- Chapter 13: A Primal Milestone Lost to Time -
They wouldn't stand the slightest chance.
Krista and Pineno had turned on each other more than once due to the confusing lights that blinded them, but they never suspected that Grove would be vulnerable to the same trap—no, the possibility never once crossed their minds!
But there she stood, at the opposite end. Her gentle eyes had hardened into a terrible glare that made it difficult for Krista to breathe. She felt like if she moved the slightest inch, she would get sent through the wall by a single vine.
Just thinking about it made her winch.
"What do we do…?" Pineno's soft voice broke Krista from her panicked thoughts.
Krista knew dodging any of Grove's attacks would be next to impossible. The old goat's reflexes were incredible—something Krista didn't realize until she was up against it. She would have thought that senior Pokémon wouldn't be able to fight as well, but no. She was wrong, so wrong. Grove's plow through the horde was more than enough proof.
Krista felt her stomach twist. Orbeetle hovered there with its cold eyes locked on them.
She held her breath.
"We are going to have to snap her out of it…" Krista answered.
Pineno looked at her as if she had lost her mind. Krista was sure a part of her did. "But how? She's a gazillion times stronger than us!"
"I don't know. We have to try something—"
Grove took her first steps forward. Krista almost bolted.
(Nononono wait. Wait-wait-wait I'm not ready for this…) The confidence Krista managed to build faded more with every step Grove took towards them. Why was she taking her time? What for?
Krista and Pineno took several steps back. Running away suddenly didn't feel like a bad idea. But with Oinkologne unconscious in their presence…they couldn't…
But they couldn't fight Grove, either!
Grove held her head high with a scoff. "All of you are fools."
Krista froze. (What—)
Grove launched forward in a strong gallop. Krista almost screamed.
Grass sprouted from Grove's hooves as she made a sharp turn. She twisted her body and kicked out her back legs.
Orbeetle was struck under its head. The impact shot it through the earthy wall. Dull buzzing sounded in the air as it struggled to push itself free, but it was embedded too deep.
Krista's and Pineno's mouth hung open.
Grove stomped a hoof through the ground with an offended snort. "Did you honestly believe an associate of The Retaliation Corporation would fall victim to such cheap mind tricks?! My scarf isn't just for a show of status, children!"
To laugh or yell, Krista couldn't decide what she wanted to do. They were safe. Grove wasn't going to attack them.
The scarf saved her?
Krista had no time to question it. The Dottler had noticed their failed tactics. They shuffled their bodies to face the Gogoat that had harmed their leader.
"Well? What are you going to do now?" Grove challenged them. "Come! I know you aren't defenseless! Show me!"
The Dottler spat green liquid-like energy towards her. Grove leaped out the way with little effort. The grass where she stood hissed and dissolved into goop. The liquid was unleashed in a rapid fire, but Krista wasn't worried about Grove getting hurt. She was limber enough to keep dodging their efforts.
The problem was, she wouldn't be able to reach the Orbeetle if the Dottler kept their momentum.
Krista glanced at Pineno, who had the same idea that crossed her mind. They both threw the pebbles in a mad frenzy. They smacked against a single Dottler like a rainstorm.
The Dottler toppled over like a brick.
The light in its eyes dimmed.
The other two Dottler noticed. They turned their bodies. The dots on their body flickered.
"They are just going to make us fight each other again!" Pineno growled. "But if we don't do anything, Ms. Grove won't be able to reach their leader!"
Krista knew he was right. Her body still stung from the attacks she took from him before. She knew her body was meant to take so many brutal blows, but there was a limit. She would pass out before she got the chance to be of any use. If only there was a way for them to know if they were attacking the true Dottler, no matter how real their illusions looked.
As if the situation wasn't bad enough, she could see the subtle glow on their bodies. All of Team Retribute's efforts to chip away their defenses were being erased before their eyes.
To be bitten, Krista didn't want to feel that again. She couldn't shake Pineno off before, no matter how hard she tried. He was far too determined to hang on—
Wait.
"That's it!" Krista shouted. "Pineno! We have to be quick! Use your teeth to hang on to it! No matter what you see, don't stop attacking!"
Pineno looked confused at first, but her plan clicked into his mind when he saw her sprinting towards one of the Dottler with claws unsheathed. He planted his feet and launched his body forward using his vines. He and Krista descended towards their targets.
The Dottler blinked again, and the strange light was unleashed. Krista closed her eyes, but her vision still went white. The moment her paws landed on the surface, she sank one to anchor herself. She swiped at the body with the other, putting as much energy into her blows as she could. Their armor was tough, but it couldn't resist forever!
"Agh! Stop! What are you doing?!"
Krista froze. The voice sounded like Pineno's.
"Not me! You're attacking the wrong Pokémon! The Dottler are over there! Look!"
Krista felt her grip losing. She had to remind herself what was important. (No. It's just trying to trick me! I'm not going to fall for that again!)
She swung again. She felt her claws rip through the shell. Pineno's scream froze her in place. It sounded horrible…oh so terrible.
"Stop! Please! Stop! It hurts so much! Snap out of it! Please! Listen to me!"
No. She had to keep going! She had to…!
"Don't let them control you! You are stronger than this!"
Krista grit her teeth. (Don't open your eyes. Keep swinging. Do not…open your eyes…!)
"They are trying to make us fight each other! You are not a puppet! Please! Just open your eyes!"
It felt like torture. Every swing she dealt made Pineno scream. His voice was clear, and it wavered with agony. It sent horrible chills. Krista's blows lost their strength…she couldn't…
(It's not him!) she screamed in her mind. (It's in your head! It's not him…! It's not…)
"Please…" Pineno's voice was desperate.
(It's not…!)
"Pl-please….!"
She opened her eyes, just slightly, just for a peek.
She saw green.
Her eyes flew open. Pineno was on the ground, his arms over his head. His armor had been torn and tattered—he couldn't stop shaking. Tears pooled to the corners of his eyes, on the verge of falling.
"Please…pl-please s-stop…" Pineno whimpered. He looked at her with pleading eyes. "It hurts…it h-hurts so much, please just stop…"
His tears fell. Krista felt her heart break. "I…I didn't mean…"
(What have I done…?)
"Let…let me go… Please…no more. The Dottler…the Dottler… Please…let me go." The very motion of moving his head seemed to surface more pain. He clenched his teeth as he looked at her. Despite all the pain she dealt on him, he forced his usual smile. Fresh tears fell from his eyes. "You…you came back… We…we can fend them off better this time…! We can fight off that horrible Orbeetle! Together!"
Krista released her hold. How did she let that happen? She thought her plan would work, but somehow, the Dottler still found a way out. The Dottler still made them…
…Wait.
"Orbeetle?" Krista echoed. "You don't know who Orbeetle is."
Pineno's eyes twisted with confusion. His face flooded with horror once he realized what she said. "Wh-what do you mean? I heard you mention it! Of course I know who Orbeetle is!"
"You're convinced it's an alien! You're not him!" Krista brought her claws down, and Pineno flinched and turned his head away. She knew it was an illusion—it had to be. But his reactions, his voice…it was all too real…!
What if it was him? What if she was jumping to conclusions?
She looked at where she believed Pineno was supposed to be, but he was nowhere to be seen.
He was pinned down below her. His cries of fear flooded her ears. She was scaring him.
She was hurting him.
Krista drew her paw back, but no matter how much she told himself it wasn't real, she couldn't make the words stick. Her trembling paw was suspended over her head.
(I…I can't…)
She looked at her claws. They were incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through even the thickest of hides. It even went through Pineno's armor like butter.
They were incredibly sharp.
She shivered. There was no other option.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and she swung.
Hot and seething pain sliced through her face. She heard the fur tear. She felt the skin break. When she struck herself with the second swing, she was unable to hold back her scream. The pain blistered across her face like fire. She felt her own tears building as she clenched her teeth, sucking in a sharp breath.
She opened her glossed eyes. Pineno wasn't there anymore.
Dottler was beneath her. Its face didn't change, but its eyes flickered as if it blinked.
"YOU!"
With her ears folded back, a wave of anger washed over her. Her pain ebbed away as she screamed. She swung at the Dottler, and she followed with another swipe. The Dottler consumed its body with blue light. A wall was formed, a wall she had to break. She didn't stop. She couldn't stop, or it would find a window to strike her with its cruel illusions again.
At her fifth strike, the wall shattered. She sunk her claws again, yowling, digging as deep into the shell as she could muster. She felt it tear between her paws. She heard the Dottler beeping, but she didn't care.
She raised her paw to strike again, but everything shifted to one direction.
The Dottler slumped against the floor. The glow in its eyes had faded.
Krista took a deep breath as she slid off its body. With her anger fading, the damage she inflicted on herself surfaced. It burned and stung deep in her skin.
It hurt.
Gods, it hurt.
Almost desperate, Krista searched and found her bag for a familiar berry, and she ate it. The dry texture made her shiver, but it was working wonders with soothing her injuries.
There was one oran berry left.
A muffled scream filled the air.
Krista spun around. Pineno was in his previous position, and he held on to the Dottler with his teeth, just as he was instructed to. Eyes squeezed shut, his vines struck his enemy with wild and frantic blows.
Pineno let out another desperate scream as he rose a vine as high as he could make it. He swung it down. The air whistled and hissed. It cracked upon impact. The Dottler bounced off its feet and rolled over to its side.
Its eyes went dim, too.
"Whoa! Pineno! You did it!" Krista cheered. "You defeated the Dottler!"
Pineno released the Dottler and opened his glossed eyes. The second he spotted her, he took a step back, then his body tensed as he planted his feet.
In a wave of panic, Krista took a step back.
Pineno rubbed his face and shook his head. He blinked open his eyes and looked at her again. "Oh, o-oh. Krista. I had to make sure I still wasn't seeing things…are you okay?"
"I was…going to ask you the same thing," Krista said, relieved. "You look horrible."
Pineno just blinked, then he pointed a paw at her, almost fearful for her. "But your face! Did you scratch your own face?! Did that actually work?!"
Krista smiled sheepishly. "It hurt a lot. It still does. But don't worry about that. We…we defeated the Dottler. It worked…"
Her voice trailed off. Pineno stood, stiff with the slightest tremble. No…he couldn't stop shaking.
"Are you… sure you're okay…?" It was a foolish question, but Krista didn't know what else to ask.
Pineno's lips quivered. "It…it felt so real. It felt so real…I… I thought I was actually hurting you. I don't want—if I ever did… I would never forgive…I would…"
He slapped his face with his paws. The motion was so quick and sudden, Krista didn't know what to make of it.
Pineno's eyes were fixed on the ground. "She's okay. She's fine. You didn't hurt her. You didn't…hurt her."
He nodded twice, and he looked at her.
"All there is left is their boss over there, right? We have to help Grove!"
Krista almost missed what he said. He shook himself out of his guilt so fast, as if he rehearsed it a hundred times. All that Krista could muster was a nod.
The two children turned their attention towards the spot Orbeetle crashed.
It wasn't there anymore.
"Where did it go?!" Krista checked every direction. She spotted Grove near the pond. To her horror, Grove was exhausted. "Grove!"
Grove perked up upon hearing them. "Children! You've defeated the Dottler?!"
"Yeah!" Pineno ran ahead. Krista followed. "Where did the alien—"
The air buzzed. They stopped in an instant. The ground ahead of them exploded with green liquid energy.
The air zipped above. They looked up.
Orbeetle soared down towards them, wings buzzing, its blue eyes locked on Krista—no, Pineno!
Krista growled and lunged. She swung her claws once she was close enough. The Orbeetle glanced towards her. Its body was a blur as it shifted around her in an instant. Krista had just processed that it was behind her. The dots on its parted elytra glowed along with its eyes.
Krista didn't hit the ground. She was suspended in the air. She tried to speak, but she couldn't move her mouth. She couldn't move her tongue. Her arms were trapped by an unseen force.
Every part of her body was locked in place.
(What…what's going on? I can't move?!)
Galloping tumbled the earth. Grove was on her way, summoning her vines. She swung towards the Orbeetle.
Krista felt her entire body being dragged against her will. She was brought in the path of the vine's attack. She couldn't even scream.
Grove gasped and recoiled her attack at the last second. Her ears flattened as she stomped the ground. "Using the children as a shield?! You coward!"
(How…? What is…?) Krista knew her body wanted to move. She could feel the strain. (Come on…! I have to…move!)
A blur of rolling green. Pineno had curled himself into a ball.
Pineno's attack didn't connect. He floated in the air as she did. His body was highlighted with a faint blue light.
She had seen it before.
Pine Forest. The Staravia. Slowking held it in a similar manner.
The Staravia was thrown against the tree. Its wings were broken.
(Pineno!) Krista winched as the pressure against her body increased. It was as if she was being constricted.
His from zipped over towards her faster than she could blink.
WHAM!
They collided. The world boomed. Krista slammed on the ground, and her entire body was cloaked in pain. Her muscles burned from the strain. To lie down for comfort…it wasn't an option.
Above, the air held a horrible buzz in every direction. The Orbeetle zipped with incomprehensible speed. Krista thought she was seeing double, or triple, but it was moving that fast…!
Pineno pushed his body off the ground. He offered a vine to assist Krista. "How are we supposed to attack it when we can't even hit it?!"
"Its using Agility. It has increased its speed exceptionally," Grove said as she trotted to their side. "You're right. Its not possible for you two to land a hit. It will wear you down before you have the chance. Don't waste your energy trying to pursue it."
"Then what do we do?!" Pineno shouted.
"I'll do what I can to wear it down myself! Then you two jump in and finish it off!" Grove jumped to her hind legs as her front hooves held a mystic green light. She slammed them down. Grass sprouted. She started to skate on her trailblaze again.
Frantic, Krista searched through her bag. It was half empty due to the resources they already used up, but those didn't matter.
She picked up a seed. It was as big as one of her digits, a disfigured oval shape. The surface was decorated with a green and white pattern, with the very bottom a bright yellow.
"That's a heal seed," Pineno said, dread on his face. "We could had used that before."
Krista scoffed and shoved her paw back inside the bag. He was right, but that wasn't what she was looking for.
She brushed past a chesto berry. She pushed aside the escape orb. She felt a small but bumpy surface…there! She pulled out another seed, one that reminded her of fire. She dropped it on Pineno's paw before she searched and pulled out the second one.
"Th…these are blast seeds. You…want us to use it against Orbeetle." Pineno stated the obvious, but his reasons were clear. His paw squeezed it as he took a deep and shuddering breath. "But that means…breathing fire."
The last thing Krista wanted to do was to force his hand into something that scared him to his core. "I know how you feel about fire, Pineno. If you don't want to do it, I won't force you. Just hold on to it, just in case."
Far ahead, Grove skated and leaped around the vast space, kicking blades of glowing grass in the air as she pursued the Orbeetle. Both Pokémon moved at speeds that were impossible for the children to follow.
"How are we supposed to blast it if it keeps moving that fast?!" Pineno shouted.
"I think that's what Grove is trying to help us with," Krista answered.
The Gogoat was starting to catch up. Krista could still make out her shape, but each time she lunged off the walls, her momentum kept increasing. Grove was soon a green and brown blur chasing after a red streak.
The two steaks leaped from wall to wall. Team Retribute ducked their heads as the pair chased each other in a maddened frenzy. The grass on the field would get sliced by Orbeetle's incredible speed. Grove followed its path, unintentionally leaving a fresh trail of grass to replace that was lost.
"I'm starting to get dizzy. When do we move?" Pineno asked.
"We have to wait." Krista had to look away when her eyes started to strain. She closed them instead, listening to their movements.
She could hear Dusk's voice again:
"Plant your feet on the ground and listen. Not just with your ears, but with your heart. Close your eyes. Inhale gently through your nose."
At first, she didn't understand what his words meant. She thought it was so she wouldn't panic, so that she would be able to focus to take down the Yungoos that was faster than her.
But it wasn't just that.
As she took a deep breath and listened, she could hear the two Pokémon zip in the air and slice through the ground. She could hear the trampling of hooves. The buzzing…no, the humming of wings.
She could feel the air brush past her fur. Everything slowed down.
She brought the seed close to her mouth.
Orbeetle dropped down from above, skidding to a stop between Team Retribute. It was just for a split second. A brief pause. Time had slowed down.
Krista could see every subtle movement so clearly.
There were no wings under its split elytra. It moved forward no more, its glowing eyes locked on her. As if it were in a panic, it withdrew itself back.
Crunch.
Krista felt the shell break between her teeth. The moment the flesh of the seed touched her tongue, there was a popping sensation. It bubbled. It wasn't spicy, but it was hot, but too hot to contain. It burned her throat as it searched for an escape.
She coughed. It was a horrible, wheezing cough. The kind of cough that shook her very lungs. It sucked the air out of her body.
She coughed again. It was deep. A cloud of smoke escaped her.
The third time she coughed, there was a spark of fire.
The fourth time, she exhaled a massive fireball. The Orbeetle was just beginning to ascend when it struck it head on.
The ball exploded.
The blazing shockwave blew Krista right off of her feet. It singed her face. All sound ceased.
She felt the ground against her back. It didn't hurt, but her head was heavy. Her ears rang. Every other sound was muffled and drowned.
Once she opened her eyes, everything doubled. The world spun. The sun basked down on her still body as she stared into the vast blue sky. The ringing was like an eerie song, a final high note that refused to end.
She had to collect her thoughts.
(I breathed fire. I actually…breathed fire…and it exploded. And…I'm on the ground. I…have to get up.)
She lifted her head, and the ringing intensified. The dizziness made the world spin faster…she had to lie back down. It was not the reaction she was expecting. She was never told that could happen. Why would Dusk leave out such an important detail…?
The sun was getting brighter.
No. Her vision was turning white.
…
… …
… … …
… … … …
"I still can't see you…."
(Urgh. What…?) Krista blinked open her eyes. The vast whiteness faded, and she could see the sky again. Her head didn't ache anymore.
"I can't see you anymore…"
She sat up, and the first thing she recognized was how she wasn't in the underground spring. She didn't see Pineno, or Grove, or the angry Orbeetle.
"Tell…tell me… Tell me why…."
"Why did you disappear…?"
She was in a vast field, the same field she saw before in her dreams. The endless space, like a green sea…then blue…then purple.
Yes. Just like before, the colors never stayed the same. It was always a gentle shift, as if it were natural.
(I'm here again.)
A ring.
A voice rang to her again.
"You are…supposed to be here…"
"But…you left me…"
"You left me…all alone…"
"Who are you?" Krista flinched at her own voice. It echoed in every direction, despite the fact that she was outside. That wasn't normal. In an open field, voices wouldn't hold the same volume as they would inside a cave.
Wait.
She could speak! Finally! She could speak!
Krista waited. Her words had traveled to it. All she could do was wait for its response. Then maybe…maybe she could finally get to the bottom of why the strange voice kept talking to her.
"You know…who I am…"
It heard her!
But it said that she knew it? Couldn't be…or…did she know it before she lost her memories?
"I…I'm sorry," Krista said. "Maybe I did know you before, but my memories…I lost my memories. Is there someway I can—"
"Why do you pretend…why do you pretend…"
"You left…me all alone…"
"Then you lie to me…"
"…Why…?"
"I don't even know what you are talking about? What do I have to lie for?" Krista almost felt insulted. She couldn't find the source of the voice anywhere. It didn't hold volume. It didn't hold presence. She heard a voice with a similar sensation before: a voice that invaded her head, thoughts that weren't her own.
"I thought…we were friends…"
"You promised…you would never leave me…"
"But I…don't see you anymore. You're gone…"
"So why…why did you leave me all alone…?"
"Do you…hate me?"
At those final words, Krista could identify the tone at last. The voice…it sounded young, and frightened. It held the slightest tremble, as if it was on the verge of tears.
"Why should I hate you?" Krista asked. "I didn't come here because I wanted to! I know I didn't! If you can just tell me who you are, maybe I can help you!"
"Stop it…stop lying to me…"
"Just tell me….please…"
"Why…why did…you leave me…?"
"I don't know! It wasn't on purpose! I'm telling the truth!" Krista argued. "How am I supposed to help you when I don't remember anything?!"
"You both said you weren't like them…"
"You both promised me…you promised that you would help…"
"They told me not to trust either of you…"
"They told me not to trust any human…"
Krista almost stopped breathing. Her entire body froze.
Human.
"You…you know I am a human…?"
"Every other human…"
"Every other…human…"
"...human…"
"...h…u…an…"
The voice started to fade. It faded along with the space around her, and the ground beneath her feet.
Krista recognized the signs. Desperate, she called out to the voice. "Wait! Wait! Don't go! What do you mean?! Tell me who you are! Who am I to you?!"
She tried to run, but her feet were glued to the ground. No matter how hard she pulled, it was as if a powerful magnet kept her anchored. Each attempt grew more frantic than the last.
"No, no, no! Not again! Please! Tell me! Who are you?! Why am I here?!"
The ground started to extend. It stretched out and narrowed, tunneling into a twisted path. Cracks bolted across the sky, across the ground, suspended in the air.
"No! No! Please!"
The cracks split open, glowing blue. Reality started to crumble like sand. Krista felt the ground collapse beneath her feet.
It happened again. She screamed. She reached towards the surface as she fell into the blinding abyss again.
…
… …
… … …
"KRISTA!"
Krista gasped and sat up. She felt pressure on her back. It took her a second to recognize it as a vine.
Grove. She was looking right at her.
"Where—"
"You are still here," Grove said. "After the explosion, you didn't move for a while. I was worried that you have put yourself in a daze. That's usually what happens the first time someone eats a blast seed—"
"The Orbeetle!" Krista was quick to her feet, but Grove held her back.
"Pineno knocked it out."
"Wh—" Krista stared at Grove, but her face was serious. She looked in the opposite direction. Pineno stood over the Orbeetle that lay limp on its side. Its eyes lost its glow, a dull silver. Its body was charred and smoking.
Pineno took notice of her staring. "Oh! Krista!"
"You…you actually did it?" Krista couldn't believe it. "You used the blast seed…"
"Well, yeah. But I didn't eat it," Pineno explained. "Right after I saw you get blown back, I kinda panicked and threw it instead. And the next thing I knew, BOOM! The shell exploded and I got knocked back pretty bad. It didn't hurt, but my ears didn't like that explosion very much. But! The alien—I mean, the Orbeetle couldn't take two explosions back to back I guess. So it's kinda…knocked out."
"We…we defeated it…?"
Grove was careful as she released Krista to assure she wouldn't fall. Once everything seemed stable, she walked ahead for a better look at the Orbeetle. "It likely won't wake for some time."
Krista found that she could stand, with some annoying aches. Cautious, she moved forward and kept her eyes on the Orbeetle. A part of her expected it to move, but it remained motionless. Behind her, the Dottler were in no better shape.
"We won…" Krista whispered.
"Such an unnecessary fight…but sometimes that's the only way we can communicate, it seems," Grove said. "I'm quite glad the two of you shook off your confusion, although I don't understand why you didn't bother to use your heal seeds."
Krista sighed. "We…already figured that out."
"Well, it can't be helped," Grove said. "What's done is done. Now, we should hurry. Our client should still be…ah! Over there!"
"Oh!" Pineno seemed to have forgotten. "That's right!"
They picked up speed once they spotted Oinkologne again. The first thing Krista realized was that the Pokémon was a lot bigger than it looked. The second thing she noticed whiffed her face—a strong scent that almost overwhelmed her senses. It was as if someone filled the room with fragrance. She had to fight back the urge to cough.
"Eeeee! He smells like a hundred berries!" Pineno covered his own nose. "Why is it so strong?!"
Grove shook her head with a huff. It seemed to be too strong for her as well. "Likely a defense mechanism to protect him while he's vulnerable. It's quite alright. It's overpowering, but it won't hurt you. If we wake him, it should settle…but first…"
They checked for injuries and tried to ignore the headache-inducing smell. To their surprise, the Pokémon didn't have as much as a scratch. In fact, his skin was unbelievably glossy and without a speck of dirt. Even his hooves, which were a strong pink, were polished to a shine.
"Looks like he's under a hypnosis of some kind," Grove realized. She offered a vine towards Krista. "Give me the chesto berry."
Krista found the berry and placed it on the vine. She watched as it coiled around the surface and carried it towards the unconscious Pokémon. The second vine forced Oinkologne's mouth open, and the berry was pushed inside.
Krista's face twisted. "You can just force-feed him like that? Won't he choke?"
Grove smiled. "All you need is to taste the shell, and it should begin to work. Eating it makes you feel wide awake, of course."
With that in mind, they waited.
They heard the shell break. Oinkologne's mouth was moving.
"He's…eating in his sleep…" Pineno's lips twitched into an uneasy smile.
Oinkologne twitched. His pink nose sniffed the air. He groaned as he opened his eyes, and he got to his feet with Grove's support. Both of his ears flopped down, one over an eye, but it was the least of his worries.
"Wh…where am I?" His voice was groggy, with the slightest snort behind his words.
"You're in the depths of Blindside Burrow," Grove answered. "Team Retribute was sent to help you. Everything is okay now."
The words seemed to have slapped him wide awake. He jumped and looked around, taking note of the three Pokémon standing around him. "Oh, oh! You came all the way here to help me?! I passed out?!"
"Yeah. You were out cold pretty bad," Pineno answered.
"Do you remember what happened?" Krista asked him.
Oinkologne looked towards the sky, deep in thought. "Why I came here? Um…"
He squeezed his eyes shut. Embarrassment flooded his face.
"Sorry…my mind is in a bit of a haze."
"That's quite alright. Take your time," Grove said.
Krista didn't exactly want him to take his time. She casted a nervous glance towards the unconscious Pokémon that attacked them. The air too, wasn't getting any fresher. The strong perfume lingered, and she hated that she could almost taste it.
(It's fine. It's fine.) Krista told herself. (He's probably scared. I know I would be…)
"Hmm…oh. Oh! I remember now!" Oinkologne exclaimed.
"You do?" Pineno was relieved.
Oinkologne nodded. His shock vanished, replaced with pondering. "Well, I came down here because I heard of the rumors about the ancient spring water. I did as much research as I could so I would be prepared, but no one ever told me how horrible that dungeon was. I managed, though. I got through it. By the time I arrived here, I saw what I was looking for. But before I could get close enough, I saw these strange Pokémon with stranger lights. And…that's all I remember."
"So, they didn't hurt you," Pineno said, confused. "But why did they attack us?"
There was a soft pulse of rainbow light. It glimmered like ribbons and bathed the walls around them. The ground was dotted with strange glitter, a reminder of what they noticed before.
Everyone approached the pond. The colorful light illuminated their curious faces more with every step. Their forms reflected from the crystal-clear surface as they stopped near the edge. Streaks of the colorful light fluttered within the waters like a curtain. The depths of the pond…it was far deeper than they expected.
There wasn't a single blade of grass, or any living creature inside. Instead, the source of the sparkling wasn't just from the sun. The very bottom of the pond was coated with layers of crystals—crystals of endless colors. Their shapes were all unique: some merged, others towered close to the water's surface, and some protruded from the walls, glistening under the filtered sunlight. The walls themselves were never bare, coated with sheets of the shining mineral. It was like a mirror that reflected every object inside, casting the illusion that the pond was bigger than it seemed.
"Wow…this place is so beautiful…" Pineno gasped. "Look at all the crystals! There's so many of them!"
"I've never seen anything like it," Grove said, her voice the softest it ever was.
Oinkologne nodded. "Yeah. That's what I said when I came here. The treasures deep within Blindside Burrow…the stories were all true. The water in this pond…it's like magic. This could help my family back home. We could…finally help Ma."
Krista heard their voices. She did. She truly did, but her eyes were transfixed to the sight before her. All of her troubles, all of her worries…what was she worried about? She couldn't remember.
Her heart was racing as her entire body swelled with overwhelming excitement. She was on the verge of bursting. There were countless crystals, too many to choose from. It was all too much. Her breathing started to hitch.
"Take it easy, Meowth. It's not going anywhere," Oinkologne said, snapping her from her trance. He gave her a big smile. "Haha. This place must be like a paradise to you, huh?"
Was it? Krista was sure it was just her instincts.
"This is so strange…" Grove whispered. Her own excitement was withering away. "We've known of Blindside Burrow's existence for a very long time. I am sure we came to the depths time before, but…why does it feel like I've never been here before? Even back in the complex, the associates said they couldn't remember what the place looked like. Could it be…that those rumors were true?"
"What is this place, exactly?" Pineno wondered.
'This is…Luminous Burrow.'
The familiar voice startled the group. They spun around, frightened, but ready to fight. The Orbeetle hovered there, and it struggled to stay afloat. But, it displayed no signs of hostility.
'Ease yourselves. I am not looking for a fight. Not anymore,' The dots on its body blinked blue in sync with its words.
Everyone relaxed, just enough for some tension to wither out. Not a single Pokémon lowered their guard.
Krista could finally get a good look at the Pokémon who attacked them. The first thing she recognized was how Orbeetle stayed afloat in the air. Its elytra had settled back on its back. With the lack of wings, it was a wonder how it flew. She could only conclude it was some sort of psychic power.
Yes. That had to be it. Its mouth never moved when it spoke. Its voice was almost a whisper, but it didn't have a sound. No, it was in her head.
(It has to be using telepathy.) she thought. (It's so weird. It sounds different from how Zee spoke to us. No echo? No powerful ring? It's just…another thought inside my mind?)
(I don't like it. It's like my own inner voice has a mind of its own…)
Grove took a step forward, curious. Unlike Krista, she seemed perfectly fine with everything. "You say this place is Luminous Burrow? But it's been believed to be a mirage for all these years."
'A mirage. You can call it that, if it is easier for you to understand,' the Orbeetle answered. 'It is a place of rumor, something we have assured for countless years. Within the depths of the pond before you lies a whimsical force. The crystals are embedded with endless energy. It has the power to unlock the sealed away potential that Pokémon have: May it be to exceed the ceiling of their own power, or the power to defy their natural element, this pond bestows it to you. Yes, this is also the place Pokémon once came to when they sought evolution.'
"Evolution?!" the group shouted at once.
"You mean…I could evolve here if I wanted to…?" Pineno looked at his own paws.
'Precisely. But ever since the spread of mystery dungeons, more Pokémon have been too frightened to come here. And alas, this very place was caught within its curse. This pond has been spared due to its mystic properties. Unfortunately, the difficult journey to reach this place has discouraged the hearts of many. The concept of evolution here has been lost to time.
'And so, the stories became confused. What was once a place sought for limit-breaking power and evolution, became a place where Pokémon believed granted them foolish things; such as immorality, and immunity to illness. The Pokémon who managed to come here sought such power for themselves, all for wicked and selfish reasons.
'Then you have those who were affected by The Corruption. They sought this place in hopes it would cure their loved ones, but their desperation only brought damage once they realized…the pond water cured no such thing.'
"It…it doesn't…?" Oinkologne's voice was almost inaudible. He lowered his head, crushed and defeated.
'I apologize that you had to find out this way. The damage to your heart…I see it so clearly already. It would be best…if you remember nothing of this place.'
Oinkologne shook his head. "N-no. Please…don't do that. I…I came here expecting it to be a mere fable. I already…mentally prepared myself for something like this. You shouldn't have to trouble yourself."
'That is not an option I'm afraid. If the truth of this place ever surfaces…if the true existence of this place reaches The Sorcerers, they will destroy it.'
"They would?!" Pineno gasped.
'Many came. They discovered this place. I've fought them off. I knocked them out. I erased their memories. I've sent them away. More came. Repeat. Repress. An endless cycle. It is all for the sake of keeping this place a secret. With their forces forever growing, I cannot lend them this power. But it also comes with the sacrifice that evolution becomes so very limited. It's the only way, I'm afraid. I've sought many alternatives, but there are none.'
"It's the only way?" Krista asked. "Evolution is limited? Here? Why?"
'Whatever do you mean, young Meowth?'
"I thought Pokémon could evolve whenever they reached some kind of goal. Like…if they are talented enough in battling…and stones!" Krista paused for a second, shocked at herself for recalling their existence. "Wh…what about the evolution stones? If a Pikachu touches a thunderstone, it'll just evolve anyway!"
Confusion crossed Oinkologne's face. "The thunderstone won't do anything without the reaction of the spring water. Did you not know?"
Krista was even more confused. "Huh…? But that doesn't…"
Grove cut her off. "I think I see what you are trying to express. Evolution is achieved when certain conditions are met, but that mainly applies to the wild creatures."
"I…don't understand."
"A trade-off for our wisdom, Krista. Evolution is merely a reaction to adapt to an unforgiving environment. When Pokémon learned to speak and think for themselves, they built societies and found a way to co-exist. No longer did they have to constantly achieve strength to live another day. And because of that, evolution was no longer necessary. It became…locked away in a sense. It's almost as if there is some sort of mental barrier, because we know we don't need it. A lot of Pokémon are content with staying the way they are. You understand now why this place is important."
Krista tried to find a response, but she couldn't come up with any. It was…strange. Pokémon who didn't care about evolving…?
Surely, Oinkologne and Grove must have visited the spring before, but they remembered nothing about it! The associates back at the base, and Slowking too, they all evolved at some point. Could Orbeetle have wiped their memories clean of evolving? How did that even work?
How did the spring water trigger something that should be natural in the first place?
(No wonder Orbeetle acts as it's guardian! It must have lost count on how many memories it erased!)
Pondering over it made her mind race.
(Did I actually come here before? Is that why that voice tried to contact me? It said that it knew me, but I couldn't recognize it at all. It knew…that I was a human. Maybe I came here, and Orbeetle wiped my memories clean after all.)
Orbeetle looked the crowd over. 'With this newfound knowledge, it is to be assumed that the adolescents wish to seek evolution.'
Krista opened her mouth to decline, but an excited squeal from Pineno made her forget her own words.
"Yes! Yes! I want to evolve! Yes!" Pineno tapped his clawed feet on the ground in an excited rhythm. "Ooo I've been wanting to become a Quilladin for so long! It brings me one step closer to becoming a Chesnaught!"
He dropped to his knees and clasped his paws together. Krista didn't even know he had knees.
"Oh, please! Please Guardian Orbeetle! Will you let me evolve? I know we caused trouble for you, and I promise to make sure no more of that happens again! Please! I'll only take a tiny sip of the water and leave you alone if that's okay!"
Orbeetle's spots blinked. 'I've said you seek it. I never said it would be possible.'
"What?!" Pineno dropped his paws.
'As Gogoat said, evolution requires that certain conditions are met, something that you lack. Your body will reject it.'
"Huh?! B-but—"
'And it's not just you. Your friend next to you…is also incapable.'
Krista froze.
"Huh?! Krista too?" Pineno turned to her, stunned.
Many eyes were on her. Although Krista was also denied evolution, she felt nothing of it. A part of her was actually relieved that evolution was impossible for her.
The concept of having her body change again…she shuddered.
But Krista knew it wasn't just about her. Pineno was heartbroken, and she almost wished she could share his feelings. She hated seeing her friend so down.
(Pineno really wanted to evolve. I guess it's because he looks up to his father so much.)
He always spoke so highly of his father. From all the stories, Zypher—that was his name—sounded like a powerful Pokémon that was well known and respected throughout the entire country. It was a wonder what he was like in person.
Despite what Pineno was told, there was still a tiny bit of hope in his eyes. "What are those missing conditions? I'm sure I've grown to be great at battling and all. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I was sure I was strong enough to evolve to at least a Quilladin…"
'Strength alone will not achieve evolution, Chespin.' Orbeetle explained. 'Grow as strong as you like, but for as long as you hold on to your disbelief, you will fail to break your limits.'
"My…disbelief?"
'If you ever do learn what that is, work on conquering it. Until then, such power will not be bestowed upon you.'
Pineno lowered his head with a sigh. Everyone else could only sympathize with pitied looks on their faces.
And just like that, he sprung to his feet and nodded. A smile formed on his face.
"So we can't evolve yet! That's okay! We will just have to work harder and get better! One more reason to do our best!"
Krista sometimes didn't know what to make with his sudden change of moods. (That was…quick.)
Orbeetle nodded. 'If that is your goal, then I hope you achieve it.'
Grove let out a sigh. "Well, it seems we have no reason to linger here for much longer."
'No. There doesn't appear to be,' Orbeetle agreed.
Grove's expression changed, almost hard to read. Somewhat grim, perhaps?
"If you would like to erase our memories of this place…then I won't stop you," she said.
Krista's heart skipped a beat. A paw clenched her chest. (What?! Right now?!)
She knew it would happen. It was inevitable. Still, knowing her memories would be stolen…again, although it was only a fraction, it brought dread. She didn't want it to happen again. Krista didn't care how little she would forget. Her arms crossed over the top of her head as she stepped back. She tried to speak, to decline it, to beg, but her words only came out as small whimpers.
Grove's voice almost faded behind the sound of Krista's restless heartbeat. "Perhaps Oinkologne came here due to the rumors, but the rest of us arrived to rescue him from this place. He has a family that is worried sick about his well-being. We have completed our mission."
(Please don't end the conversation… Please…please keep talking.) Krista felt the dizziness returning. The moment Grove stopped talking, Orbeetle would…
"Besides. If you are worried about us being friends with The Sorcerers or anything…you have nothing to worry about. They are our enemy." Pineno's voice was almost drowned out. The bold tone was the last thing Krista expected to hear.
She tried to focus. She tried to calm her racing heart.
"They hurt Pokémon. They only care about themselves. That's why we are fighting against them," Pineno said. "We want to stop their power from growing just as much as you do. And…we want to stop The Corruption too. Somehow, those two things are connected. We can't let either of it reach this place!"
Orbeetle was silent, studying the group and their different faces. The anger. The concern. The grief…
The lights on its back blinked. Krista flinched.
'I see. So you oppose their overall existence. Retaliation Teams…you are called….and you tell the honest truth. I see it clearly.'
"Huh?!" Pineno couldn't believe it. "You know who we are?!"
'I merely peeked into your minds for a split moment. Worry not. I was only seeking the truth. I did not look into your personal lives. We psychics cannot read minds if the individual's subconscious remains strong enough to resist it. Although there are some exceptions, I did not reach them.'
Orbeetle glanced back. The Dottler were starting to recover. Their eyes regained their glow, but they remained as still as they did before.
That was it. It was going to happen. Again, Krista's memories were going to be tampered with. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat tightened. She squeezed her eyes shut instead. There was nothing else she could do but wait. The sights of the vibrant colors, and all the crystals, would be erased from her mind at any given moment. She kept the image clear in her mind, but it was pointless. It would be torn away from her forever. She will remember no exchange, no battle, nothing…
She would just wake up, confused and lost again. No one would be able to explain why she felt scrambled. No one.
(I don't want…) Krista couldn't think. Her heavy heartbeat drowned out her own thoughts. Her chest was heavy. The air felt too thin. (I…please…I…)
'You have gained my trust.'
She opened her eyes, fixed on the grass. Did she hear that right? Everything still moved in a spiral…
'I will not tamper with your memories,' Orbeetle repeated.
"Really?" Oinkologne's voice sounded muffled to Krista's ears.
To breathe…Krista could breathe again. It wasn't right away, but…
'You have a strong desire to protect this place. I can sense it. For that reason, I will let you go.'
Just to confirm what she heard was true, Krista took a quick look at everyone around her. Oinkologne dropped his head with a smile, and Pineno was speechless.
And Grove…Grove looked the most relieved. She exhaled a heavy breath and lowered her head with a soft nod.
They watched as Orbeetle floated towards its group of Dottler. It blinked. They blinked back in response.
'We will give you a moment to recollect yourselves. By the time we return, we expect you to be gone. We ask of you to never return to this place, until the world is stable once more.'
Orbeetle's eyes glowed bright. The Dottler vanished the same way they arrived. Orbeetle was consumed by a beam of blue light that intensified with every few seconds.
To never return. That was what it requested. It meant, to see this place in the future would be impossible. It meant…it would be the last time Krista would ever see Orbeetle…
…for as long as the world remained broken.
But she had so many questions. Her memories…there had to be a key to them. Her heart, it wouldn't settle. Words. She needed to find them. To speak! She had to say something!
It was going to leave. It was…
"Don't go!" Krista blurted.
Orbeetle looked back.
Once again, she found herself unable to speak. She couldn't tell if she annoyed Orbeetle or not. There was no change in its expression, if that was even possible. But, she had its attention. It was willing to stay a little longer just to hear the ridiculousness that she wanted to ask.
She couldn't make it too obvious. But…there had to be some way for her to know.
"You said…" Krista took a deep breath to settle her nerves. "…you said…that only Pokémon found this place, right?"
She heard Pineno shuffle nearby. He knew exactly what she sought.
Orbeetle looked straight ahead again. 'Yes. I've only encountered Pokémon, several different species and subspecies. If you are referring to true ghosts or spirits…or aliens, I have not. Those are merely rumors. You have nothing to worry about.'
With that, it vanished from thin air.
Krista sighed. On one hand, she was relieved that she never came to the spring before. In the other, she felt like she was back to square one.
Pineno looked right at her. He knew she would be distraught.
"I'm still here for you." Krista was sure that was what he would say.
She wanted to return the smile, she really did. If she tried to force one, he would know.
What was she expecting…?
She looked at Grove, meeting her eyes only for a brief second. The odd expression on her face thankfully didn't turn into a question.
"I believe it's time we head home," Grove said.
Time to go. Krista looked towards the sky. It held the slightest tint of orange.
"The sun is starting to set. It'll be awfully dark," Pineno said. "But we already knew this would happen. At least we don't have to go through that dungeon again. It should be a normal walk back."
Krista had almost forgotten. Again, she was grateful she wouldn't be blinded by the approaching darkness. After all that happened, she just wanted to be back home already. She didn't want to walk. She was tired of walking.
"I'm sorry," Oinkologne apologized again. He must have seen her face…no, her tail. It was always the tail. "Truly, I am sorry."
"It's…it's okay," it was all Krista could say.
"What matters is that you are safe now," Grove said. "But walking back won't be necessary, thankfully."
"It won't?" Pineno asked.
"This is when I tell you the third and final function your badges have," Grove said.
"The…third. You mentioned that before," Krista said.
"Yes. Our badges have the ability to transport us directly back to headquarters," Grove said.
"Really?!" Surprise was all over Pineno's face.
"Yes. These badges were created with the enhanced spell of an escape orb in mind. So these can be reused several times over. It just needs time to recharge, which is why we only take our time with one dungeon per day, if the labor allows it. Otherwise, the power becomes limited. It's not…favorable in a high-stakes situation."
Krista remembered!
(When we first met Slowking…of course! It was no wonder he couldn't transport all three of us at once!)
"Why didn't you tell us this before?" she asked.
"Because if I did, you wouldn't be putting so much effort into traveling through the dungeon," Grove answered. "You can deny it if you like, but so many new recruits tend to let their guard down when they know the badge will take them back home. And well, yes, they do get sent home, but that's after they get knocked out. They tend to forget their badges enter panic mode and transfer them in such a hurry. They end up losing their precious resources as a result. Perhaps I should have let you two experience that, but Dusk has taken such a liking towards you. He would be disappointed."
(Yeah…thanks…) The pair of children frowned.
"Now then, the badges will react to you and you alone. They are assigned to you, after all. All you have to do is rotate the star and hold the badge above your heads, and will yourselves to return home. You don't need to say anything. It responds to your heart. But, in this case, we are rescuing someone. I will demonstrate how this is done since this is your first mission, so pay close attention."
Grove flicked the star piece with a single vine until it spun, and the centerpiece held a strong glow. She unclipped the badge as she closed her eyes, and the flat side was pressed against her chest. The glow consumed the entire surface.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked Oinkologne. "I'm sorry…that things didn't turn out the way you wanted them to."
Oinkologne sighed, but he wore a smile. "It's fine. I'll be okay. I'll have to thank you properly once we get there. I'll see you soon, Gogoat. Oh, and you two as well!"
Grove returned a smaller smile as she pointed the badge towards Oinkologne. "As scary as it may seem, no harm will come to you. Try not to move too much, alright?"
"Got it."
Once the badge was held high above his head, his body started to glow in a similar yellow light. It intensified and swallowed him.
The light shot upwards towards the sky as a pillar, vanishing.
Krista gasped. That was…terribly similar to how the Headmaster liked to move around.
"Whoa! He flew!" Pineno shouted.
"Not entirely. He was merely transported, as we will be soon," Grove said, flicking the star until it started to glow again. "Let's go."
Cautious, Krista struck the star piece. She didn't expect it to spin so easily, nor did she think it would sound like a clattering marble. Once it started to glow, she removed her badge and pressed it against her beating heart just as Grove displayed. She wasn't sure how it worked. It didn't react in an instant, not like how she witnessed.
(Does it really respond to desire? That's so strange. How does that work?)
She heard Pineno gasp. His badge was already glowing.
(Well. I guess I'll give it a try.)
She imagined it. The Stoneridge Complex. Its hidden entrance. The square. The marketplace. The library. All of the images were so vivid in her mind.
As she opened her eyes, the light greeted her. Even with the knowledge it would happen, it still spooked her.
Grove smiled and held her badge above her head. Pineno and Krista did the same. The glow of the centerpieces intensified by the second, becoming a bright yellow.
They were engulfed in the light. It shrunk into itself before it shot upwards as a column towards the sky. Krista gasped as her feet left the ground—she was floating! It felt terribly strange, nothing like the escape orb at all. The light held warmth, and her stomach didn't hold that sickening feeling either.
Pineno laughed at the sensation. Grove's hooves kicked in the air, as if the magic amused her.
The world around Krista turned into a blur as her body shot upwards like a bullet. The vortex screamed in a high-pitch note as the air around Krista roared.
Just as the intensity reached its peak, the yellow light shot down the same way it arrived. Krista took in her surroundings, and only saw the black marble walls. Her feet were back on solid ground.
She was in The Stoneridge Complex plaza. She looked at her feet and recognized the large rhombus platform that was near the bulletin board. The bright yellow glow of it was fading. Around her, busy Pokémon walked passed as if nothing happened. Only a few would acknowledge Grove's arrival.
The very concept of the badge's capabilities made Krista's head spin. (How—already? I just blinked and we are back already?!)
No side-effects? Krista didn't feel queasy or lightheaded in any way. What made the transportation different from an escape orb?
Pineno tapped the surface with the claws of his toes, admiring the structure.
A snort. Krista looked to her left. Oinkologne was there, bewildered by the sights around him.
"Seems everybody's back in one piece. Wonderful." Grove clipped her badge back in place. "Let's report our success to The Headmaster."
To be Continued in Chapter 14.
