Connecting to Partners

by zcritic88

A few days after the war against chaos, something stirred in the cosmos once more. What was a mystery prior, is soon to be relieved as a particular boy and his band if misfits get swept up into the on going battle between Light, Dark and the Truth. New bonds will be forged, and older ones will be stronger than before as the conflict takes a turn

30. Bonds and Relationships

Over at the Mystery Shack, during a bright morning in Gravity Falls, Stan was in quite the dilemma, ranting to Wendy about a scheme he has. "You don't understand Wendy. This animatronic badger sings, it dances." He paced back and forth. "It's the perfect money making attraction, but he won't sell it to me." Wendy was reading her magazine, trying to ignore it. "This is literally, too dumb for me to care about."

Click! Jingle!

The door opened and let in Dipper, Mabel and Ven, who had an escapade to help Soos with. The young boy asked. "Hey, have you guys seen Soos? We're suppose to help him with match making today." Mabel cheered in optimism and showed off a pink sweater with different colored stars and words. "Yeah, I wore my motivational sweater and everything." The sweater spelled out; U can do it Soos. The second o was bellow the s. "I messed up that part."

Even the sleazy store manager was worried about that. "He didn't come in today, it's the first time he's missed work, ever!" The Pines were pretty worried and Ven had a greater concern. "We need to see if he's alright, something might have attacked him for all we know."

In the wilderness, was Aqua and Goomy, sneaky by a tree and overhearing the details. The slug was on his partners shoulder as she took off. They back tracked to familiar territory, in hope they find a clue about where Soos might have gone. Nothing was of note, save for something occurring by the great lake. Something shining right between the water and a mountain, Togekiss made landfall by the lake and chirped. (This is happening again?)

Aqua agreed and caught up, having a closer look at a crystal that was placed a while ago. "Between the Brute Bonnet showing up out of nowhere, Soos disappearing and more dangers making themselves known, we can't ignore things. Togekiss, would you fly us over?" The dove nodded and let the duo get on her back, it was a quick hop across the water and they landed over to find Kadabra having a fight against an outbreak of shadows, flying bats and water cores. The psychic unleashed a dazzling gleam to fight off the pack. The crystal entrance was pulsating in purple darkness and was looking to unleash more, Aqua gave Togekiss a whisper as she let out her Stantler and Spinerak. "When I get off, use hit them with everything you got! Spinerak, lay out some webs to snare any that fly off while Stantler and I go in there and do some destruction. Goomy, just fire at any heartless you can find."

Togekiss and the pokemon understood, the jubilee ascended high and twirled to bombard a gleam, giving Aqua and Stantler time to charge through with a combination of magical crystal and psychic powers. The Stantler jumped back and stomped as Aqua crackled in lightning and fired a barrage, giving the Goomy space to breath a caustic breath upon any stragglers that were sent rolling into a sticky web.

Spinerak took the advantage and pounced with a poison jab as Kadabra channeled a psyshock barrage. The fluttering swarm made a dive for Aqua and ignited into flames, the Keyblade Master stepped back and flung her blade, causing it to burst into frost before flowing and spinning in frosty power. The Goomy had an idea and roared out his dragon breath, what ever wasn't obliterated in an instant was left paralyzed and left easy pickings for Stantler's stomps and charge. Kadabra hovered back and unleashed a thunder bolt barrage at the disoriented water cores as Togekiss followed with an air cutter, resolving that brawl.

With the danger abating, Aqua brushed her hair and stretched. "That was a work out." She asked the psychic. "Kadabra, have you seen anyone drag a certain local in there?"

Kadabra pressed a finger to the right side of his head, encouraging Aqua to do the same and open her mind. A wise, masculine voice echoed in her mind. "If it is the one you call Soos, I know he has not traversed here. But I have seen someone wander in there, with a selfish wish. He must not seize the secret of this mystery." Aqua felt a little pressure lightening up. "That explains the heartless showing up. Ven and the Pines should figure out what's happened to Soos, in the meanwhile."

She signaled to Kadabra and Togekiss. "A heartless quantity of this size, didn't come here on their own. Someone kicked the door. Kadabra, Togekiss, stay out here while we handle this." Togekiss huhed at the thought of having to stay behind as Goomy bubbled. (A lot of things in there are able to hurt you. We don't need any local getting in this mess.)

Togekiss was disappointed as Kadabra shivered. "This outbreak, must be halted. But beware of a great evil."

Aqua, Goomy, Spinerak and Stantler took that as a blessing and stormed right in. Past the gate way and corrupting at the end, was a Demon Wall that opened a singular yellow eye and fired lightning bolts. Stantler and Aqua gave a glow of mystical light and charged right through, resolving an infestation at the entrance and finding themselves enveloped in gray light. The light cleared to show the inner workings of a technological complex, with two cat walks heading to an elevator that lead to a few turns into a grand palace. Spinerak hurried behind as Aqua got off and looked around, feeling a particular scent in both directions and choosing left.

She and her partners had caution as they entered a corridor towards an elevator ascending higher in the complex, blocking the way was a flock of very unusual heartless. Winged humanoids with a single yellow eye on their forehead, arms raised to the air and sharp fangs on their bellies. The fired fast lasers out of their foreheads and forced the band to jump to the wall. The Chaos Spewers roared out a stream of acid, Spinerak eeked and scurried over to the edge, if to get a better range for a string shot lasso. Stantler took it as a chance to give a psyshield bash as Aqua focused and fired a prism rain, making short work of the bizarre, eldritch breed. The band hurried to the cat walk leading to an ascending elevator and took a step on. It ascended swiftly and brought the band into a conflict with a shifting blob of shadows that were ready to lash out.

At a house with a small, overly decorated lawn.

Ven and the Pines were at the end of a hall and opened a door to find a very dark room that only has a computer screen for light. They heard the sound of Soos laughing with that machine. "Ha ha ha. So that's basically my entire life story. Now you tell me a thing about you."

The group spotted Giffany getting excited. "Every time you compliment me, I get another highlight in my eyes." Soos was thinking on how to follow up on that. "Uh, you're pretty." Giffany had glittering in her eyes. "And pixely." The glittering got worse. "And so agreeable!" The eyes had stars and cats, the virtual girl was about to burst.

Soos cheered at the combo finisher. "Yes!"

Mabel voiced some concerns. "Uh, Soos?" The grown up took the moment to look away, red eyes with some bags under them. "Oh, hey dudes, come in. This game is amazing. I'm making eye contact, going on dates." He picked the controller back up and was ready to keep playing. "And I haven't seen natural sunlight for thirteen hours."

Ven felt his shoe kick over a soda can and was speechless as Mabel advised gently. "Soos, maybe it's time to apply these skills with some real girls?" The grown up was completely ignorant of that advise. "But, I'm about to meet her parents." He whispered as Ven went over to the window blinds. "Her dad is an octopus man." The keybearer was at his limit and pulled the string, letting in the sunlight. Soos recoiled in shock as his eyes were blinded to the sudden radiance, he curled under the table while hissing.

Dipper grabbed the man child by the arm and pulled. "We're going back to the mall man, you need to unplug." Ven agreed and helped him out. "For real!" They dragged Soos back to the real world, the man child held on to his desk and promised. "I'll see you later Giffany. I'll be back, I swear."

The boys dragged him out as Mabel held the door and laughed. "Soos, you don't have to wish her goodbye." As the guys were out, she closed the door. "It's just a game, it's not like it's going anywhere." The game was left alone and Giffany stood there, talking on her own. "Yes, it's not like I'm going anywhere." She zapped out of the game, turned on a blue, pig like electronic, jumped to the alarm clock and went through the cord.

The Rotom, that had to watch all of that, went out of hiding and buzzed in pure terror. He looked around in a zip, to find a way to sneak around and get to the one person who could do something about this. He found an empty wall socket and zipped through in his escape.

Back in the Terastal Labyrinth.

Aqua and her band of misfits were surrounded in an ambush by the Chaos Spewers and humanoid, fiery shadows with curved horns and a single eye covering their face. The Frymares sank into the ground and rushed at Aqua as a trial of flames as Spinerak and Stantler addressed the acid spewing fliers with string, a psy bash and poison sting. Aqua leaped above, looked to Goomy and asked. "Lend me that water gun and we'll quench this chaos." The slug slithered to her key hand and felt a surge course through his body, the duo aimed and rain a hose worth of water to wash the fire away.

CRACKLE!

In a sudden, a quartet of strange clusters with rotating sphere appeared . The spheres opened electrical eyes and were swept out of place by Spinerak's shadow sneak. Giving Aqua and Goomy time to wash off the Frymares and land. The Keyblade Master sent out Cyndi and ordered. "Long rang extrasensory!" The Quilava grunted, channeled a psychic power and leaped upon the Stantler to give a quick attack, she rolled into a flame wheel to blast through the Electron Charge. She puffed a smoke screen to avoid a counter shock and rushed to another as Aqua channeled heat into the flame wheel and create a wider blast. She fired a bolt of flames at the third Charge, focused to make it explode into a swirl of fire and caused the swirl to turn into tethers that wrapped the remaining heartless and consumed it.

The Spinerak huffed and began to glow, growing larger, longer and having his back legs move up to his swelling abdomen.

PEW!

In his place was a red spider with a red stripe around his abdomen, a tooth white set of mandibles, purple eyes legs that are of yellow and purple stripes. Aqua was drawn in by the slender physic. "Good timing, Ariados."

The spider gave Aqua a light smile as he stepped off the elevator that reached the higher ground. Stantler grunted proudly and caught sight of something going on across the other end of the complex. Aqua was looking more ahead, finding the palace just at the end of a merging of paths. The entrance had something of a great shadow pooling in, Aqua signaled to Cyndi and Ariados that they need to keep a distance as she went to approach. The shadow shifted into a rising giant that she's use to facing, it had no eyes on it's face and many in it's tentacle like hair, while the hole in the chest was shaped like a triangle. It's hands had blue maws that spew dark fire. It's chest glowed in dark power and was ready to fire.

LEAP! ZZZ! SLASH!

Suddenly, a figure leaped from the other path as a bolt of lightning, went for the Dark Dream's throat and gave a brick breaking slash with it's pink wrist blades. The giant leaned back from the impact and blasted off course, Aqua and her partners had a look the sight of a humanoid with a battle dress. The Keyblade Master flowed after the Dark Dream, crystalize her blade and slashed upon the head before back flipping and letting Goomy fire a dragon breath blast. Stantler leaped in a psyshield bash and was punched into a spin as a counter attack.

The Dark Dream aimed it's maw hands and fired a shifting dark stream as the Ariados gave a swords dance and use shadow sneak for a sucker punch. Cyndi had a look at the robot and was amazed by the slender figure, a silver humanoid with a great resemblance to Gallade. Having a battle dress, glowing pink eyes, glowing pink wrist blades, the back of head having two tubes that resemble short pig tails and a pink, hollow horn that glowed on his chest. The warrior pressed a hand to his chest, gave a divine gleam and fired at the darkness. Aqua had the momentum to channel a crystal spear and fling it at the heartless, puncturing the torso and giving Stantler something to leap on before stomping at the demons skull. Aqua went for the demons neck and with a firm slash, caused it to fall over and dissolve. The obstacle was removed and Aqua had the chance to give a look at the silver warrior, finding it near identical to a log Leon shared, with more detail going to pink lines serving as toes, and a pink fluid like line on the lower ends of the battle dress. Aqua felt her heart skipping as the warrior sprinted in haste, she and her companions followed into a grand foyer of reflective crystal.

Even turned gray and time slowed down. A glimmer of will broke the band out of the slow and those attuned with the mind and heart, felt they were being watched. A laughter echoed across the chamber, one very familiar and unnerving to Aqua. "Well, well, well. Fancy seeing you in this hick town."

The Keyblade Master turned right and found in a reflection, a small yellow triangle with a black top hat and a bow tie, leaning on her shoulder. Aqua spun to strike at the triangle, finding no one there. Yet the reflection showed the triangle backing away to the walls. The demon asked. "What's the occasion?" The pokemon were at complete unease as the robot of the bunch tilt his head side ways in confusion, put his hands together and cause the wrist blades to shift and with a twist, turn it into a double sided polearm.

One blade facing the opposite of the other, Aqua felt it was a wise idea and glared at the demon. "You know exactly what we're here for, Bill. What are you up to?"

Bill crossed his arms and sprouted one at his back, giving a condescending wave. "Sheesh, we're already in a bad start. I'm working up another business deal and this maze has the stuff a pal of mine needs to get things going again." He raised his hands and retracted the extra arm. "But now that you're here, I get you out of the picture!"

With a snap of his fingers, he disappeared in a glow of yellow light and caused the chamber to reflect many glowing eyes. Charging something fast and lethal. The robot charged a fast dazzling gleam that gave Aqua an idea, she channeled crystal masses and followed with an order. "Not if we shatter the limit." The combination of crystal arrows and the dazzling gleam reached far and wide to shatter the crystals, halting the attack and causing Bill to spill out of the reflection.

Who was giving a crazed stare. "Shatter the limit huh?" His hands glowed in fire as his voice distorted. "Great id-" Cyndi rushed after him and puffed an smoke screen at the eye, causing Bill to cringe in agony. "AHK!" The flailed and tried to rub the smoke off. "Why is it that every single time-" Aqua signaled that this was a poor battle ground and lead a run for a door way to a stair case ascending up. Bill turned and raised his hand to conjure a barrier. "Oh no you don't!"

The band were halted in their tracks and Stantler made an attempt to bash against it. Bill dissolved into the ground and caused the environment to turn into a hellish red. With his voice turning more nightmarish. "You little pixels aren't going anywhere!"

He rose out from the ground as a multi layered, crimson pyramid with yellow limbs and many eyes at the top. Aqua had a flash back of an entity Bill merged with and noticed a primordial sun shining above, crashing upon Bill in the form of a burning wheel and scorching him in the eye. "OW! Who-" Leap! SHATTER!

The wheel rushed at the barrier and shattered it before bouncing back and revealing itself as Koraidon. The strange lizard turned with his claws ready as Bill had his focus on the legend and caused the area to tremble. "You!?"

Koraidon half turn his head to the band and barked. (Go! There's something up there that can shove these guys out of here!) The band didn't question it and the robot nodded in gratitude. (We'll be quick! Hold on for our Lady!) Koraidon nodded and confidently faced the demon as Aqua and the squad hurried up.

With in a wide laboratory with cylinder tubes going into a center, a certain crook with a broken blade and a black hooded coat, unleashed dark tethers upon six glowing hearts that defied him. He tossed them aside and hurried to a crystal cluster, taking a piece and applying it to the shattered fragments, with some will it melded with the blade and pieced together a piece. "This actually works?"

Glimmer!

Suddenly, a pulse of light rushed through the chamber and freed the hearts from their bindings, they flowed over to a figure that had a sigil glowing to her back. One of a keyblade facing upward and protecting a great heart. The figure was a rather furious, blonde Scientist that is protecting the hearts like they're her children. "What do you think you're doing?"

The crook put the blade away, aimed a set of crossbows and fired, the Scientist swiped a hand and unleashed a shock wave that deflected the barrage. It caused the hood to flip over and reveal a man with long black hair, a side of a face that has an eye patch and burn marks, a scar and a visible yellow eye, he snarled in spite. "If you didn't want someone snooping in, then why are you opening this up the first place?"

The Scientist approached him with a note binder in hand while pressing fingers to her glasses. "Because I want my latest creations to be seen by the Chosen. Not by you! That crystal is research and how this whole facility is in Chaos because you invited that psychopath over here!" The crook pfft. "You can stop playing pretend Missy, this whole world's a wacko fest and I'm riding along it."

The Scientist had a radiance as her sigil was pushing the illusion of metal and reveled crystal. "Such insolence to both the Blade and the Heart, needs to be addressed." The six hearts used the lent light to fly into the crystal and merge with it's power, the crook half turned to find the structure taking shape and jumped back from a sudden sprint, a polearm wielding robot with a battle dress missed a slash.

The machine turned as the crook notice a particular Keyblade Master and her band of misfits entering, cursing his luck as Aqua gasped and screamed out. "Just what in the Lights name are you doing here, Braig?! Haven't you given us enough problems?"

Braig warped after Aqua and had a cross bow aimed at the Keyblade Master's skull, he pulled the trigger as Goomy got in the way and cast a protective barrier to nullify the shot. Ariados took offense and lunged with a poison jab as Stantler bashed the crook with a psyshield bash. Aqua unleashed a pulse of raw soul energy to send Braig into a roll as the robot flipped around and delivered an icy wind kick.

The Scientist was seeing a fight escalate and cheered for the Keyblade Master. "Nice timing, help's coming right around-"

BURST!

A collection of roars and brays echoed from the center, unleashing six crystal beasts. Three of them resemble a trio of pokemon that Aqua looked up; Suicune, Raikou and Entei. The other half resemble a wide horned antelope, a sturdy oxen with ax like antlers, and a stag with upward aiming horns. The crook warped to his feet and gave the stag the chance to charge after him as the Raikou intercepted and unleashed a thunder bolt. The Scientist hurried to the center and called to the Keybearer. "Come on, with the both of us here, we can initiate a boot system." She raised her hand over as Aqua hurried, Braig gritted his teeth and warped to intercept her. "Where do you think you're going, Missy."

PEW! TACKLE!

He was rammed by an extreme speed rush of the Entei and a combo of a psyshield bash, a flame wheel and string shot. Aqua used the chance to get over with the Scientist and watch her step back. Showing a keyhole in a hexagonal platform. Aqua flipped Stormfall and pressed it to the hole. She and the arena shined in celestial power that pulsed through the facility, the glowing chaos down bellow was expunged and a dark air was near to non existent. Leaving Braig all alone, once more. The crook flipped from the tackle as Aqua pulled out and glimmered to the crystal Entei, she gave the crook a swift clash and sent him on a roll to the Suicune that emit scalding steam.

The Keyblade Master looked upon a face that got up with bitterness. Aqua lifted her head up and demanded an answer. "What are you doing, working alongside Bill?! Do you not see that nothing good is going to come out of that deal?!"

Braig gritted his teeth and was about to attack once more. "Come on, it was the only shot I got since one of your brats blasted my knee off and left me for the buzzards." Aqua breathed out with compressed frustration. "And thou have chosen a more dreadful fate." The robot and the stags circled around the crook as Aqua pleaded. "Forget about the Keyblade, let it go." She pointed to the broken blade with No Name. "We've had enough of having to look at that thing and we'd like to move on to better things with our lives."

The crook laughed to that. "Move on from the Keyblade?! Says the so called" the tone turned more disrespectful. "Master! You've had that handed down by a coot that couldn't even accept that his buddy was a-"

Before he finished that sentence, the Scientist was gliding at his face, having a fist ready and a barely contained fury. POW!

With one blow, Braig was sent flying, the Scientist raised her hand to conjure a keyhole of light that sent out chains that coiled around the crook and yanked him out. She barked as the keyhole closed up. "Stay out and take that mouth of yours with you!" She breathed deeply and was tearing up in anger. "All that and you never learned a thing."

The robot flinched and hurried to his ladies side as the crystal beasts broke apart to reveal the six hearts, the robot returned his polearm to wrist blades and wrapped an arm around her. The Scientist flinched, took a deep breath and embraced the robot. "Valiant, Valiant!" She tapped him on the side. "I'll be fine, that intruder just wasn't part of the schedule."

Aqua and her misfits watched as the Stantler was giving a glow, growing bigger with curved antlers and having longer fur at his tail. More distinctly, he was growing a long beard. Pew! In his place was a gray deer that resembles a particular wizard, having bushy white brows that add to the majestic form. He looked to himself and bucked. "Wyr?" Aqua looked up the form. "You've evolved?" "Wyrdeer: The Big Horn Pokemon: Normal/Psychic: The black orbs shine with an uncanny light when the Pokémon is erecting invisible barriers. The fur shed from its beard retains heat well and is a highly useful material for winter clothing." She was quite impressed and looked to how evolution was possible. "So that's why you were using that move a lot. Well done."

The Scientist clapped amused. "Well done indeed, evolution for these Pokemon can help them reach new heights that couldn't be imagined before." She took a look to her project and pressed a button, bringing out another cluster of crystals. "Now, setting up all these passage ways in here wasn't the best of plans. Especially in Gravity Falls."

Aqua sighed in agreement. Yeah, if Braig or Bill have access to that blade, then all the chaos we've undone is going to repeat itself. They cannot gain access to more of these crystals. Who are you?"

The scientist looked over to her notes. "Who I am is irrelevant as of this moment. Right now this is what I had more in mind should you have let your curiosity get the better of you. When you dig deeper and deeper into the unknown, you might find things that can change you. For better or for worse depending on if you can handle it. Master Aqua; the Traveler of Three Realms, the Breaker of the Cycle and the Lady of the Land of Departure." She showed a note with those titles and had a judgmental tone while pressing her lips together. "Yeah, we've been hearing that much about you. A by the book Keybearer who's violated so many protocols as of the last few months that it's unbelievable."

Aqua blushed and wasn't denying it. "Hey, when you have worlds to defend, friends to save and nothing that worked, some rules have to be broken." The Scientist giggled. "Heehee! Yeah, that is the path to true knowledge, sometimes breaking those rules will end up shaping the marrow for the better." She asked. "Thou; who have been don the title of Master, still believe that you haven't reached the end point?"

Aqua took a deep breath. "I don't think I was really ready for the rank when I was given it. It took understanding the truth we've been hiding from, before that rank felt earned. Now I'm back to trying to learn more. This labyrinth holds possibilities we know little of, beyond that it always has something we need to look for." She looked to the crystal and the hearts. "What are these hearts doing here?! What did that crystal do to them?"

The Scientist felt that warrant an answer. "Just a little experiment to see if I can't save them from a predicament. As you know, when a heart is overwhelmed by darkness, it turns into the poor things you call the Heartless. A strong will produces an other called a Nobody and only by slaying the heartless and nobody in that order, could you bring them back together again. Consequences of the time gap aside. Now, what would happen if the reverse was to occur?"

Aqua cringed. "None of us ever thought about that, Sora and his friends have dealt with more than their share of those. I'm guessing, since the body's lingering will was expunged before the heart could be freed, it couldn't be filled back up in time." The Scientist nodded. "Thus, trapping the heart in limbo. It can't go anywhere until their business is done and thus can't reincarnate. Due to the other worldly properties of the Crystal created using... various mystical powers, an idea came to mind. If a fresh vessel, whether it is one crafted or one produced the old fashion way." She raised her eyebrows. "If you know what I mean. Is available, then that heart could use that to reincarnate and sort out it's issues. The Labyrinth needs guardians as well."

She asked. "Have you ever heard of the tale of the Rainbow Bird?" Aqua knew fast.

"Ho-oh?"

The Scientist nodded and brought a screen down, showing a majestic bird with a tail resembling the sun and red wings with tips of prismatic feathers. Radiating a rainbow above what looked to be a trio of fallen beasts that perished in a burning building. "A long time ago, in that world that boy came from. A tower that was the roost of the Guardian of the Sea, was struck by a lightning bolt in a dreadful storm and caught fire. Three unknown pokemon, that were living in there at the time, didn't had the luck to get out of there. At the end of the storm and in the crack of light, the bird of the Bell Tower, Ho-oh, took pity on them and used his power to bring them back to life as the Three Beasts of Legends. Raikou, the Bolt from the Heavens. Entei, the Bringer of Summer and Suicune, the North Wind." She breathed out and smiled to the hearts. "The protectors of nature."

The screen showed three stags, working to rescue a plethora of pokemon from a burning forest. "There's another legend of the Three Swords of Justice, who protect the lands from the dangers that mankind have always posed. Virizion, the Blade of the Grasslands. Terrakion, the Blade of the Cavern. And Cobalion, the Blade of the Iron Will. They made themselves known after they've worked together to protect a forest lands that was caught in between a dreadful war."

Aqua felt that inspiring and realized something. "Let's go back a bit. How recent were those legends? Because this book showed a beast that has all the features of the Three Beasts combined. The same one that showed all those prehistoric pokemon."

The Scientist took off her glasses and showed a left eye of a striking red and a right eye of blue, she smiled mischievously. "Don't you know that stories like that are written on someone's point of view? A beast like that, couldn't be related to those three," Aqua shivered and scowled. "Uh uh, sister! We've had some doubts on those stories and it turned out the beasts are real."

The Scientist was found out and laughed. "That's always the funniest part, ever since the worlds have been scattered. Some of them reach out to one another through simple stories and since that truth has been discovered, people have learned that so called fiction isn't quite fictional after all." She continued along. "These hearts have been denied closure, so they and two others have signed up for this project. A chance to become heroes that can set things right. You all... can keep the details about this to yourselves until your friends are more experienced, right?"

Aqua cringed. "You know we can't just do that, but this is so out there that telling our friends any time soon could only make it worse."

The Scientist appreciated the honesty. "This knowledge can either ascend you, or damn you. Since you've been through Hell so many times over, I don't think you'll have to worry about the latter. So-" She smacked her lips and knew Aqua was trading looks to the warrior. "I'd also suppose you were wanting to look into the pokemon who were born and raised in this Labyrinth, to see if they're all they're cracked up to be. This warrior right here." She pointed to the robot. "Is my magnum opus, designed from a pairing of pokemon that have the same kind of stride as those of the Heart. The blade of Gallade, with the mind of Gardevoir. This Valiant of Iron... or Iron Valiant, holds the kind of power to keep up with any simple lad with a Key and perhaps, he can surpass them." She stepped aside and asked with a challengers smile as the Iron Valiant prepared. "Oh Master of the Blade, do you believe that you and your partners, have what it takes to best him?"

Aqua felt a gleam in her eyes and took a step back, signaling the Wyrdeer to test himself. "That depends, did you catch him yet?" The Scientist laughed to that. "No, but what you're going to do with that knowledge will be on what your heart wishes and it wishes to see his shine! You may begin!" The Iron Valiant braced as a knight as the Wyrdeer gave an intimidating buck, the robot flipped left and fired a dazzling gleam as Aqua ordered. "Charge with psyshield bash! It's got to be a lot stronger now!"

The deer grunted, took the blast and charged, knocking the Valiant into a flip, the warrior brought his blades into a pole arm and called something out, charging the blade in lightning and striking in a thunder bolt. The Wyrdeer grunted and Aqua felt something coming. "If you got a ranged attack, try that!"

The Wyrdeer stomped and let loose an uproar, knocking the Valiant back and causing his form to be encased in crystal. Aqua and her band jumped at the surprise. "Hoo boy." The Scientist nodded. "Hoo boy is right!" Shatter!

The crystal let out the Valiant, that had a distinct pink glow and a pendant on his forehead, showing a purple eye. "By the will of the Labyrinth, when these pokemon are at their limit, they terastallize. Shedding their defensive type for something else that suits for offense and defense."

The Valiant gave a determined beep and put his free hand to the side of his head. "You now face the full might of a psychic type with a wide array of moves and has a priority in his target." The Valiant wasted little time letting loose an electric terrain and back flipping to fire an intense thunder bolt, knocking the Wyrdeer over in a knock out. Aqua called him back as the Valiant flew at her and gave a brick breaking swipe. The Keyblade Master parried and flipped as the Valiant closed his eyes in a glow, the Ariados scurried to get in the way as Aqua ordered. "Slow him down with a string shot and go for a shadow sneak!"

The spider was on it and went in close, taking a thunder bolt and using a string of web to slow the Valiant's movement. He extended his shadow for a fast sucker punch and was knocked out by another thunder bolt. The Valiant kept a glide as Aqua called the spider back and readied a nest ball, she felt a light coming at her from the side and was blasted into a fly. Aqua felt herself flashing in the red and sent out the fighting Lilligant. "M..Milady, we can beat this Valiant!" The robot was impressed by the will. "01000101 01101110 01100100 01110101 01110010 01100001 01101110 01100011 01100101 00101100 00100000 01110011 01110101 01100010 01110011 01110100 01100001 01101110 01110100 01101001 01100001 01101100 00101110 00100000 01000110 01110101 01110100 01110101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01110000 01101111 01110100 01100101 01101110 01110100 01101001 01100001 01101100 00101100 00100000 01110000 01110010 01101111 01101101 01101001 01110011 01101001 01101110 01100111 00101110"

The Scientist cheered for him. "Don't presume anything yet, Valiant! You still got to knock her and her friends down!" The Valiant kept that in mind and have something of a determined smile against a worthwhile foe.

Aqua knew there wasn't much time and ordered. "That crystal turned him into a psychic type, so go for a leaf blade!" Milady nodded and slid across the arena, she twirled sharp leaves and slashed through the robot that back flipped and unleashed a dazzling gleam that knocked the fighting type away in a one hit knock out. Aqua felt her heart racing as Cyndi rushed by her, the trainer gave her a charge of wind, providing tail wind as she commanded. "Cyndi, use this boost and ram him with flame wheel!"

The Quilava rolled up as the Valiant returned his polearm to his wrists and charged for a brick break, the fire type turned into a wheel and rushed with the wind blowing with her. CRASH! She collided and sent the Valiant tilting back, causing his crystal frame to break apart and leave the warrior to fall to his back.

The Scientist covered her mouth in surprise as Aqua was held off some temptation and went to help the Valiant up. "That was a good fight, you still need some work."

The Scientist puffed her cheeks. "Well... like any pokemon, he can adapt and learn for next time." She wondered. "What made you change your mind about catching him?"

Aqua watched her Quilava stretch and her Goomy being enlightened. "I still have that urge, but it's pretty obvious that you two have a bond together. In case someone like those two try to raid this place again, it could use a protector."

The Scientist considered that a wise reason. "True and once Valiant or those like him are charged up, the only way to catch him is to break through that tera form." She looked to the Goomy and went to her pocket. "Still, I'm not allowing you to leave here empty handed. So this would do." She brought out a metal medallion that is the symbol of Arceus. "Feed this to Goomy at some point before he evolves and you'll be in for a surprise."

Aqua was surprised by the gift and took it. "I'll try to keep it a surprise, because Milady turned into an different breed of Lilligant from something like this. Now, you know a lot about me, but I know nothing about you. What's your name?"

The Scientist put a hand to her cheek and whispered in a whine. "I can't really tell you much, but let's just say I have ways to figure out about what goes on in the worlds, the people who live in them and the two realms the universe shares. If you wish to know my name, I'm going to ask you for a favor in return." She lowered her head and showed her eyes warning her that it's a questionable deal. "And we know that making deals with strange people never ends well."

Aqua tapped the side of her head. "It doesn't, but you're telling me about this, therefore something like that won't cost anything me and my friends would miss." The woman sighed. "Okay, this is likely inevitable anyways. But your brother in arms, Ventus. Should the two of you find your way into this realm again and if you figure out that I'm somewhere in a corner, make sure he meets me."

Aqua, Cindy and the Valiant had a laugh over something over dramatic. "Yeah, that is inevitable if you keep doing this. I'll pull a few strings, now..." The realm glimmered in light as the Scientist whispered. "The name's Suiten. You have another friend who will watch out for you, providing I can intervene." She waved in good will. "Good luck on your adventure in that crazy, crazy world. May your heart guide you through that grand journey."

The light enveloped Aqua gently and she found herself out of the Labyrinth. With Cyndi and Goomy looking confused, and a Kadabra and Togekiss that were surprised. They noticed someone right behind the Keyblade Master, Aqua turned to come face to face with the Koraidon who bought her time to dispel Bill. The lizard gave a grunt and barked. (Thank you for stopping that,) He looked to her awkwardly. (But seriously, looking into these strange places and bargaining with strange people like that, has almost never ended well.)

Togekiss realized Aqua took some injuries and worked to remedy that with a life dew. Kadabra had concern for what ever adventure transpired. "You've seen things that you would only find in a dream?"

Aqua felt some relief and nodded. "Yeah and as agreed, we're to keep quiet about most of this." She checked the Dex and found an entry on the Iron Valiant, who has a green color. She pressed to find an alternate marked with a red star, changing it over to a silver color. "Iron Valiant: The Paladin Pokemon: Fairy/ Fighting:" Her eyes widen. "This explains the moves. It has some similarities to a mad scientist's invention covered in a paranormal magazine. Eye witnesses have reported that it is a cruel pokemon who would use its shining blade to cut down any opponent without hesitation." She felt confused and frustrated. "That doesn't connect at all with what she was talking about nor how he acted."

She looked to the Koraidon. "I guess, because of that, our privilege over those visits are going to be spent for a while?" The dragon nodded. (After what those two have done and how that man angered Lady Suiten, it's for the better that they're not allowed back in.)

Aqua asked the two wild pokemon. "Kadabra, Togekiss, I'm going to need a favor. Bursty and the Bonnet need to know that a person has arrived. Warn any pokemon you meet, that they should stay away from anyone who isn't accompanied by a willing pokemon. If they're in danger, find the camp."

Kadabra and Togekiss understood, the psychic turned to catch the sight of Kit sneaking in the shadows and disappearing from sight. Koraidon tilt his head and offered. (I can help you get back to the town, but I'm only going to go far enough to not get spotted. If that man is still around here, that would mean one thing-) Aqua knew she was offered an escort and took it. "We might be in for Heartless attacks until further notice and that man's known for his spite." She and her partners lead the way for Koraidon to follow as Kadabra channeled Togekiss and himself in a glow, teleporting to another part of the world.

At the Mall.

Dipper, Mabel and Soos were back in their misadventure. Soos was frozen by a tree as Mabel was using her binoculars backwards. With Dipper actually looking around while Ven was taking his shot looking at any geeky ladies. Virtu was drifting like a typical balloon and wasn't sure how she could help. Mabel was growing impatient from the lack of results. "Dang, where all them sweet honeys at." She pointed onward "I'll check the ladies room." and dashed into a ladies bathroom, bringing a mega phone to scream into the confine space. Ven and Dipper realize how horrible of an idea that was as they heard. "It's love time, girls! Get out there! No time to wash your hands!"A bunch of women came running out, screaming for their lives as Mabel chanted. "Date, date, date, date!"

Dipper spotted a man in uniform looking around. "And here comes security." He insist. "I'll deal with this, watch over Soos while he stays here and practice on some real girls."

Soos lifted the potted plant and attempted to not be seen, making himself look more obvious. Ven took a deep breath and thought about a particular someone he was only able to really have a passing conversation with as he kept close to watch the man child be overwhelmed and start stepping back. "These girls have so many dimensions and no explanationy menus."

He bumped into a blond woman simple dark blue clothes and knocked something off of her. "Ahg! My purse!" She picked it up and glared at Soos, who was in a complete panic. He twitched his mouse hand. "Oh no, undo, undo!" Unfortunately for Soos, he was in reality and the woman squinted her eyes. "You can't undo, who you are!"

Soos was about to be cornered and ran off into the crowd, with Ven keeping him in watch and following. "Hey, wait up!" He lost Soos in the crowd and was at a bench with sparkling wall socket. Out came the Rotom that was pleased to have found something and buzzed urgently. The boy gasped. "There you are!"

Rotom knew that Ven was still looking for him and sighed in relief, he wiggled his feelers to ask. (Can I borrow your phone? Something bad is coming!) Virtu looked to the pocket, shifted her eye and turned while no one was looking. She whispered. (Ven, he wants to borrow that.)

Ven raised a brow and brought out his phone. "Alright, but as soon as you tell me, I want you out of it. I'm going to settle this today." Rotom didn't quite care that he had to cut out his hide and seek game. (Yeah, yeah, I got another plan for that game.)

He went in and turned himself into a sprite on the text app. Ding! "We got a big problem that Soos uploaded into the computer! A really big problem." Ven huhed and texted. "What were you doing there in the first place?" Rotom cringed. "I wanted to play a prank on him by using that dating game, but then something booted me out of that computer. I'm not sure how that happened, but Soos talked with that girl all night."

Ven flinched, believing what would have been a tall tale. "That's not normal, but it's just a game, right?"

His vision caught up with Soos, who was backed up to an electronic store. "Oh man, this is the worse, I wish I was back home with-" Flick! "Hi Soos!"

A T.V screen was lit up blue, showing a Giffany that is emoting pink hearts. Soos don't know any better and pressed his face to store window. "Giffany, oh I'm so relieved to see you." Thinking. "Though, sort of confused."

Ven is spooked, Virtu broke from her balloon disguise and made her eyes turn yellow n black out of shock before regaining some composure of normalcy and Rotom's next text is the stuff of nightmares. "Ah poop, she's here!" Ven buried himself to the phone and pretended he wasn't watching. "Just pretend you're someone I'm texting."

Rotom gave a sweating emoji as he and the duo listened to to Giffany answering Soos's question. "Oh Soos," A higher T.V turned on to show more of her. "I am not an ordinary game." A T.V at the end of a table turned on for her. "I am," She zapped a small robotic dog. "special."

The main T.V showed a dorm of video game designers. One that is pink, was high lighted above the others. "The Programmers tried to delete me." The worker had a screen full of 1 and 0's before a giant red X flashed and made the screen turn red. "So I had to delete them." The worker tried to stop the malfunction and was electrocuted.

The scenario turned off and Soos was spooked. "What... what did you do to them?" Giffany dismiss it and started showing on as many T.V's as possible. Her voice began to echo with the multitude. "That's not important, what's important is you don't have to talk with real girls ever again. You and me can be together" The T.V's flickered to show the whole Giffany. "forever!"

Soos didn't quite get why this was disturbing. "That's awesome!" He had a vague hint of common sense "Sort of a red flag" and ignored it. "but mostly awesome. So what do you want to do now?" Giffany answered slyly. "Anything you want Soos."

Ven and his gang took a step back before Giffany had the chance to notice them. Completely in terror of what was unleashed, Virtu gave a digital glow and set up a message. "Master, may I have that dubious disk, I believe I've seen enough to where extensive digital travel is warranted over my state of mind." Ven deleted the words. "Virtu, no! I don't even have one of those." He breathed out calmly. "But you are right about how that is creepy. We got to think of a way to get Soos away from that game."

Blip!

"But what can we do? She kicked out of the computer when I tried to have some fun." Ven wanted to know how the Rotom was even going to prank Soos with that and decided to keep to the objective. "I have no idea, the only one who can figure this out and break from it is Soos. I don't exactly have any good luck with the girls myself, the most we were able to do is talk."

Rotom replied the honesty with honesty. "Yeah, I can't help there. Besides playing along and finding ways to goof off." Ven watched Soos take off and thought out loud. "Do you think that we should get this capture over with? It be better if you have someone making the plan." Rotom shifted his eyes side ways. "You were going to use the mall as a trap were you?"

Ven nodded, causing the Rotom to show a defeated emoji and turn into a spark of electricity, he zipped out of the phone and went to the Electronic store, buzzing in glee. Ven and Virtu followed in, finding a trial of short circuiting electronics that lead to a dim back room. Ven took a deep breath, sneaked out of sight and shadow stepped to get into the room. He quietly closed the door as Virtu looked around to find that they entered a storage room with five sections of distinct devices that have seen better days.

One section has fans, one has a portable fridges, one has toaster ovens, one has a bunch of lawnmowers and finally, one has washing machines. In the far back was a T.V that was going static, showing a skittish Rotom that was disappointed over quitting most of a planned game and having to rush to the conclusion. He pulled out and buzzed loudly, Ven looked to Virtu on command as the Rotom prepared, firing a confusing ray at the Porygon and causing her to get confused.

Virtu was in a daze as the Rotom flew over to one of the fridges, causing one to glow an electrical purple and be surrounded in an orange film. The Rotom giggled at a fine pick and floated out with the double sided fridge. He gave a twirl as Virtu shook off the confusion, Ven ordered fast. "Fly aside and rush him!"

Virtu flew to the side as the Rotom opened the fridge doors and let loose a blast of blizzard. Ven cringed and jumped to escaped that, the Rotom buzzed out. (Sorry.)

Virtu ascended and rushed for some foul play and was zapped off with a thunder bolt. Virtu floated aside to avoid the next blizzard and followed with a thunder bolt zap before rushing through and applying some foul play, sending the fridge falling to the ground. The Rotom left the vessel, returned to his blue glow as Ven let go and landed. The plasma ball flew over to the toaster ovens as the boy called his partner back. "Virtu come back in!"

Pew!

He used the wing ball and gave a toss. "Shadey, it's your turn!" Flip! The Zorua landed with chipper vigor as the Rotom entered the oven and caused it to come alive with a film of orange and a veil of red. Shadey bared his teeth as the Rotom twitched and spun to unleash a thunder bolt, the Zorua side stepped out of the way as Ven ordered. "Snarl him!" Shadey snarled deeply and unleashed a shock wave that demoralized the Rotom's special power. Rotom cringed and rushed at Shadey, while glowing in heat from with in the oven. The Zorua cringed and side stepped to the left, the Rotom turned and fired an over heated blast, sending the Zorua flying to a wall.

Shadey was about to pass out, Ven used the moment to cast a fast heal as the Rotom followed with a hex, Shadey took the blow and sprinted after the machine to partake in foul play. The Rotom crackled a thunder wave that the fox dodged with a back flip. Shadey let out a snarl, took a thunder bolt and sprinted for a clever u-turn, the Rotom went out of the over and crackled in annoyance as Ven let Shadey back into the ball and sent out Virtu.

The ghost hurried over to a washing machine as the boy whispered. "Virtu, conversion, let's try out the power of this thing!" He brought out the tera orb as the Porygon2 gave a glow and converted into an electric type. The Rotom cursed his luck. (Ah man, I'm running out of the good ones!)

He went into the machine and surrounded it in orange film before changing his energy to a watery blue. Ven aimed the Tera orb and caused it to let loose a celestial swirl of power that blew against his clothes and was near blinding. Fling!

He tossed it over at the Porygon2 and watched it unleash a light that caused the virtual bird to crystalize, encasing her in an electrical yellow with a pendent of a thunder bolt. She spin her flippers and beeped. (Optimized!) The Rotom took that as a challenge. (Oh you're in trouble now!)

Virtu crackled in electricity as Ven watched the Rotom aim his tube. "Upper right!" Virtu ascended to the upper right and dodged a hydro pump before crackling in power and firing a thunder bolt. Zapping the Rotom into a spin, he fired another. "Left!" Virtu flew left to dodge. He saw what was coming and cringed. (Hooo boy,) Virtu fired a thunder bolt that forced him out of the washing machine, the plasma hurried over to a lawn mower at the left corner and Ven found the chance for a back attack, he brought out a timer ball and gave a toss. "It's finally over Rotom! Go, timer ball!"

Fling! Tap!

The Rotom was dragged into the ball that flipped and bounced. Shake...shake...shake... click! Ven blew to the air in relief as Virtu's crystal power fade away, she converted back to a normal type and twirled. (We did it!) Pop! Out of a ball came Shadey, who saw the after math of the fight and gave a dance. (Yeah, we caught that Rotom!) Ven felt quite satisfied and picked up the ball. "You guys are the best."

He looked around at the appliances and wondered. "Was this the kind of place, where Rotom's potential was first realized?" He smiled wide at the options. "This is going to be fun."

Turn!

They heard a knob turning, remembering they're not suppose to be in the back room as a customer. Virtu and Shadey hurried to their trainer, who initiated a fast shadow step, escaping management in the nick of time. Behind the set of escalators where no one was looking. The boy put the string back on Virtu and looked around to find Soos, finding him in a place that shouldn't have been unexpected by now. A kidz zone. The grown up was riding a toy train that rocked back and forth. Laughing all the way as a program was giving a robotic laugh. That was, until the train turned off. "Please insert 50 cents to continue."

Soos groaned. "Ah man." In a sudden, a giggle was heard from a food station. A slightly tan, moderately chubby woman in a typical worker uniform, with a yellow baseball cap with a logo of a ham and an apron with the words meat cute. She had light brown hair that was tied in a pony tail. She realize she was spotted. "Oh sorry." She approached in admiration. "Dude that's awesome, that your a grown man riding a little train like that. You're totally like owning it."

Ven and his crew is keeping quiet was Soos was thinking about it. "Huh? Oh yeah, I'm like. If it's fun uh... do it. You know?" The lady agreed "Exactly!" and had some complaints about her predicament. "Being an adult is the worst. Skewering meat, remembering to pay bills." She wished. "I just want to ride tiny trains all day." Soos had one positive about the adult world. "Well at least you get to work at Meat Cute. Extreme lunch meats are the food of the future."

The lady crossed her arms at the enlightenment. "I feel the same way." She offered a hand shake. "Melody by the way."

Soos took it and introduced herself. "Oh, I'm Soos. I tell ya, if you like robots for kids, you should check out the best restaurant of all time." Melody was in sync to a thought. "You mean" They spoke at once. "Hoo-Ha Owl's Pizzamatronic Jamboree!" Melody was surprised and stroke her pony tail. "You heard of Hoo-Ha Owl's? I love that place when I was a kid." Soos nodded to her. "Ha, oh yeah dude." He put his thumb to the mall's interior. "There's one right in this mall. I should show you some time." Melody thought about it. "I'm... free around 8."

Soos raised a finger. "Boom!" and pointed at her. "Done." The lady was quite pleased. "Perfect!" She took two quarters from her pocket and gave them to Soos. "I'll see you then."

She waved and took off to the outside world, with a sun setting for the day. Soos waved back, not quite aware of what he accomplished. "What a nice lady. Welp, time to ride on this tiny train for children." In a sudden, a wild Mabel pounced on him and knocked him to the floor in a holler. She gave playful knocks to his skull in celebration. "Ah ha! Soos."

Dipper came around impressed. "We saw the whole thing Soos, that was amazing! You talked to a real girl! And you got a date!" Ven and his crew stepped out of hiding, quite proud of the grown up that asked. "I did?" Mabel was squeeing. "This is the best day of my life!" She fell off and went crazy in the kids zone as Ven listed all the things done right. "She came to you, you found a common thing almost instantly and you've even asked her out perfectly."

Dipper agreed with that. "It's like he done this a million times!" He cheered to Soos. "Don't you see, that game really worked!" Mabel added in. "You don't need it anymore. You can toss it out."

That was something Ven and Virtu were all eager for. "Seriously, we don't need you playing over night again." Soos was a bit hesitate "Toss it?" and stood up. "But, I like Giffany. She's good to me, she's predictable." Dipper asked. "Soos, can a computer game go to Reggie's engagement party with you?"

Soos tried to answer as Ven felt advise needed to be given. "There isn't anything to connect with if you're just going to figure out what someone else is going to do and say." He looked down to Shadey and remembered Rotom's antics. "It's a lot more fun when they find ways to surprise you and you still end up wanting to be their friend. You'll know each other better." Soos took that to heart, the fact that someone shares the same kind of world he's been in made it all connect like it was natural.

Close by the town.

Aqua, Goomy, Cyndi and Koraidon were in a fight against duo of hulking three eyed minotaurs. Cyndi held one of them in place with her psychic power as Aqua glided back with Goomy, unleashing a dragon blast that left their target paralyzed and vulnerable to a flame wheel that was empowered by an scarlet pulse that intensified the sunlight. Courtesy of Koraidon, who watched the heartless collapse and finished a swords dance. The minotaur charged as Koraidon countered with a fast dragon claw, ignited in fire and charged in a blitz, obliterating it in one blow. Hearts floated out as Aqua was certain of the one conclusion. "That idiot is bringing the Heartless into this town. Can't say I missed them."

The Koraidon wasn't amused and stopped at some shrubbery. (The only good thing I'm seeing out of that, is the fact that those little ones are going to need some more experience.) Cyndi wasn't complaining too much. (Least we'll be able to handle a tougher pokemon when it comes down to it.)

Aqua had a peak of the nearby mall and could tell by the lizards look. "I know thing's are getting much more dangerous, it's why we're not going to let those kids wander that far on an expedition without us. I'm glad that we've caught most of the little ones we could find around the woods, before this escalated." She promised. "As soon as I check on Ven and the kids, I'll make sure the big guys are going to be safe. Do you have a way back into that Labyrinth?"

Koraidon grunted. (Me and my brother have our ways.) He turned back to the wilderness. (Good luck, may you reach closer to that dream.) With him taking off, Aqua and her active duo approached, crossing paths with a food worker who was impressed by the look.

"Cool!"

The three found the group leaving the Mall, with Soos taking off in preparation. Ven noticed Aqua was roughed up and the Pines were surprised. Ven asked in surprise. "What did you catch this time?" Aqua hand waved. "Nothing, unfortunately. But some of my squad mates have evolved. Just what ever you do, do not go out in the woods with just your pokemon." She pointed to the Pines. "The same goes for you." Dipper groaned. "Ah man, they're showing up again aren't they?"

Aqua nodded cooly. "We just fought through a hefty pack and they didn't just come here by themselves." Ven cringed. "Should we go somewhere to talk? We picked up on a different kind of trouble and I want to make sure that's resolved on its own."

He showed off a timer ball and let out the Rotom, the Pines were easily impressed and Mabel giggled. "Sparkly!" Rotom looked around to the crowd and raised his feelers like a caught criminal. Ven went straight to the point and whispered. "Hey." He shifted his eyes to where Soos took off, Rotom understood and took off to follow. With him gone, the Pines were a bit confused as Ven reported to his sister in arms. "We spotted Soos asking a lady out on a date and we want to see how that's going to go. You want to hang out?"

Aqua cringed at a chance that was never hers. "That someone isn't going to wait while we do that. If he or his cohort find out where we've been going, then this whole mall could get hit." She raised a finger before Ven could get disappointed. "But me and the ladies know some guys who will keep the border patrolled. Fair?" The brother in arms did find it doable.

Meanwhile

Rotom caught up with Soos and sneaked into his house as the night closes in. Using a wire and popping out of a socket while keeping himself hidden, just in case he has to use force to help Soos escape. Soos set up the game and was a bit nervous in talking with the computer. "Hey Giffany. We uh..we got to talk."

The sprite was listening. "Of course. I am programmed to find everything you say interesting."

Soos was thinking his words carefully. "Well, have you ever had to choose between two things you like? But you don't know which one is right for you? I mean, I'm just thinking long term. Maybe I should be with someone a little less-" he pretended to be a robot. "beep boop. You know?"

Rotom was a little offended by the beep, but got over it. Giffany in comparison, pointed at him and had a sharp tongue. "I don't think you know what you're saying Soos." She crossed her arms "No one loves you more than me." and was going in a tantrum. "The girls out there will just make fun of you!"

Soos was getting a bit scared. "You...you really think so?" Giffany pointed at herself "I know so! Besides, we had a deal." and pointed back at him. "You bought my game, you held my books. You're my boyfriend!" She pointed down. "Now sit down in that chair!"

Rotom cringed and gave a faint buzz. (Sheesh, it's not that big of a deal!)

Soos didn't hear that and was straight forward against that behavior. "I don't like the way you're acting." Giffany's face was at the screen and she is screamed while banging at it. "I won't let another girl take you away from Soos."

The man child yelped and tried to get her to calm down. Giffany wasn't listening and the grown up went for a controller. "Pause!"

That froze her in her tracks, she had a pretty dumbfounded expression at what was done. Rotom silently breathed out in relief as Soos looked around and scratched the back of his head. "Woah, that got intense."

He went to get the CD out of the computer and turned the machine off, not noticing a spark that went loose. "I'm sorry Giffany. Maybe having a cursed robo girlfriend wasn't a good idea." He put the CD in it's case and put it in his pocket. "I'm taking you back to the video game store after my date with Melody."

He left the room, giving Rotom time to float out of hiding and process what he saw. He looked to the door and was quite impressed. Soos managing to break up with a possessive, A.I of a girlfriend when she was going insane over the idea of him moving on. As he thought about how Ven and the others would think about this, light returned and the screen crackled. Rotom had a sweat and silently turned, seeing the dating game distorting with Giffany's still image looking downward. The plasma orb floated over to a socket and watched the sprite move from her paused frame, she showed a crossed eye that was aimed at the Rotom. The ghost type yelped and went into the socket to escape with his life.