Ace and his team continue through floor 7 quickly, making their way to the stairs without issue, but before they can climb it…
?: - In the distance, echoing through the tunnels. Clara! CLARA!
Ace: - What was that?
?: - CLARA! Where are you?!
Splat: - That sounds like someone calling for help
Rocky: - Maybe this is one of the mons we're looking for
Ben: - Could be
Everyone runs towards the sound of the call
?: - Oh, where could she have gone
A few rooms away
Ace: - Hurry everyone. I think it's just down this- Gets knocked back. WOAH!
Kai: - Somewhat condescending Hello Ace. Fancy meeting you here.
Ace: - Kai?
Splat: - What do you want now?
Kai: - I thought about what happened the other day and I've decided… I want to go back in. Tries to re-enter Ace's mind.
Ace: - Wait what?! Dodges Kai's dive. You're not going back in my mind!
Kai: - Says you! About to attack again
Splat: - Punches Kai into a wall. No you don't. We're not going through this again.
Kai: - Wha-?
Splat: - Stay out of my nephew
Kai: - You said he was that Boltund's kid
Splat: - Well, he's not. He's my twin sister's kid, points behind himself to Ben and Nick. as well as them.
Kai: - Wait, I thought Ace only had one sibling
Splat: - You're talking about Teresa's kids. These are not her kids.
Kai: - How are they not? A Boltund named Ace, points to Ace and a Pikachu named Ben points to Nick mistaking him for Ben
Ben: - Uh, I'm Ben. You're pointing to Nick
Kai: - Sees the Alolan Raichu. You?
Nick: - Mhm. My name isn't Ben
Kai: - Shocked at Nick revealing himself, then turns to Ace, angry.
Ace: - Huh?
Kai: - Dashes at Ace, pins him down. How could you trick me like this?
Ace: - Don't you go blaming me. You started it by entering my mind when I first came here
Kai: - I thought you were my friend Ace
Ace: - I never met you before after my mock dungeon trial. And that was because you made me go crazy, and you overshadowed me to try and prove NOTHING!
Kai: - I did that to learn what you were doing in the human world for the past 10 years.
Ace: - 10 years?! I've lived in the human world all my life. I was born there, and so were my brothers
Kai: - I been your friend for years
Ace: - Your friends are shinies, I'm not a shiny
Kai: - Wait, the Ace and Ben I've known all this time, they are shinies?
Ace: - That's what I just said
Kai: - Gets off Ace, and sits on the floor
Ace: - Uh, what's going on?
Kai: - How could I have been so blind to notice?
Ace: - You just realized that?
Kai: - Swipes at Ace, smacking him and launching him a few feet away.
Ace: - What the hell was that for?
Kai: - Are you seriously mocking me for losing my friends for 10 years?!
Ace: - No, I'm mocking you for not realizing they are shinies after how many years of you being friends with them?
Kai: - Oh that's it! Dashes at Ace in attempt to enter his mind again
?: - What's going on over here?
Kai: - Stops and looks at who made the sound. Who said that?
Standing there is a female Shiny Sylveon with what appears to be circuit board traces going up from the ends of the legs, arms, ribbons, tail, and ears, and stopping just short of running the entire length of each respective body part. Her back also has some of the same 'markings', merging into what could appear to be an imprint of a cpu chip.
?: - Who are you mons?
Kai: - Realizes who's talking and gasps. Have you really been here all this time?
?: - If you mean for the past 2 weeks, then yes
Kai: - 2 weeks? We got separated 2 years ago
?: - What are you talking about? Clara and I have only been in this dungeon for 2 weeks, and I don't even know you?
Kai: - Zoe Tears form in his eyes
Zoe: - How do you know my name?
Kai: - Starts crying, and runs to Zoe. While running, he changes to his original form, a Shiny Jolteon
Zoe: - Shocked at the sight. You're kidding. KAI?!
Kai: - Hugs Zoe tight. Yes. It's been so long since I've seen you
Zoe: - Has it really been 2 years since we've last seen each other?
Kai: - Yes it has been
Zoe: - What did you just do? Just now
Kai: - Oh that. Well, believe it or not, I am a Mew
Zoe: - What?! When did that happen?
Kai: - Shortly after that moment we got separated. Remember when we got attacked by that mafia group?
Zoe: - Yeah?
Kai: - I turned into a Mew later that night
Zoe: - Wow, that's so cool
Ace: - Wait, so you're a relatively new Mew?
Kai: - Yes? I'm only 15
Nathan: - I guess Devon and I weren't the only ones to get our Mew marks young
Ace: - Nathan, how many Mews are there?
Nathan: - I don't know. I don't even know if there are other marks a Mew can have. There might be some that are Mews for real, instead of regular pokemon that got a Mew power. I only know of a few.
Ace: - So there could be more Mews out there?
Nathan: - I would assume so
Zoe: - Speaking of finding, I need to find my sister. Well, our sister
Ace: - "Our"?
Kai: - Zoe here and I are siblings
Ace: - Wait, what?!
Zoe: - Mhm
Ace: - So this Shiny Jolteon, who is also the Mew of Shadows, and was living inside my brain for 2 days is this mon's brother?
Zoe: - I am a Shiny Sylveon. Shakes her head, thinking she misheard Ace. Wait, what Mew did you say Kai is?
Ace: - The Mew of Shadows
Zoe: - Isn't that a negative role? Turns to Kai. Kai, why would you pick that?
Kai: - I didn't get to pick the role. It just happened. I was hiding inside a cave, to keep myself hidden from the mafia, and it happened shortly after that.
Zoe: - Well, as long as you're not using that power for actual trouble
Kai: - Yeeeaaaaaahhhhh.
Ace: - Yeeaaahhhh, like how about, overshadowing a pokemon from inside their body, and forcing them to race their friends for no reason, while the body of the mon you're overshadowing was recovering from an injury, which you were aware of.
Kai: - A little ticked off. Yeeaaahhh, like that
Zoe: - Anyway, I see you found some other mons on your way to find me. Sees Nathan. And I see you met another Mew, and also- Sees Splat, and starts to tear up. Dad?
Kai: - Dad? Wait… Looks over at Splat You were that Umbreon on the balcony when I left Ace's mind
Ace: - YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!
Splat: - So this is where you've been for the past 2 weeks. You told me your sister was only taking you to meet her boyfriend. What happened to that?
Zoe: - That was what she told me, but it seems it was another one of her stunts to get me into another one of these places.
Splat: - Is Clara here?
Zoe: - We did enter together, but we got separated 2 floors down. I think she might be higher than where we are.
Splat: - Why didn't you call me? You and I both know your telepathy works fine. Your ribbons aren't broken, are they?
Zoe: - No, and I tried, but I guess this dungeon's walls are so thick, telepathic signals can't pass through
Splat: - I see. Well, I'm gonna have a talk with you three after we're done here. And yes, I mean you too, Kai
Kai: - Awww, come on
Splat: - Don't think I've forgotten what you did to Ace
Kai: - Alright
Ace: - Uncle, what is going on?
Kai and Zoe: - Uncle?
Splat: - Kai, Zoe, you know how I told you I have a twin sister?
Kai: - Yes
Zoe: - What does that have to do with them?
Splat: - This Boltund, Alolan Raichu, and Pikachu, are your cousins, Ace, Ben, and Nick. Ace, Ben, Nick, meet your cousins, Kai and Zoe. I have another daughter, Clara, and she is also your cousin
Ace: - What's the deal with you? You said there was no more surprises you had for us
Splat: - You never asked if I had kids, now did you?
Ben: - We have cousins here?
Nick: - That's so cool. And one of them is a Mew
Ace: - You're seriously ok with that?
Nick: - Hey, at least we're getting to know more about our family
Ben: - Yeah. Your Switch saves are always something you can try to reclaim. You can't reclaim moments like these
Ace: - Says the one who deleted my saves
Ben: - My point still stands
Ace: - It took me 12 hours to get to that point in the game
Ben: - That's it?
Ace: - What do you mean?
Ben: - When we did Pokemon Ultra Sun and Moon together, that took you 60 hours to complete the main game. 12 hours is not something you need to worry about. Yeah, you had a shiny on your team, but you know the methods of finding another
Ace: - Where am I going to find 12 hours to play that game again?
Ben: - Winter break?
Ace: - I have Football practice, college searching, finding a part-time job, need I go on?
Ben: - You can do all of that during the next summer. You have time
Ace: - I have an image to maintain
Ben: - You can worry about that later. We have more important things to worry about
Kai: - Wow, I'm glad I left your body when I did
Splat: - Ok, can we stop arguing?! We need to find Clara before she gets hurt
Zoe: - Let's go look for her
Ace: - We're not done with this conversation, but let's go
Ben: - Right
They continue to the next floor
Mt. Magma: Floor 8
They reach the top of the stairs, where they see Citrine, Red, and Jeff comforting what appears to be a Leafeon, but its colors are different
Ace: - Citrine?
Citrine: - Oh, hey Ace
?: - Oh, uh, hi- Sees Ace, and blushes a bit
Ace: - Hi?
Zoe: - Sees the Leafeon. Clara?
Clara: - Zoe?
Zoe and Clara run up and hug each other
Clara: - I missed you so much
Zoe: - I missed you too
Clara: - And I see you brought friends
Zoe: - And that's not all
Kai: - Hey, Clara
Clara: - Kai?
Splat: - Are you ok, Clara?
Clara: - Dad! Runs to hug Kai and Splat, but trips over her paw. Ow!
Splat: - Clara?!
Clara: - It's alright, I just twisted my ankle earlier in the dungeon. It's not broken. Sees where she landed and her face turns red in embarrassment
Ace: - Well, maybe watch where you're walking
Clara: - Oh my Arceus, I'm so sorry. Gets off of Ace as best she can, and lays beside him
Splat: - Let me see your leg
Clara: - Ok
Splat creates some of his ointment and spreads it on Clara's twisted ankle
Ace: - So, I'm guessing you're Clara?
Clara: - Yes, I am. Who are you?
Ace: - My name is Ace. And according to your father here, we're cousins
Clara: - Shocked and goes white as a sheep
Ace: - Are you ok?
Clara: - Falls on her back
Ace: - Clara?
Kai: - Sees what's going on. He soon realizes what's going on. No way! Snickers
Ben: - What? What's going on?
Kai: - You can NOT be serious, Clara
Clara: - Doesn't respond
Ace: - What?
Kai: - Ace, I think Clara has a crush on you
Clara: - KAI!
Ace: - What?!
Clara: - Yeah, it's true
Splat: - Clara?
Clara: - Yeah dad, I have a crush on Ace. I mean look at this handsome face. Plays with Ace's face as she's saying this. How could I not?
Ace: - With the scrunched face. Um, excuse me. For your kind information, I HAVE a girlfriend. Now would you be so kind as to let go of my jaw?
Clara: - Really? Where is she?
Ace: - In the human world
Clara: - Lets go In the 'what' world?
Ace: - The human world. She is a human. I was born in the human world. I met her in the human world 4 years ago. We've been together ever since, until I came over to this world 4 days ago
Clara: - You've been living in another world? Is this true, Dad?
Splat: - Yes. Your cousins, Ace, Ben, and Nick, your aunt, Lisa, your uncle, Jake, grandma Lesley, and grandpa Gordon were, and are, living in the human world. Your cousins are only here because Nathan brought them back over here
Clara: - Nathan?
Splat: - The Mew standing behind Nick
Nathan: - Hi
Nick: - You don't need to hide. Scoots Nathan in front of him
Nathan: - Ehehe
Clara: - Wow
Kai: - He's not the only Mew here
Clara: - Turns to Kai Huh?
Kai: - Transforms into a Mew himself
Clara: - You two are also Mews?
Splat: - Also?
Clara: - Feels that her ankle is healed. Mhm
Zoe: - Which other Mews are you talking about?
Clara: - Transforms into a Mew as well
Kai: - Clara?!
Clara: - What do you think? Looks like a white Mew, but has black triangle marks above and below her eyes pointing away from them
Ace: - You're a Mew as well?!
Clara: - Yes
Zoe: - When did this happen?
Clara: - A few minutes ago, shortly after we separated
Nathan: - What role do you have?
?: - She has Luminance
Ben: - Who was that?
?: - Comes out of the shadows
Clara: - Oh, Sheela. I'd like you to meet my family
Sheela: - I'm Sheela. I'm who gave Clara her power. Nice to meet you. Appears similar to Clara, only her triangle marks are pointing towards her eyes
Ace: - Hi there, I'm Ace. Clara's cousin
Kai: - I'm Clara's brother, Kai
Zoe: - I'm Zoe, Clara's sister
Splat: - The name is Splat. Clara's father
Ben: - I'm Ben
Nick: - My name is Nick
Kenny: - Kenny is my name
Rocky: - I'm Rocky
Max: - Max
Red: - I'm Red
Citrine: - Citrine
Jeff: - My name is Jeff
Nathan: - I'm Nathan
Sheela: - As I said, nice to meet you all
Splat: - Why did you give your power to my eldest daughter?
Sheela: - I saw she had good intentions with the power, so I let her follow me for a bit, and I gave it to her. Apologies that I caused her to get separated from her sister
Splat: - Well, I'm happy that they're both here, and are safe, aside from that twisted ankle.
Clara: - That was on me. I tripped on a stalagmite just after the stairs. Points to the stalagmite she's talking about
Splat: - I see
Ace: - Well, we found the pokemon we were looking for. Time to exit this dungeon About to use his badge to teleport out
Splat: - Wait, we're almost at the top of the dungeon. Maybe we can find something at the top
Ace: - I've had enough of this adventure for one day
Splat: - Well, there's one thing I didn't mention about this dungeon
Ace: - You've held enough information back as it is. What else could you have to explain?
Splat: - Remember when you asked if you could potentially meet a Suicune?
Ace: - Yes?
Splat: - Who do you think lives in this dungeon?
Ace: - A fire type legendary?
Splat: - Actually, no. Suicune lives here
Ace: - REALLY?! Eyes have sparkles in them
Splat: - Mhm. I know this because this is not my first time here
Ace: - It's not?
Kai: - You've been here before, dad?
Splat: - Mhm. I came here a few times, before you three were born. I wasn't even married until after my third year of coming here.
Ace: - How often have you been coming here?
Splat: - About once a week
Kai: - This is where you go every Sunday?
Splat: - Yes. I first came here on a guild mission. This was after I got the job to be a doctor there. Clover wanted me to come here on a special mission. He didn't tell me what it was, and instead told me to wait until I got here and I'd find out on my way up.
19 years ago
Clover: - Are you ready for your mission?
Splat: - I'm all packed up
Clover: - Ok. Here you go. Gives Splat the request info. That has your mission info.
Splat: - Reads the request info This just says where I need to go.
Clover: - That's correct. You'll find out when you get to that dungeon what you need to do
Splat: - Alright
Splat gets ready to leave for his mission
Splat: - Standing outside the guild gate. See you soon
Clover: - Come back safe
Splat: - Runs off to Mt Magma
After some time, Splat reaches a ledge with the ocean on the other side
Splat: - Huh, dead end. How do I-?
Riptide emerges from the water
Riptide: - Hello there. I don't think we've met
Splat: - Woah, a Lugia?!
Riptide: - Yup. The name's Riptide
Splat: - Nice to meet you, Riptide. My name's Splat. I need to get to Mt Magma. Could you help me?
Riptide: - That's easy. It's a short swim across the sea. Hop on my back.
Splat: - Jumps onto Riptide's back. Ready
Riptide: - Hang on. I swim fast
Splat: - Holds onto one of Riptide's back fins
Riptide: - Speeds across to the foot of Mt Magma
After some time, they make it to Mt Magma
Riptide: - Alright, here we are
Splat: - Hops off of Riptide Thanks for your help, Riptide
Riptide: - Anytime, Splat Dives back underwater
Splat: - Ok. Now to get to the top of this thing. Runs inside
The first 3 floors are a breeze
Splat: - This dungeon is easy.
The next 4 floors are a bit more challenging
Splat: - Ok, now things are picking up
Splat reaches floor 8
Splat: - Ok, what am I suppose to be doing here? I haven't seen anything relating to what could be for a mission yet
Reaches floor 9
Splat: - I'm almost at the top. Where do I need to go? Sees the stairs to the top Do I need to go to the top of this?
Climbs the stairs and sees a Suicune
Splat: - A Suicune?! What is a Suicune doing in a fire type dungeon?
Suicune: - Weakly Wh-who's there?
Splat: - Sees the Suicune is in pain Oh my. You look awful.
Suicune: - Coughs Last battle, I got ambushed by the mon who challenged me. I thought they were fighting alone, but they had a bunch of other mons attacking me all at once
Splat: - Uh, aren't teams suppose to be allowed to battle you if they make it?
Suicune: - They came from outside the dungeon, broke through the roof. Several of them hit me with poison powder. This was 3 weeks ago, and the poison still hasn't worn off yet.
Splat: - It looks like you're in pretty bad shape.
Suicune: - Mhm
Splat: - (This has to be what Clover meant by saying I'll find out myself)
Suicune: - Are you here to challenge me?
Splat: - No, I was on a mission, but I wasn't told the details of it. I guess this was it.
Suicune: - What was it?
Splat: - I think I can help you, if you'll allow
Suicune: - What can you do?
Splat: - I can try to heal you
Suicune: - Can you?
Splat: - I'll give it a try Walks up to the Suicune
Suicune: - Thank you
Splat: - No problem. Find a Pecha berry Here eat this. It's a Pecha berry Holds it to the Suicune's face
Suicune: - Takes the Pecha berry in it's mouth and eats it
Splat: - That should help with your poison, now for your wounds
Suicune: - Feels the poison start to wear off
Splat: - Just relax while I heal your injuries now
Suicune: - Alright
Splat: - Brings his paws together and creates his special ointment, then he starts rubbing it on the Suicune's limbs
Suicune: - Ack!
Splat: - It'll sting for a bit, but your body will heal soon, I promise
Suicune: - Thank you
Splat: - Splat
Suicune: - Huh?
Splat: - My name is Splat
Suicune: - Splat? I think I heard that name before.
Splat: - Probably during the incident regarding the Mew of Misery
Suicune: - No. I haven't heard of that
Splat: - Oh, then how have you heard my name?
Suicune: - Uhhh, wait, who sent you here?
Splat: - I was directed here by my guildmaster, Clover the Shiny Mewtwo
Suicune: - Now that makes sense
Splat: - Huh?
Suicune: - Yeah, Clover told me about you and your ability to heal injuries
Splat: - I see. He probably knew about your situation here, so he sent me to heal you
Suicune: - Well, he found out from me. I told him when he found me shortly before you came here
Splat: - That quickly?
Suicune: - Mhm
Splat: - I guess it was good that I could get here so fast after he told me to come here
Splat finishes covering the Suicune's injuries with his ointment
Splat: - That should do it. Shouldn't be too long now
Suicune: - Thank you so much
Splat: - No problem
Suicune: - My name is Frostbite
Splat: - Frostbite huh
Frostbite: - Mhm
Splat: - How come you're here, at Mt Magma?
Frostbite: - We thought it was the best way to keep our sacred relics safe. Myself, Molten the Entei, and Sparx the Raikou decided to live in a dungeon that didn't match our types as a way to keep evil mons from potentially taking our relics.
Splat: - I see
Frostbite: - Yeah. All three dungeons are located here, and the only way we're making sure no one unwanted comes here to take our relics is that Riptide has to bring them here, or he sees them coming here if the mons in question can get over here without his assistance.
Splat: - Wait, that Lugia I met outside, he's the key to your relics?
Frostbite: - More like an extra guard for our relics
Splat: - Ah
Some of the ointment evaporates
Frostbite: - Huh? Why is it doing that?
Splat: - That means that part of your body has fully healed. As your body heals, that ointment will evaporate when that area has fully healed.
Frostbite: - What kind of ointment is this?
Splat: - Ehehe
Frostbite: - Huh?
Splat: - It's my sweat, which I've managed to genetically modify with my dark type power. You won't get poisoned from that. I've been doing this for 5 years. I've gotten pretty good at doing this
Frostbite: - Ok, that's reassuring
Frostbite's injuries fully heal
Splat: - And it's done. You're healed now
Frostbite: - Stands up It worked
Splat: - How do you feel?
Frostbite: - I feel like new. I feel like I have so much more energy now.
Clover: - That's good to hear, Frostbite
Splat: - Guildmaster Clover, what are you doing here?
Clover: - I came to see how you are doing in healing Frostbite
Splat: - I see. Well, he's fully healed now. Poison is gone and his injuries are fixed
Clover: - Great work here
Frostbite: - Thank you for fixing me
Splat: - You're welcome
Frostbite: - You are welcome to come back anytime you like.
Splat: - Really?
Frostbite: - Mhm, just make sure to let me know first.
Splat: - Well that should be easy since I do know telepathy
Clover: - Wait what?
Splat: - I may not look like I can, but Umbreons can learn some simple psychic moves and can train themselves to use their dark energy to mirror psychic energy, which is how I was able to learn how to use telepathy. I just have to know the mon I want to talk to to use it, or they have to contact me first.
Clover: - That'll be useful
Splat: - Mhm
Frostbite: - Well, I think it's time you should get back to your guild. It's getting late
Splat: - Right
Clover: - Talk to you later, Frostbite
Frostbite: - Thanks for your help, Splat and Clover
Clover: - Teleports himself and Splat back to the guild
Back to the present
Splat: - And I've been visiting him weekly ever since, as I've said earlier
Ace: - So, you met a Suicune because they needed you to heal them?
Splat: - Mhm
Ben: - What are we waiting for? Let's go meet this Frostbite Suicune
Splat: - Well, he's on the top floor of this dungeon. I didn't let him know ahead of time that we were coming here, but I'm sure he won't mind some extra guests
Clara: - Let's hope so
Zoe: - Let's go
They all reach the stairs to the next floor
End of Chapter 16