Episode 40: World of Reverie

"Wow, these are surprisingly good for somethin' you just whipped together," Pola praised before stuffing her mouth with more of Mog's apple slices. "It's warm, sweet, and full of juice! What witchcraft did you pull to make this, huh?"

"Um… it isn't witchcraft, it's just…" Mog twiddled the tips of her wings.

"I know it's cooking, geez. I'm not being literal," Pola snickered. "But it is good. As good as the stuff I'd buy at RSE, to be honest."

"Thank you," the Swoobat mumbled softly, but she was surprised.

Back in the train carriage, the team ate their apple skewers with great vigour, much to their scepticism earlier. That, or they were just too hungry to care. Being here in midday light was a whole different feeling, as light rays filtered into the shaded room to brighten the dusty carriage. Shannon and genius had chosen to go for a walk, and were the only ones absent.

"Um… I'm sorry I don't have any meat, though," Mog spoke up, looking guilty.

"Hmm? Why would you be sorry about that?" Kayla asked.

"Because of, um, Kari?" Mog cocked her head.

"Me? What about me?" the Furret perked up.

"I hope you'll be satisfied for a while. I couldn't find any meat for your food," Mog sighed.

"That's a funny thing to be sorry about!" she giggled. "Yeah I'm always hungry, but if it's tasty, I'll be satisfied for hours! And this is TASTY!"

"Huh?" Mog seemed genuinely surprised.

"I'm still lost. What's meat got to do with this?" Kayla smirked. Mog's eyes widened.

"Um… you eat meat in your diet, don't you?" she asked.

"I think I can, but not really, I don't," Kari casually replied. May and Ashe shifted in surprise now, too. "Why does everyone look all funny? Am I supposed to eat meat?"

"Um, er… w-wow…er," Mog started shifting about, making Kayla lose her smile.

"If something's wrong, say it. Kari didn't just eat something bad, did she?"

"No, no, nothing like that. I just, um… Sorry if this is a weird question, but when you say you're always hungry, you're not making a figure of speech, are you?" Mog asked.

All eyes turned to the Furret, who started blushing and scratching her back. "Aww, you guys make me feel kinda silly. I can't help it okay? I like food, and my tummy's always rumbly."

"Had I realised, I'd have made the suggestion myself," May sighed and smiled.

"Kari… Furret are carnivores," Ashe giggled.

"Erm… yeah, I like the carnival. I've never been, but it sounds fun," she nervously cocked her head.

"Nooooo…" Mog moaned. "Carnivore, Kari. Carnivores are Pokémon who eat meat or other Pokémon to gain the proper nutrients. If you haven't been eating that, then that's why you're always hungry."

"But everyone else here like, doesn't do that, right? It'd be wrong to have a special meal just for me," Kari covered her mouth. "And… Kayla… you're put off by meat too, right?"

"Kayla is an herbivore; she gets her strength from vegetarian meals. Have you really been not eating meat all this time to try and not put off everyone else?" Mog was shocked this time. Kari gulped, then nodded guiltily.

"Honestly, don't worry about me. I can eat anything, same with Pola," May pointed out.

"And if it really does help you be healthier, then I'm not about to guilt you out of eating. I'm not exactly left out either – have you girls tried plant-based stuff?" Kayla added. "But Mog, you're not suggesting you can cook meat, are you?"

"… I can. I don't do it for myself, but… I was on cooking duty at the guild I worked at," Mog turned away. "It was the only thing I was good for, really."

"Um, I don't have to stop eating cake and stuff, do I?" Kari asked, blushing slightly.

"Of course not. But I do think you'll feel better if you eat the things Furret are supposed to eat. If you all can find a way to get meat, I wouldn't mind cooking for you," Mog suggested.

"You're offering?" Kayla stood up. Mog squeaked and blushed as well. "To be the team's cook, I mean."

"Oh come on, she got one lucky go. Can't give 'er all the freedom," Pola complained. "Besides, where are we even gonna get that stuff? We can't just order it from the academy anymore."

"Guess that's part of our harvest efforts for today. I don't exactly know anything about hunting," Kayla started tapping a foot. "I mean we can buy some, but I dunno how sustainable that'll be. I don't know the first thing about getting good meat."

Pola slapped her hands over her mouth, trying to stifle a chuckle.

"You're so immature," Kayla sighed.

"Good meat? You hunt, duh!" a familiar voice interjected. The group tensed up, and Kari stood guard over Kayla, only for Vega to pop out from behind the Buneary.

"EEEK!" Kayla screamed and recoiled to the other side of the carriage. "Holy shit, don't do that!"

"Hey paisanos! If you really wanted to run away from lil' old me, you wouldn't trap yourselves in a dead end," Vega ignored her.

"Ugh… What do you want now?" Kayla sighed, realising it was just the Tinkaton. They had a big, toothy grin and did a little dance. "And didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to eavesdrop?"

"Huh? Can't say I remember. Then again, my mum's a weird story," the Tinkaton swayed with her thoughts. She leaned toward them, looking like her neck stretched halfway across the room. "But yeah. Anyway. Heard you guys took out that crystal, and I went and checked it out myself. You guys're the real deal! The bees knees. We could be real hee homies if you're down for it."

"We've been through this. The answer's still no," Kayla stated.

"Heeey, now you're just being mean," Vega started whining. "I should tell my mum!"

"What do you even want? You're just being annoying now," Pola said.

"The boss wants to see ya! The big boss who runs this place. Y'know who she is, right May? The Leder herself," Vega stated.

"Leder?" May was slightly surprised. "Very well then."

"Better go ASAP. I do not trust her to not have at you if you don't. She saw me and had quite some words to say," Vega said, cycling through a series of impatient habits. She ended by pointing a finger at Kayla. "Aight, my one chore's done. I kinda live here now, so I guess that makes us neighbours? Get used to it, honey!"

"Great. I'm so looking forward to it," Kayla rolled her eyes.

"Ima go make myself a nice lil' crib in my own fancy lil' corner. Happy hunting, Carnivine!" Vega waved as she skipped out, singing to herself.

"Man, she is so freaking weird," Pola groaned. "So who's Leder? A lame nickname for a leader?"

"Something along those lines, yes. It's impossible to ignore a request from her, so I do suggest we make our way post haste. I can take us straight there," May got up to leave.

"Will it take long? We'll have time to do our thing, right?" Kayla asked.

"Plenty of time, even with our hunting dilemma as part of the mix. In fact if we explain our situation, she may be able to help, so it might be worth our while," May clarified.

"Then it's settled. Everyone good? Let's go," Kayla nodded. She was first to take off, but quickly realised that no one was following and zoomed right back. She had a cheeky grin. "S-sorry. It's getting to be a force of habit."

"As long as we don't lose you," Kari giggled. "Shouldn't we get Shannon and Genius?"

"We don't know where they are, if Vega hasn't already gotten them. I don't think they're important here," May shrugged.

Kayla took that to heart and zoomed off again. She ran so fast that she kicked up tailwinds that brushed loose debris after her, while also ruffling the fur of everyone she passed. She apologized, but the Pokémon didn't seem to mind, greeting her with a wave and a smile, or just ignoring her completely. She didn't sense any animosity from them at all, lifting her mood.

This was her way of trying to learn the layout. Her friends walked as normal, and once she spotted or heard something of interest, she'd bolt off to check it out, trace her steps on how to get there, and then bolt right back to their side. It was still hard to parse as most of the paths looked the same. All of it was soil paths running between mountains of greys, whites, blacks and other dulled colours making up scrap heaps. May seemed to have a handle on where she was going despite that, as before long, they were on a spiralling path without branches. As far as Kayla could tell, they were headed toward the direct centre of the scrapyard where a huge blue mound awaited.

May stopped the team in front of the mound as if something was meant to happen. On closer inspection, the mound was better described as a very tall hill of dense blue grass, fine blades that almost resembled fur. A rumbling sound filled the air as the grass began to sway upwards, as though the mound was growing taller—

"Oh my gods!" Kayla flinched hard in disbelief.

It wasn't a mound or a hill. It was a living thing, an Azumarill. And they were the biggest Pokémon Kayla had ever seen, let alone could imagine. In fact, she couldn't imagine how big they actually were, and they were merely sat on all fours to look at the team. Just one of Azumarill's eyes was bigger than the whole group combined.

"Ah. I heard you were back with us, May. I'm surprised to see that that's true. I was of the belief that you hated this place," the Azumarill began. Her mouth didn't move and her voice projected through telepathy somehow, but that meant it wasn't at a silly volume. It sounded like she was right next to them. She sounded oddly young, but motherly.

"You're so big!" Kari gasped, stumbling back in disbelief. "H-how? Wh-who, wooooow…"

The Azumarill giggled with a hand by her mouth. "I'm surprised you're so surprised. A Pokémon this size should be easy for you, Kari."

"M-me?" she squeaked. "Uh, I-I guess I could do something like that… but I shouldn't."

"You shouldn't?" Azumarill was surprised. "That's a shame. Why would you hold back such a wonderful thing about yourself?"

Kari moaned, playing with her hands.

"Much as I would love to chat idly, we have a lot to do today, but you've called us here. Might I ask why?" May interrupt.

"Oh hush, this is important. When did you get so impatient?" Azu retorted.

"Scratch that, how did you know Kari's name? Or that she could stretch?" Kayla challenged.

"Ah, right. Excuse me, I tend to miss introductions, for I am a goddess born with omnipresence. You may call me Azume Leder, Azu for short," she gestured a nod. "With my size and height, I can see and hear all across the world of Isnomia. No event, no matter how minor, escapes me."

"Really? You chose to live in a scrapyard?" Pola became sceptical.

"Ehehehe, don't take it to heart. I'm not a goddess, I'm just a really big Azumarill," she stifled a giggle again. "You get to be nosy when you can see and hear all over the world."

"Makes me wonder why we've never seen you," Kayla pondered the fact.

"I know much about your feats, your goals, and your histories. For I am also blessed with a long life. I have seen much of Isnomia, from its birth to its present. I know the truth of current events, and what is intended to happen in the future," Azu explained. "But first: Kari. Or perhaps, this extends to all of you. Your future is not set, but it may as well be if you remain as reserved as you are."

"Oh, this again. Is this about my Dreamer powers?" Kayla turned away.

"Partially. Right now, I'm referring to your extraordinary abilities," Azu leaned on one hand. "Kari. You are feeling like a burden, aren't you?"

The Furret didn't reply.

"Um, that was an outta nowhere claim," Kayla said.

"Perhaps it's best if I left you to discover your own feelings in time, but I fear we may not have the luxury. Your recent battles, your endeavours, your exposure to the real world outside of RSE Academy has not been kind. Kari, you aren't doing too well," Azu continued. Kari gulped this time. "Come. Join me in discovering a new perspective."

"Huh?" Kari was confused. Azu pointed straight up. "What do you want me to do?"

"I am going to stand up straight. And I want you to become taller than me. Perhaps bigger, if you wish," Azu said happily.

"Uh, isn't that kinda… not to judge ya, but you're… actually y'know what, no buttering this. You're fucking huge, you're gonna crush stuff if you stand up!" Pola cried.

"Pola!" Ashe pinched her.

"And I couldn't possibly grow bigger than you! You're the biggest Pokémon I've ever seen!" Kari remarked.

"Have you ever tried?" Azu asked, half-lidded. Kari gulped and shook a no. "You must try. And bring your friends with you."

"E-er, I don't think I should. Not when there's no real a reason to and stuff… my tail could mess up the scrapyard, or like Pola said, we could crush stuff!" she blushed, prodding her paws together.

"The rest of you. Grab hold of Kari. She will take care of you," Azu instructed.

"I don't really understand the forcefulness here," Ashe admitted.

"The purpose of this is lost on me as well," May added.

"All will become clear if you follow my instructions. Disobey, and I may just expel you from my scrapyard," Azu went half-lidded again. Kari moaned and covered her face. The way her tail flicked, Kayla could tell there was something wrong other than embarrassment.

"Hey," she spoke up, getting the Furret's attention. "You're nervous about your stretching powers, even after all this time. You're fine when you're using it in battle, so why not now?"

"Hnng, I really don't wanna cause trouble for everyone. I know I'm being asked to right now, but… whenever I grow big at all, I mess things up and cause a problem for someone. I mess things up real bad," Kari started to scrunch up. "It's true. The last few battles, I've been really weak. I don't get any stronger when I stretch, I just become a bigger target. I couldn't save you from those Pokémon in the crystal, I almost got poisoned by that Crobat with the birdie wings, I couldn't even stand up for you against Vega. Maybe I should've stayed at the farm…"

"However, you did get us a meal at said farm. And then you got us across the midlands in record time. You may not have done well against the last Night Terror, but neither did we. In fact, I almost died, I think," Kayla snickered at the end. "What I'm saying is, don't sweat it. Just do your best, and if something goes wrong, we've got your back. You've got mine when I mess up, right?"

That got the Furret to straighten up. She looked adorable when she was like this, paws pressed together but face aglow with realization. She took a deep breath to psyche herself up, and clenched her paws into fists. "Okay. I'll give it a try."

"Alright! Should we make space?" Kayla grinned excitedly.

"Well that was a switch," Pola rolled her eyes.

"Oh hush," Ashe patted her.

"Space? You're going to be riding on Kari," Azu informed, surprising them all. "You're going to see things from a better perspective."

"Um…" Kari slowly turned to everyone. "You're all smaller than me, but can I really carry everyone?"

"Only one way to find out!" Kayla snickered, jumping into her arms.

"May as well get this over with," Pola rolled her eyes as she climbed up her back.

"Do be careful now. Pichu are quite delicate, after all," May pushed her way beside Pola.

"You're anything but delicate," the Plusle spat.

"Please don't start, you two," Ashe was last, sitting backwards just above Kari's tail.

"This is looking a bit… eheh, good thing Shannon's not here. There's no space for him," Kayla giggled.

"You as well, honey. Don't think I don't see you," Azu said. It took a second to realise she was talking to Mog, who'd hidden themselves behind everyone. "You're every bit a part of this, too. But I suppose it doesn't make sense for Kari to carry you… so try to keep up instead."

"U-um, okay," Mog nodded, and fluttered up to them.

"Hyup. Okay, up we go. I want you going higher than me, Kari," Azu instructed, planting both hands beside her. Kari nodded determinedly.

The moment Azu started trying to stand, a heavily rumble filled the air. There was a gust of wind from her pushing her front off the ground, and a great indent was left where her form had been laying. In just a few seconds, there was nothing in their view besides the white underside of Azumarill, and she wasn't even sat up yet.

"That's your cue. Go get 'em!" Kayla said cheerfully, snapping Kari back into focus.

The Furret moaned, tensed up, and then got to work. Her body glowed a light yellow as she began to stretch straight up at a steady pace. Her hands and body remained the same width, only growing longer to try and reach Azu's height. She didn't even get halfway before she started to wobble however, and she squeaked. She slowed down to try and regain her balance, but a little bump from Azu sent her onto toppling over.

"Yo careful!" Pola gasped, but Kari broke her fall by stretching a hand down to the ground. Kayla couldn't help but jolt now she was being held by one hand, as she was facing the floor from a surprising height. They were already taller than the scrap mountains, so a fall would hurt.

"Kari," Kayla called out. "You need to grow bigger, too. If you just stretch taller, you'll lose your balance!"

"But then I'll be in the way!" she cried.

"This is stupid. Why're we doing this anyway?" Pola complained.

"I can't hear you down there," Azu's voice sounded like she actually spoke this time.

"Kari, you've gotta just go for it!" Kayla ordered.

"Hrrgh, if something goes wrong, I'm not takin' the blame for it!" she squealed. Her yellow glow intensified into a flaming aura, and her whole body began to stretch evenly. Wider and taller all over, even to the degree that her fur grew thicker.

"Whoa!" Kayla grew excited as Kari's grip on her loosened. She could stand on top of the growing Furret's paw and even run up her body like this, and so made her way to Kari's head. The others had the same idea and met her there, all clinging to Kari's fur as if it were netting. All this time we've called her powers stretching, but she really can just grow bigger. This is crazy!

"Wa-wait, how high are we?" Pola gasped.

The comment made Kari squeak and open her eyes. The whole scrapyard could be seen below her, and some of the fields in the countryside beyond. She must have been as tall as a skyscraper now, and yet had still not reached Azu's full height.

"Higher! You can do it!" Azu said, pumping her fists.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Kari's voice was high pitched.

For Kayla, she was in awe. They had been higher than this thanks to the Cumulus Mobile, but up there, everything was scary and uncertain. Here, Kayla felt safe and in control thanks to being on Kari. On top of that, even as she continued to grow in size and reach the clouds, she had a fantastic view of the world around her. "Kari, look!"

"Oh no, I didn't—" Kari gasped, and then gasped again on her own words.

Kayla didn't need to see her face to know that her eyes were gleaming. She could see as far as her eyes would allow her. The glitz and glamour of Hammock City in the foggy distance, the endless expanse of fields, lakes, and forests in the countryside of Isnomia's midlands, and lastly, Kari's head had split the clouds above them, revealing the bare outer space. Stars, galaxies, the sun, all glittering in a backdrop of dark colours and ethereal patterns.

It wasn't even cold up here. She just couldn't stop smiling as she admired it all. Everything looked so small, almost toy-like. She felt like could touch the clouds, or maybe even the stars if she wanted to. The idea that Kari could do this anytime she wanted to was a dream come true.

"It looks like you already get it," Azu said, reminding them she was there. Kari really had grown taller than her, discounting her ears "Your powers are gifts, and gifts are the responsibility of their owners to respect."

"A gift…" Kari said quietly. She stared at her hands.

"Whether you resent them or not is down to you, as is how you use those powers. But regardless, you should use your powers, for they are you. Your identity. Your personality. The thing that makes you a special individual. And you can all do amazing things when you put your minds to it and cut loose," Azu continued. "Pokémon are afraid of the unknown. Pokémon are also afraid of what is different. That goes for ordinary Pokémon and Extraordinary Pokémon. Thus, it is only natural that conflicts out of fear and difference will occur between us. It is only when these natural beliefs are challenged that true change can come about."

"True change…" Kari muttered, still staring at her hands. "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't want you to do anything except be you at your best. And when the world pushes back and tells you that you are wrong for being you, I want you to proudly let the world know who you are," Azu stated.

"As in… I have to say my name?" Kari cocked her head.

"KARI" the team screamed, making her flinch back.

"Sorry!"

"Ehehehe, oh Kari. You are precious, you know that? I hope you all take good care of her," Azu replied. "Please turn your attentions to behind you, and look straight up."

"Er," Kari obeyed carefully. "All I see is space. It's really pretty, if that's what you want me to look at!"

"May, Ashe, Mog, you recognise it, don't you?" Azu said, straight faced this time.

There's something I'm meant to be looking at here? Kayla raised an eyebrow. There was more of the pretty space backdrop. Looking straight up was difficult, but there was a strangely large white crescent in the middle of the view, leaving behind a fading trail of bright dust. It looked bigger than the rest of the colourful nebulae, and the crescent shape was clean.

"The Millennium Comet," Mog said. She'd been flying beside them the whole time. "It's even bigger than that time Gema showed it to me."

"That's the Millennium Comet?" Pola asked.

"Yes. The beginning of the end. We have time, but the fact that it is here means our time can be counted," Azu warned. "You must go there before it is too late."

"Go there?" Kayla was sceptical. "That's a marked change from our original mission."

"Jirachi would have you protect the comet by preventing the disturbances to the real world. If you're willing to listen to me, I would have you use the comet yourselves," Azu stated. "Go there. Go there and do as you will with your world and your ability to grant wishes."

This is similar to what the human's been telling me to do… just, cut loose and make the world I want to make. Except this time, I go to the comet? Kayla cocked her head. "There's something there, isn't there?"

"Not precisely there, besides power. Power that will destroy and reshape Isnomia," Azu stated.

"Destroy?" Kari squeaked and turned.

"Awa, Kari!" Pola cried.

"Sorry!"

"This is the first I've heard about the Millennium Comet destroying Isnomia. Do tell," May replied.

"The Millennium Comet is where the wishes and dreams of every single being in existence are gathered, and Jirachi uses that power when there is enough. This power can grant one wish completely unbound by any existing law… including wishes that can change the very foundations of law, chaos, and the world. This process is something that has occurred before. Something that created Isnomia itself," Azu explained.

"Whoa, how do we get there? Do I have to stretch that high?" Kari gasped. "'Cos I don't think I can breathe in space."

"In the centre of the Dream World is the Fountain of Dreams, where the Luna Staff lies. That staff is the steering stick for the Millennium Comet, driving it in the direction of the one who wields it. You must first make your way there and obtain the staff," Azu continued.

"Isn't this kinda bigger than our thing?" Pola said, sounding deflated. "I mean, we're just, Team Daybreak, y'know? Why us specifically?"

Azu was hesitant this time. She was looking in their direction, concerning the others. It took a moment, but Kayla realised it was her that was being looked at directly. Azu's face had an annoyingly familiar look, the look of someone who wanted to say very important things but couldn't for some reason. It made her heart race, so she shrugged it off with shut eyes and a cocky smirk.

"It's not like getting a wish granted is a bad thing, especially if there's no rules on it. We could finally get that perfect boyfriend of yours," she said at last.

"Krrghk- the fuck is wrong with you? Don't say that out loud!" Pola cried.

"Perfect… boyfriend?" Mog cocked her head.

"You don't want to know," Ashe sighed.

"Count me in. Gives us a better direction than just running and hiding from Netherworld all day. How do we get to the Fountain of Dreams?" Kayla asked.

"This is a process, so follow me on this one… you will need Jirachi's power. He is currently hiding in Ilex Nest. First, get Jirachi back on your side. Next, you need the power to go beyond your realms of reverie," Azu began.

"The more direct your wording, the better," Kayla smiled.

"When one enters their Dream World, the realm will expand as far as the Dreamer's imagination – your actual dream. You must leave that realm, not by waking up or by leaving through your Dream Pool, but by going beyond the barriers of your imagination. If I was to try and simplify this… think of your dream as a bubble. You must go beyond the bubble. There you will find Comatose Mountain, where the Fountain of Dreams lies," Azu explained.

"And there we'll find that Luna Staff thing. Then it's to the Millennium Comet, where we can get our almighty wish," Kayla finished for her. Azu nodded happily. "I've got questions for why you're dumping all this on us, and what you get outta it, but something tells me you can't answer."

Indeed, Azu didn't respond.

"Just so you know, if all this happens, it'll be our wish and not yours."

"I would have it no other way," Azu nodded.

"This actually sounds simple enough, but it's the Dream World, so there's gonna be some cruddy stuff slowin' us down, ain't there?" Pola slumped. "Might as well get started, if we get no say in it."

"You're awfully cooperative all of a sudden," Kayla commented.

"It's cooler than going food shopping, okay?"

"We start with that Ilex Nest place, yeah? How do we get there?" Kari perked up.

"I have marked it on your PETs. I will speak to you again when you are nearby. Come, let us return to the ground level," Azu nodded.

"Whoa wait, what?" Pola flinched, checking hers out. "It's really here! How the heck did you? When did you?"

"That one will be my secret," Azu began to kneel down. Kari carefully shrunk down with them, and before long, she was back to being a normal sized Furret. It barely took a minute, much to Kayla's surprise. Before she could make a fun comment, the sky turned dark all of a sudden. "Hmm?"

"That's Shannon's spell," Kayla muttered. The others could all see the sky turn dark as well, and worriedly searched around for the source. She eventually spotted the gold star shoot off into the sky and come back down. "There!"

"Be careful," Kari called as she took off at high speed.