle this."
Owen nodded. "Y-yeah, okay," he said. "Um… thank you. I hope you can forgive us…"
"Go away."
"Y-yeah, we deserved that." Owen bowed stiffly.
"Hey, before you go," Barechest said, "mind if we chat a little more? We still have those findings to read…"
"Oh! Right." He glanced at Zena, who was gathering Mu and saying a few farewells to the little Voids and Tapu Koko. He seemed to recognize Zena as the more responsible one, since he was more cordial to her as they left.
They walked and talked and Owen read through the document with Zena. A few times, Owen got distracted trying to stop Mu from hopping from Zena's head to his, but they eventually got through the paper's introduction and summary.
A few of the lines weren't surprising. Some of it noted their strange energy signatures, unlike anything they'd seen before. Other parts talked about how Zena's signature was very hard to isolate, which also made sense due to the extra spirits she had, even if they were dormant in this world. But most importantly…
. . . There was one prominent abnormality we noticed in the energy signatures from Milotic. While said signatures were powerful and defined, the 'extra spirits,' as she called them, felt distant, not weak. What we at first thought were dormant energies were actually from very far away, like they were being filtered through a great barrier. You could equate it to trying to listen to someone through a foot of solid concrete.
Owen frowned, thoughtful. "The Water Spirits are dormant because they're far away?" he said. "But that means…"
"Oh, I think I understand," Zena said. "Our Orbs are basically like Dungeons, but internally. What if being here in this world… means we are only gateways to the Orb Dungeons we have? Their spirits still give off energy, but if they're elsewhere…"
"Oh…"
That… might add up. The Water Spirits were still in Kilo, even if the Orb hosts' bodies had been transported to this world. And their bodies had their spirits… but if the Water Orb was just a gateway to somewhere in Kilo's realms…
"I… I think I get it?" Owen said uncertainly.
He kept reading…
My theory is this energy signature is not within Milotic at all, but is instead being channeled through her. We have seen similar readouts before when studying Ultra Wormholes and determining how far certain energy signatures are from our current location.
Regarding Charizard's energy signature, it did not have the same distant spirits so it was easier to analyze. However, we still identified an abnormality. Pokémon that are whole—that is, their full energy signature is within one body—give off a consistent, uninterrupted wave pattern when analyzed through our machines.
Charizard's signature is missing a minute fragment. Perhaps only a percent of a percent. Not enough to be noticed except by our eyes on a graph of the wave. You'd normally see this kind of signature from a Pokémon using an advanced Substitute, such as a top league fighter. But from the moves Charizard listed to us, he does not use Substitute and does not recall any other parts of himself that are missing.
In summary, Charizard is missing a minute fraction of his energy signature.
Owen uneasily glanced at Zena. "I thought I was… whole," he said. "I'd split myself into three and that was my limit. But why do I still have a tiny part of me missing? My spirit?"
"Where could it even be?" Zena asked. "You were removed from the Reincarnation Machine, right?"
Owen nodded. "That was a long time ago. Rhys busted it so Eon couldn't just kill me to get me back."
"…He wouldn't dare do that," Zena murmured.
"It'd be practical. And I died all the time. I wouldn't have been offended, in hindsight…"
Zena looked horrified. Barechest scratched his head, looking concerned but unsure if he should step in.
Owen tittered. "Er… let's just keep reading."
On a whim, one of our other scientists suggested offsetting background noise in Charizard's energy signature with the same offset that Milotic's distant signatures came from… and we found a match.
The piece of Charizard is in the same general world as Milotic's background energies.
"Same general realm," Zena said. "Then… Owen, a piece of you is in someone's Orb Dungeon."
"Since when would I…" Owen paused. "Mom's? No, it couldn't be that… Sure, I was a Fire Spirit and didn't know it for a while, but…"
"But a part of you is kept in the Fire Core as a form of recall," Zena said.
"No, it can't be that," Owen went on. "The Grass Orb overrode that. So, I'd only have a bit of me in the Grass Core."
"My spirit is whole," Zena pointed out. "It can't be that."
Owen scratched his head, stumped. He resolved to check the Fire Core, just in case, when he returned. Because where else could he be?
"It's probably nothing," Owen said, doubting his own words. "Or… nothing we can deal with right now. That'll be the first thing we look into once we get back."
There was still more to read.
We lastly checked Charmander's. While strange, it was whole and had the fewest abnormalities. She is a healthy baby girl. Congratulations!
For some reason that offended him. Mu was the most normal of the three. Really?
Still, with that covered, and their findings in his hands, that was the last thing they needed to do in Alola. Cresthair had Silvally taken care of and they would be able to send that knowledge to the most capable people they knew.
Ultra Wormholes had been their original intent for Alola. But with the discovery of the Dungeons connecting, it wasn't as necessary… Guiltily, Owen considered Alola to be a nice stop during their flight, and the scientists here with outer-world experience would have been a good group to seek advice from anyway. They were lucky to get all they did.
"Thanks for everything you've done for us," Owen said to Barechest.
"What's your plan from here?" the professor asked.
"We have one place left to go," Owen said. "Orre. The origin of the Shadows we know about… They might have information on how we can combat it in our world. After that, we're going to find a Dungeon still there and head home."
"Well, good luck, yeah?" Barechest said. "That look in your eyes reminds me of a lot of talented Pokémon and their trainers I've seen here and all over. If you ask me… you'll get this done."
Owen's flame grew and he nodded. Zena had relaxed, too, and Mu happily curled up in her ribbons.
Suddenly, Barechest stopped and stretched his arms up. "Woo! But before that, how about we send you off with a good meal?"
"Oh! Well, sure," Zena said. "We need time for our flight to be scheduled anyway, don't we?"
"Right, Orre's… very far by wing. We could use one of those planes again."
"Then it's settled," Barechest said. "I'll treat you to a great Alolan feast!"
One last sendoff would be nice, Owen thought. And in exchange, perhaps he could provide more for Barechest's research.
But soon, Owen would have to resume his research on the hardest subject they had… Shadows.
And he'd have to return to the region where he'd lost his normal life, just to leave this world behind again. Hopefully, this time, he could leave without regrets.
"So you're saying I need to look for a talking Charizard named Owen," Umbreon said. "With pointed horns that constantly invade everyone's privacy within a three-hundred-meter radius."
"Yyyyes?" Star tittered.
They'd descended Destiny Tower and traveled swiftly to a nearby Dungeon pocket where other 'Orre refugees' had gathered. Most had already traveled back, but a few lingered, waiting. Espeon had gone ahead to assure people on the other side that things were okay.
On the left was part of a house that had been split by distortions such that a lake now ran through it. On the right was what looked like a part of Fae Fae Forest intermingling with a sandy beach.
Several other human-turned-Pokémon were gathered up and clumsily trying to walk around in their new bodies. Some didn't have legs, which complicated matters.
"And this is temporary, right?" Umbreon asked Star again, gesturing to himself.
"Y-yes!" Star said, with no confidence one way or the other. "Temporary! We'll send you right on your way back and it'll probably wear off after a few days… and if nnnot, I'll fix it once I get the chance!"
"…I'll find you," Umbreon said. It was a threat.
"I believe you," Star squeaked.
Umbreon exhaled through his nose and then turned to the confused Pokémon. "Okay, everyone. Back through the portal! Let's go home." He glanced back, looking at Star with one eye. "I'll look out for this Owen guy. He's trying to fight Shadows, right?"
"Yeah."
"I know someone who did something similar," Umbreon said. "I'll get in contact with him and the lab his mom helps run. They have a machine that can purify Shadow Pokémon, no divine magic required. Maybe it'll help."
"Cure…" Star frowned. "Are there other cures?"
Umbreon seemed impatient. "Yes, there are others. Look, can you ask me this on the other side? Every second is more than a minute here."
Star winced. "I… I'll send someone after you," she said. "I don't want to… I mean, I can't cross the barrier. But what's the other way?"
Umbreon was already walking to usher the former humans through the portal. A Growlithe was helping to roll a Voltorb down the road while a Misdreavus tried to use her ectoplasm to crawl across the ground, too stubborn to ask for help. An Ekans rolled next to a Spinda that walked perfectly straight.
"Celebi," Umbreon said. "Celebi's power to return happy memories. Using the power of time to remind the Pokémon of their past. That's the secret to dispelling Shadows."
"Remind them of the…" Star squinted even as Umbreon was too far away to reply.
It was that simple? Memories of the past, powered by Celebi, could help dispel Shadows? But Celebi couldn't do that in Kilo, not the one they created. Traveling through time was too dangerous, so she was more like a guardian over it… Like Dialga, she regulated time's flow but didn't hop through it.
How else could they dispel Shadows through memories?
As the rest of the former humans passed through the barrier, and as Star floated back to Destiny Tower, she helped one of the former humans who had tripped over a pebble.
That wasn't so bad. The human was kind and didn't seem to realize she was a Mew. Perhaps the shock of everything left them too stunned to acknowledge it.
Her gaze lingered on the little stone the human tripped over.
Star gasped. "Gone Pebbles!"
Mispy stared at the ceiling, laying on her back while her many vines lay splayed on Palkia's cutting table. She stared at a mirror that Palkia had set up so she could see what he was working on. It was a rare moment of downtime while the others recovered their energy. And she wanted to take on a proposal that Palkia had given her a while ago.
This was a special room in Palkia's makeshift lab in Kilo Village. No windows, only Luminous Orbs in the ceiling, most of them bright and facing her body on the table. The walls were devoid of decorations and there was a large table—small for Palkia—next to him with various instruments to pry, hold, bind, or remove soft matter.
"How fascinating," Palkia said. "I've never seen a stomach like this before, especially for a Meganium." Palkia held up a claw, which was enveloped in a mysterious energy that warped the light around his finger. He ran it along a membrane and pulled it out of her chest. "Shall we see what's inside?"
Mispy nodded. Owen always talked about how her insides were strange. She never got to enjoy it herself.
"Right, let's make a precise cut here—"
Knock knock.
"Hello?" called Demitri.
"Ah, Demitri! I apologize if you were waiting at the entrance," Palkia said, waving at him.
"Oh, no, it's fine. I actually…" He stopped, staring at them.
Mispy smiled and waved a vine.
Demitri's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed, completely out cold.
"Ah," Palkia said. "Perhaps he's tired."
Mispy frowned, sighing. She'd explain later. Her eyes trailed to his right hand, clutching something. "Mm?"
"Hm? Ah." Palkia followed her gaze. He reached into a tiny portal in front of him and his hand appeared next to Demitri's, taking the paper. "Let's see… Ah! Strategy. For you, I imagine. Now, let's get back to this stomach… Oh, don't worry, I'll take pictures later, Mispy."
"Mm."
While Palkia continued to study her insides, Mispy took the paper and read it over…
Her casual gaze slowly hardened to a more serious, analytical stare.
Report from South Null Village.
All known Core Titans have been defeated and all Legends within are being recovered or reunited with their twin selves. A more thorough list of that will be provided later. More pressing matters have arisen.
We have a report from a refugee Dragapult from Cipher City who once worked in Alexander's castle staff. He has killed Qitlan, claimed his spirit, and is now covertly calling in much of his staff and city into Cipher Castle to do the same to them. We do not know why he did not do this first or what the effects are, but this sudden change in strategy means we have little time to prepare for whatever he's planning.
An army was our main expectation. Now, it may only be Alexander as a 'Super Guardian' of Shadow itself. Diyem informed us that his Shadow powers are innate to this world and are distinctly anti-Mystic, like an opposing force. However, while divine, or Radiant, power is divided amongst Star, Barky, and the Guardians under Necrozma, the Dark Matter fragments are the corresponding Shadow power. Alexander has the majority of this power and will only grow stronger the more he finds.
Alexander is currently moving to North Null Village. He initially was heading south but suddenly changed course. This is abnormal because Alexander's movements are usually very strongly planned. He may be operating alone, mentally, after consuming all other spirits to become his thrall rather than a thinking army.
We suspect he is either flying for Emily or Tanneth since they correspond directly to another known Dark Matter fragment. Since East and West Null Village have been abandoned and consolidated into South Null Village, he only has two choices and we are confident those are his targets.
Tacticians must meet in South Null Village Town Hall in Kilo's next noon. Scouts must take the Calm Water Lake Dungeon's passageway into the Voidlands to verify Alexander's location. Remain low to the ground. Bring at least one Joltik Willow with you and a table's worth of sweet pastries provided by Sugar 'n Spice in case you run into Hoopa, who escaped our surveillance.
Offensive forces must meet in North Null Village by traversing through the Fae Fae Wilds Dungeon. Prepare to defend and retreat if Alexander's attacks are overwhelming. Do not risk Tanneth's well-being.
The rest of the letter continued with more details for various groups, but Mispy wasn't too interested in the rest of the details. It didn't apply to her. With Owen gone, she was back to being the tactician for Team Alloy, but Demitri and Gahi were still the muscle. Would they have to split up here? Then again, she still couldn't shake her speech problems…
No, Uxie could help. She was comfortable talking to Uxie and Mesprit. She could whisper her thoughts to Uxie, who could transmit them, just like Demitri. And… one day they'd fuse anyway. But she didn't want to do that while Owen was away. He… deserved to be there.
It'd sure be convenient, though. What was she doing, getting sentimental about it? Nothing would change. She and Uxie were already so similar.
Maybe she was afraid. It was a big leap. Uxie was probably afraid, too, no matter how cool and collected her aura was.
"Ah, how fascinating! You have another stomach! Or, I think it's one. Let's find out…"
Mispy gently folded the paper and watched Demitri, who was dizzily returning to consciousness.
"M-Mispy? A-are… are you okay? I think I passed out…"
"Oh, she's just fine!" Palkia said. "Mispy wanted to study anatomy."
"Isn't this a bit… extreme?!" Demitri couldn't look at the operating table. "Doesn't it hurt—oh, right… S-still, Mispy! This is dangerous!"
"Nonsense! I'm using the warped fabric of space as my cutting instrument. That's as sterile as it gets! Not to mention, it's quite difficult to maintain any wounds on her. She heals them very quickly without thinking."
Demitri whimpered anyway and kept his eyes on the floor. "…W-well, did you read that paper?" he asked.
Mispy hummed affirmatively.
"I think we should gather everyone up, um, s-soon," Demitri said. "I already went to get Mesprit and Uxie. I couldn't find Azelf, but he must be around…" The Haxorus held the extra axes on his tail. "I have no idea how they expect us to fight Alexander…"
"Indeed. We are quite outmatched," Palkia hummed. "Really, you can categorize it quite well and determine from there how the odds are stacked against us."
"Categorize?"
"Yes." Palkia grinned. "The frail, the mortals, the demigods, the pantheon, and the forces. Generally speaking, if you're in one category, you will be below the others, though enough skill will sometimes let you break barriers and defeat those one bracket above you."
"Demigods…"
"Yes, that would be you, at the moment," Palkia said.
"I—I'm not a demigod!"
"Are you mortal?"
"Well… no, I guess not…"
Palkia made a gesture as if for Demitri to go forward with the reasoning.
"…I guess… I'm a demigod, okay…"
"But Alexander has transcended the typical powers of the pantheon. We aren't sure precisely how, but supposedly Diyem's theory is there were 'Shadow Hands' created along with the Hands of Creation. And Alexander gathered that power from the Voidlands, more and more. His capstone, of course, was consuming that fragment of Diyem. While inside the Voidlands, he is its driving force, rivaled only by Necrozma, who is berserk."
"Doesn't that mean… we don't stand a chance?"
"Well! That's where you come in with your fusions. I think 'Migami,' as you call it… could rival those in the pantheon. Perhaps with some skill you could challenge Alexander. Cautiously, at least. We can't afford to leave him to his own devices, now can we?"
Mispy nodded along, contemplative. A fusion of Migami would go from demigod to the power of the pantheon. From there, a 'force' like Alexander was something they could challenge… though maybe not win.
She hoped Owen was finding a solution to this…
"Well, we'll be sure to wrap this up," Palkia said. "Thank you for letting us know, Demitri. Oh! Would you like to see Mispy's liver? It's so large!"
Mispy knew by the shrinking of Demitri's aura that he was going to pass out. She sighed in advance and her gaze returned to the mirror.
Rim gingerly placed a cold cloth over Lavender's forehead. It steamed within seconds. The Cherrim frowned and swapped it out for another, and then another.
Lavender had been just fine at the end of their Titan hunting. The problem was his body didn't properly 'shut off' its battle systems for a while longer, leading to his mechanical body overheating and his spirit transformation to fry. Nevren usually did maintenance and repairs, but…
"Here."
Behind Rim was Leph, ducking to enter their little home at the edge of Kilo Village's caldera. Through one window they could see Nate's shadowy, leviathan form caress the outermost ring of the caldera and the way the sun shined on his countless, glistening dark eyes. It was once a horrid sight but lately had become a sign of protection and comfort.
Leph floated a wet cloth wrapped around a blue orb.
"It's a Hail Orb. Made it myself. Specialized for him," Leph explained. The Arceus placed it on Lavender's forehead. Finally, the Silvally sighed with relief.
"Thanks, Auntie Fence," Lavender said.
Leph narrowed her eyes.
"Are you… okay?" Rim asked, wobbling unevenly to the chair. She was getting more and more used to being in her new body, though she did miss fur. And not getting depressed without sunlight.
"I'm fine. Took it better than Lavender, at least." Leph leaned forward and pressed her cheek against Lavender's forehead. "Yow!" She quickly pulled away, wincing. "Lavender! Do you have a Fire Spirit active?"
"Noooo I'm just siiiick," Lavender complained.
"Aren't you half-machine? How do you get sick?" Leph frowned pensively. "I think we should ask Eon about this. He might know, right?"
"Daddy's at the lab gathering supplies," Lavender said. "Lucas is helping out…"
"Back soon," Rim clarified.
"I know. Aster's there, too," Leph said. "Still, Lavender…"
"Can't you just fix it with your godpowers?" Lavender begged. "You're, like… another Arceus!"
"I… I'm out of practice," Leph said nervously. "…Barely had any training from Father anyway."
Rim settled against Lavender's chest, where his body wasn't as hot, and listened to them talk.
"What's, um, you know, what's your whole deal, anyway?" Lavender asked. "I thought there was only one Arceus."
"There is supposed to be," said Leph. "Or, just one who sends his avatars out. But I'm not the same as Father. When Quartz—sorry, when Kilo was created… I was born with it. I woke up one day after hearing so many little thoughts shape who I am, I… I think. I remember hearing a lot of thoughts that weren't my own before I woke up."
"Where'd you wake up?" Lavender asked.
Leph sighed and settled against the side. The wheel around her body dissolved into motes of light. "Well, I was born in—"
"You can do that?"
"What?"
"Your fence. It went away."
"Oh. Yes. Why?"
Lavender stared for a while longer. Rim was admittedly also fascinated.
"Nothing. Um… go on."
Leph lounged against one of the spare nests. "I woke up under a place called the Tree of Life. It isn't around anymore… I don't know what happened to it. Disappeared during the Dark War and I was taken into the Voidlands after that. But me and Aster, we're kind of like siblings with Nate."
"Whoa… Nate's your brother?"
Leph nodded. "He was never given a name until after we fell into the Voidlands, but if he likes Nate, I'll call him that." She chuckled. "We just called him Tree for a while. He lived in it. I thought he was the Tree, actually…"
"But he's a big friendly monster instead," Lavender stated.
Leph nodded. "Nate always felt like a big brother to me. Maybe he's the oldest thing here? You know, aside from… Father."
Lavender oohed in response. He adjusted the cooling cloth on his forehead. "If you were born with this world… and Barky isn't, like, native to this one, he just created it… does that mean you're the true guardian of Kilo?"
"Maybe." Leph looked away, bending her hooves inward. "…Some guardian I am, if so…"
"Aw, don't say that!" Lavender said. "Barky was barely around, too!"
Rim winced.
Leph laughed ruefully. "Like father like daughter, then," she said.
"Daughter, right…" Lavender tilted his head. His eyes made a mechanical noise. "But you aren't a girl."
Leph rolled her eyes. "And Barky isn't male nor female. I picked it. I suppose I could choose a different form with some effort, but… why bother? Seems… needless, if you ask me."
"Like your fence?"
"…Y… yes. Like my fence."
A Mewtwo Teleported into their room and dropped a large pile of mechanical scrap in the corner of the room. "Mission complete!" Aster declared.
"Hey, Aster," Leph and Lavender said with opposite levels of enthusiasm.
"Hey!" Aster glanced at Leph and his smile cracked. "Oh no. Your fence is off… Are you sad?"
Leph squinted at Aster, then glared at Lavender like he was responsible for something.
"I'm fine, Aster," she said. "How did your lab mission go?"
"We got lots of stuff! Mister Jirachi is nice and Lucas is fun to play with."
"Jirachi came, too? What about Eon?" Leph asked.
"Oh, he's there, too. He was the other Jirachi."
Rim tilted her body. Jirachi? Well, that was an improvement. At least he wasn't a Charmander.
Lavender tilted his head. "Daddy said that he helped make your body, too. You were the first mutant, right?"
"Mhm!" Aster nodded. "I used to be a normal li'l Mew before Jirachi made a wish so I could be stronger! And then he did cool science stuff to the wish!"
Rim had a feeling it was the other way around. Science powered by wishes. She sighed, wondering when Celebi would be recovered… Maybe then she could have the power to help again. As she was, she was useless…
"Auntie Rim?" Lavender asked, nuzzling her.
"Ah—"
"Are you okay?"
Was it that obvious? Rim shrank away, hiding behind her thick, purple petals.
"What's bothering you, Rim?" Leph asked. "Was it… about the mutants?"
"No…"
Leph hummed like she disapproved. "Well… it's okay. I mean, I saw what happened to my brother. Aster is fine. A little excitable and battle-hungry, but some Pokémon are like that naturally!"
"Oh! Yeah! A lot of my spirits are Battlehearts!" Lavender's cheek bolts whirred. "Say… if you're, like, the true god of Kilo, what do you think about Pokémon that were modified, um, artificially? Or me? I was created, so I'm artificial!"
"Well, however you were created, I can sense your spirit, despite all the other ones inside you…" Leph nodded. "And… I… think I'll be getting rid of the mutants if I ever have control of the world like Father said I might."
Lavender's countenance shifted to a nervous one. "G-get rid of…"
The young god seemed confused. Then her eyes widened. "Ah! No, like, not kill! Like… use god powers to give them normal bodies, is what I meant. I wouldn't kill them, no way."
"Oh." Lavender relaxed. "How come?"
"Well…" Leph shifted her weight to a new resting position with her legs straightened. "Seems like it causes more problems. They're stronger, they're unstable, and the fusion thing is… a little weird, gotta admit. Just all around unnatural. If they weren't so harmful I'd be less worried, but… I dunno. Just one of those hypotheticals."
A very real hypothetical, though. Rim's petals tensed and relaxed.
"Sorry. I guess that's a little forward of me," Leph said. "Maybe I'll ask them. Besides… I'm thinking way too far ahead. I'm so low on the pantheon right now. I'm nothing compared to the real gods."
"But you're the realest god," Lavender pointed out. "All the others are just ascended mortals and stuff, or Barky and Star. And, um, whatever Hecto is."
"Right, I guess that's… also…" Leph sighed harshly. "I don't know what to think."
And nobody else seemed to, either. The silence returned.
"Maybe I'll just fix their minds so they aren't unstable," Leph finally said. "All mutants are sterile anyway. The least I can do is let them live out their lives."
"I like that answer," Lavender agreed. "But what about the mutants that want kids?"
"…Adoption?" Leph offered. "Lots of people probably died so there are lots of kids to adopt."
Everyone else's expressions darkened.
"…Er… sorry. Probably brought the mood down with that one."
"Maybe a little," Aster said.
"Well, hey! Having a mutant army on our side would be super useful against Alexander, right? Since… um…"
Lavender lost his optimism when Leph's expression quickly became grave.
"They are very susceptible to corruption," Leph said, "and from what we've heard, Alexander has gone on the offensive. It makes him vulnerable… but he's also even stronger, too. Anyone who falls to him…"
"Oh…" Lavender looked down.
"He'll claim them and add to his power. He seems to know that if we get the strike on him first, he'll lose. So now… he's throwing everything he has into one last attack."
Rim sensed someone coming. A dull psychic presence in the air that she recognized as Jirachi.
Then, he appeared in the room, looking frazzled and wide-eyed. "Guys!" he said.
"Hi, Wish Daddy!" Lavender cheerfully greeted. "Leph gave me a magic cold pack!"
"Th-that's good," Jirachi said. Moments later, another Jirachi appeared at the doorway. "But we have a problem! We just got word from Null Village scouts on our report back with some lab supplies."
Leph tensed, reapplying her golden wheel and standing straight. "What's happening?"
"Alexander's a lot faster than we expected," Jirachi said. "He's already there! North Null Village is under attack now!"
Rim gasped, shrinking away. She couldn't help. That useless feeling coiled around her tiny body.
"…Then we have to go," Leph said. Her voice was grave and her eyes had widened with fear. Rim could only imagine the feeling of facing someone like Alexander down… especially Leph, who had been under his rule for so long. "Aster?"
Aster's tail flicked. "Y-yeah," he replied.
"Aster. We can't run from him. Not when that means others would—"
"Y-yeah. Yeah." Aster took a sharp breath. "I'll go."
Jirachi hastily flew out. "I'm gonna warn more people. If we can repel him here, we can go on the offensive!"
"That's the most we can do," Leph said.
"Can I help?" Lavender asked.
"No, not yet," Eon said. "You're still overheating… I'll bring who I can, but not if you're already recovering. Next time, okay? When we go on the offensive."
"Okay…"
Several of their Teleporting members vanished. Others ran out of their home. Rim settled against Lavender… The best she could do was pray for their safe return.
A shadow crossed her vision while she hid behind her petals. It was a small, flying creature passing by the doorway.
"Huh?" Lavender asked.
"Mm?" Rim asked back.
"I thought I saw someone… A green, flying Pokémon."
Rim tilted her body but then shook in negative. That could have been anyone…
"Cute little wings," Lavender mumbled along. "I never saw a Pokémon like that before."
Rim froze. Then, without hesitating further, she pushed off Lavender and said, "Stay."
And she wobbled out the door.