The Doomed Sprout
Chapter 24
Fen awoke in a forest, the pale trees curving slightly over the strong wind. The night was bright, allowing her to look around and get her bearings. As she observed her surroundings, questions began popping in her mind.
«...Why am I here? These trees… Are yews usually in jungles? Did the portal bring us somewhere else?». Fen pondered on the idea for a moment, before remembering something, looking around sporadically. «Cylan?Lumin? HEY! »
As her yells echoed through the forest, the Nidoran began moving through the trees, hoping to find any traces of their movements. Each branch she moved seemed thicker than the last, and the light dimmed, unable to pierce through the leaves, leaving her in complete darkness, eventually. Yet, something within her pushed her onwards, further away from the light, until she couldn't even recognize what it was she was pushing away in her path forward.
Fen's breath gradually became colder, the atmosphere gradually changing, the sound of leaves brushing against her spikes quieted down, and was replaced with the sound of gravel on her paws. The temperature lowered, though she barely noticed it until her eyes finally noticed something amidst the darkness : a fire.
Fen rushed towards it, invigorated by the idea of something, anything that would help her figure out where she was! In her rush, she missed a rock formation, falling face-first in front of the fire.
«O-ow… why'd it have to be stone… weren't I in a forest?», the Nidoran pouted, before a voice replied, making her jump in surprise
«Because an alcove on the side of a mountain is so much more scenic, my friend!»
As Fen looked at the source of the voice, she was surprised to see Cylan in his Zorua form, though strangely much bigger than usual.
Cylan continued. «Now, now, I'm certain you have questions. Do go on, ask away!»
Fen looked hesitant, Cylan's appearance and behavior were clearly not normal. She likely wasn't in danger, since attacking in the darkness would've been much easier for a Zorua, but…
«You're not Cylan, are you?»
The Zorua smiled, nodding slowly. «Correct! But, also incorrect. I am his mindscape, the Cylan you know is currently recovering while unconscious»
Recovering? Fen's mind raced with thoughts. Were they attacked? Is she unconscious as well, then? What about Lumin?
«Now, now, don't bother yourself about these things. These don't matter, now that you're here, don't they?», Dream-Cylan spoke softly, wrapping his tail around the worried Nidoran and pulling him closer to the fire. «Just get comfortable!»
Although she was weirded out by the situation, she couldn't help but feel comforted by the soft tail brushing against her, embarrassing her lightly. «...Why am I here, exactly?»
«There is no reason, dear friend. At least, no reason that I know of. It's possible that quickly switching from a plane out of time and space, to one woven with both time and space has caused a little shock»
Fen looked puzzled, uncertain of the answer. «Or perhaps it's that energy Lumin is stuck with? Something about Archons, maybe that transferred to us too?»
Dream-Cylan shook his head, before making images appear over the flames, mimicking a small cat with a battery. «Lumin was able to handle the energy beforehand, the transfer happened right in front of you if my memory is correct». Saying this, the image of the small cat's battery increased, before both disappeared in a door, with another cat and a bunny appearing. As the two animals lunged at the door, the Zorua finished. «We went through a portal that wasn't supposed to be used by us, and paid the price»
Fen stood silent alongside the gigantic Cylan, looking at a picture of a destroyed door dancing in the flames. «Then… that'd mean that you, me and Lumin should all be affected. Should we find him?»
«He has a lot more energy than we do, in part due to the Archon. While we don't know what that even is, we know that Archon Lurantis was much tougher than most Pokemon. It's likely that Lumin will recover before either of us if he hasn't already»
Dream-Cylan stretching, before standing up and staring at the void outside. «I am uncertain why you are in my mind, human, but you are deemed a friend, and I'll assist you in any way I can, provided you help us in return»
As she continued staring at the fire, Fen sighed, accepting that she was completely out of her depth. «I'll do what I can. What do you know?»
«You are aware of our plan to gather information on what is happening on the planet. I have not quite shared all that I knew about this»
«That was kinda obvious, you've been here for years already!», sneered the Nidoran, before a loud growl made her look down. «Uh, I suppose you didn't have much reason to trust me. Humans are...»
«...Not the best», continued Dream-Cylan. «Our Pokemon life has not been very different, honestly, so perhaps we are a bit hard on ourselves. Or, perhaps Legendaries aren't giving us the option to experience that new world to its fullest»
Returning back towards the fire, he slouched on the ground, pulling dust in the air. «Have you ever wondered why the shinies were so different?»
Fen paused for a second. «You said it was due to a Legendary, right? But Jirachi couldn't tell you which one»
«That is correct. However, I've come to learn something. When Legendaries interact with specific Pokemon, they'll always be physically present for it. Apparently, it's to better hide their abilities from Arceus, though it's unknown whether it works or not»
«Probably doesn't, let's be honest», Fen grumbled, earning a whack on the head via the large tail she was resting on. «Ow- it's true! Arceus is literally supposed to be a deity, how would he not know!»
«Because it's a He», stated Dream-Cylan. «From what Jirachi has told me amidst the ranting, Arceus has selected a gender, and acts in a very prideful manner, denying his mistakes»
Fen looked confused, before realizing the implications. «So he's not acting like a deity at all, he can't be flawless!»
«Given him being prideful, it's very likely he would've acted out against the Legendaries acting on their own, so the information we have could, in a way, be considered ammunition to blackmail them with»
«..No wonder they keep refusing to explain shit...»
Dream-Cylan snickered, before adding, «Any explanation for what they are doing themselves, at least, but they also have rivalries, and they'll happily explain what their rivals are doing!And guess who is Jirachi's rival?»
«...Victiny?», she answered hesitantly.
«...No, but that was a good guess. The lake trio is who they dislike. Unlike what you'd see in a game, their dislike is purely out of their personalities and experiences, rather than what they represent»
Fen nodded, understanding how widely different this world was from the games back in her world. «So, what did Jirachi say about them?»
«The reason why we seem to get along easily with Shinies is because they're not Pokemon either. Or, rather, they're Pokemon whose minds have been changed to mimic that of human babies from other worlds »
Looking at the Nidoran's blank expression, he tried to continue, though a lift of the Nidoran's paw stopped him.
«…That explains all these human expressions, how didn't I pick up on that...». Fen sighed, before, leaning further into the Zorua's tail. «So, essentially, they're not just as smart as humans, they literally are the same as us?»
Dream-Cylan shook his head. «Not quite. We've still got all of our experiences from the previous world, and our bodies were created for us, with a human soul added to them. The Shinies were born with their minds altered, and grew up as Pokemon»
«Speaking of, any clue who sent us here?»
The Zorua looked outside, the darkness flickering, before being replaced with some familiar plains at the edge of a forest. «Unfortunately, no. My human self has no recollection of seeing any Pokemon before being sent here. Though perhaps your own dreamscape will hold some answer?»
Fen turned to gaze at the sight, recognizing her place of arrival. His words rang in her mind, perhaps she'd forgotten what happened that day. Perhaps finding her own dream self would help… Though something nagged at her mind, leading her to take a step forward, clearing her throat to grab Dream-Cylan's attention.
«Hey. What do you mean, your human self. Isn't a dream self still of the same specie?»
He chuckled, turning to stare at her, the fire growing in intensity at his side. «You have traveled through an entirely new world, with a new body, and you expect there to be no consequences? I call him my human self because that is what he is. A human, that is also me. Just like you are a human, that is also a Nidoran. But have you ever considered there to be a Nidoran in this body you possess?»
Uncertain of what was going on, Fen simply tilted her head, mimicking a certain Shinx.
«Not really. You said our bodies were created for us. Why would there be a Pokemon soul in there, or whatever?That seems like asking for trouble »
Dream-Cylan slammed a paw on his face, the fire growing fiercer as he answered, shouting. «Because the Legendaries don't CARE ! They never have! What in Arceus's name makes you think they'd do anything that would risk them being discovered like creating a body with no prior soul! A human soul would instantly be discovered!»
Fen shrunk at the Zorua's outburst, uncertain of how to reply.
«We're stuck here, doing nothing, observing you, knowing that we exist purely to be a decoy! So the least you can do is acknowledge that we're here!». Dream-Cylan panted, having exhausted all his emotions. «We can't even hate you because you're victims, too...», he moaned, lying down.
Fen stood still, before tentatively walking up to the giant, crying Pokemon, petting his head softly.
«I'm sorry for not realizing. I know it's not much, but… I'll tell Cylan about you when we wake up. You're right, you deserve to exist, even if you can't affect the real world»
She rubbed her chin, before adding to it. «Well, actually, you're helping me right now, and I can affect the real world, so… I guess that counts?»
«….Yeah»
«So… I guess let's work together, then? I have no clue how I'd be able to go back here, but maybe we can figure that out later»
He rubbed his eyes, the fire dimming down as the darkness returned outside, covering up Fen's dreamscape. «You know, I was trying to trap you, but I don't really want to do that, now. Sorry...»
«Wait, trapme?». Fen appeared confused, looking at the fire stabilizing itself in the center of the room. «Were you gonna burn me or something?»
Dream-Cylan snickered. «You really hadn't figured it out? I'm a Shiny Pokemon, too, so my mind is a copy of a human's. But what do you think of your own body's soul?»
The Nidoran stared at the flames, piecing things together. «...It'd be the soul of a Common that's probably not as nice, huh?»
He nodded. «Your state is fragile at the moment. Mental conflict between your souls can cause serious damage, complicating your recovery. So, I thought-»
«Hey, why the heck's this place so dark!». A new voice appeared in the vicinity before being followed by a pink glow entering the alcove. «I swear, Jirachi said you guys were more creative, why aren't you thinking of some lights outside!»
Dream-Cylan stiffened upon seeing the newcomer, while Fen glared at them.
«...what, why're you looking at me like that? I'm right!»
«Mew, may I ask what the hell you're doing in our minds?», asked Fen, pressing a paw against her Zorua friend who had started growling. «Last I checked, that isn't something you can do»
Mew simply giggled, before taking out a monocle out of… somewhere. «Hmm, yes, a very astute analysis, my dear, using facts, and logic, and bla, bla, bla… I wasn't interested in you, human. The Zorua's the one I'm here for»
Upon hearing this, the said Zorua snapped, pushing Fen against the wall and lunging at Mew's throat.