INM 3: Aftermath Guilt.
"That last story barely had anything to do with Gabby Roxy till the end to be honest..." You say.
"Fine fine want to know someones whole story, here is a good page for ya." Arceus rolled her eyes as she flipped the pages of her INM book and began reading the story.
(The Alola Region - Hano Grand Resort)
In the fanciest most wealthy area of Akala Island lived a family of owls, two Decidueye and a single Rowlet.
"Michael Leif Jr! What is this!" Decidueye yells.
"I did a minor mistake in my exams, apologies father." Rowlet looked guilty.
"We expect better from you Rowlet, how are you about to start your first year of high school and still commeting these omissions!" The female Decidueye looked annoyed.
"You're right mother, it was very foolish of me to make a single error in my exam..." Rowlet looked tired.
"Now go to your room and begin studying! We aren't raising a slacker!" Decidueye ordered.
"Of course father." Rowlet nodded and began walking towards his room.
Inside it looked very boring and dull, it was just an average looking room; many books around the dorm, most about hospitals and medicine.
"I need to be the best, i need to be better..." Michael looked serious as he was focusing on studying.
Him being an only child was a bit lonely during his life, no siblings to talk to, no friends to chat or play with; it was just him and his books.
The few times he did interact was at his private school but even then he wasn't particularly liked, usually called a smart-ass or a teachers pet.
Michael is from a wealthy family, so he felt like he was obligated to do his best for them as they gave him the privilege of living with a high class society.
Rowlets mother was Mikaela Leif, her other last name was deleted after marriage, she works as a Lawyer and wasn't around much.
Rowlets father was Michael Leif Senior, usually calls his son Junior, he works in a law firm and has a hobby of playing golf in the Hano Grand Resort with his co-workers.
Rowlet was being trained to be a doctor when he grows up, despite not having any interest or passion in the topic; his whole life was already decided and could not be changed.
Junior was going to finish private school with excelling scores, instantly be accepted to the most elite university in Kalos as he was gonna be sent abroad to study in the best medical field.
He'd return to Alola and bring his family to live in Unova... where health care is the most expensive, and likely marry some girl from high class named Ruby.
"This is the way thing has to be..." Rowlet looked unhappy as he stared at the words in his textbook.
"You gotta do what you gotta do." Michael sighed and kept studying.
(4 Years Later)
"Junior! Your graduation was a disaster!" Michael Sr looked angry.
"How so father?" Michael Jr asked looking tired and wearing a graduation robe.
"You didn't get any bonus certificates, and you still look like a fucking child!" Michael Sr scoffs.
"When are you gonna finally evolve?" Asked Mikaela.
"I been trying to but... i don't know why i can't, i guess i don't have enough experience to evolve..." Michael looked worried; in reality he did have enough exp, it's just he had been holding himself back everytime he was near evolution.
During his research on the Rowlet family, he learned of the appearance of Dartrix, Junior hated how they looked and did not want to be stuck looking like that for a while however another thing that set him off was-
"Well hurry up and change already, i want you to look exactly like us; got it." Michael Sr glared.
"Yes father." Junior nodded, but deep inside he knew he would never want to be like his father.
"How about we sign him up to thr military or some sort of battle camp for him to evolve?" Mikaela asked.
Rowlet stiffens at the idea.
"Our son cannot be seen hanging around such brutes." Michael Senior looked irritated.
"Do you have a better plan to make him evolve, we cannot allow him to join the University in Kalos looking like, that!" Mikaela pointed at the small Rowlet.
"True, i concede; Junior.. you will go to a battle camp over the summer to prepare you for evolution-" Michael Sr told him.
"-But father..." Michael Jr pleaded.
"Understood?!" His father yells.
"...yes father..." Michael looked defeated.
"Go to your room and pack, you'll be leaving first thing in the morning son." Mikaela told him.
Rowlet walked to his room, the typical lonely walk becoming a routine for him, be felt stuck in life; like he had no options at all other than doing whatever everyone else told him to do, he was trapped and frustrated anger boiling and stored inside with no one to direct it too.
The next day Michael Junior was sent to the Pokemon Battle Camp in Poni Gauntlet; Rowlet looked at the massive tree where the battles and training would take place as he got off the bus.
A lot of the students were mostly jocks, no girls were sent here so it was a bit of a sausage party ngl, even the staff was all guys.
His first day was awful, it was endless battles and bout and fights and brawls; Rowlet was actually strong enough to win several fights with his combination high level moveset of Magical Leaf, Brave Bird, Shadow Claw and Sucker Punch.
It took a lot of energy to stop himself from evolving almost after every battle; at the end of the day was he was absolutely exhausted and knew if he stayed here, he would become a Dartrix... it was just a matter of time.
While he was taking a break at the camp, he noticed the guys were all watching TV; in it he saw an ad for a competition show taking place in the Alola Region.
"Become the Champion of Alola and win a grand prize by competing in the Alolan Olympics! If you want to join come to Melemele Island Berry Field." The TV ad was saying, many of the guys seemed uninterested but Rowlet wanted to join.
He began flying away from the Battle Tree and towards Melemele Island.
"I'm eighteen, i can do whatever i want! I'm not gonna hang out with such brutes all summer, I'm gonna do this instead!" Michael looked angry and determined.
"Should we do something about that?" Asked an Incineroar.
"Do you wanna do paperwork?" Asked Electivire.
"You know what, fair point." Incineroar turned a blind eye.
Rowlet joined Alolan Olympics, you know how it went; early boot, rejoined at merge; called himself Mike, eliminated in the finale.
But something he did NOT expect was ending up married to a Mareanie.
After the game ended, it was pretty awkward.
"So hehehehe what now?" Asked Mareanie.
Rowlet looked deep in thought, he didn't want to return to live with his parents and he didn't want to do what they told him to do; he was married to someone who already accepted him for who he was despite his appearance and attitude.
"You say you don't live anywhere nice right?" Rowlet told her.
"Hehehehe no not really, the bottom of the ocean floor isn't as cool as it sounds." Mareanie shrugs.
"Well, then let's move in together, i have money saved up from my side jobs, i can get a job and pay us a house to live on Hau'oli City." Rowlet smiled.
"Wow Mike hehehe are you sure?" Mareanie smiled.
"This is the first time in my life, i am one hundred percent sure that this is what i want to do, i promised I'd help you just like you helped me." Rowlet smiled at her.
Mareanie hugged him and they both looked very happy.
Now that Marina Urkchi was married with Mike Urkchi life seemed like it finally was good.
They lived together in Hau'oli City; Mike worked in an office job that payed well since he was good with letters and numbers; Marina was just a stay at home mom cooking and cleaning; taking care of their two children.
One was a female Rowlet and the other was a baby male Mareanie.
Eventually Michael Senior and Mikaela found out where Mike lived and caused drama, about how they ruined all of their lives and how useless of a son he was.
Mike stood up for himself and told them he was always forced to be someone he wasn't under his old family and now with this new family he was finally happy and could do his OWN choices.
Even his wife Marina defended Mike and said he was a wonderful husband and a caring father and that if both Decidueye kept being rude, they weren't welcomed in their home anymore.
Both Decidueye looked offended to be spoken to like this by what they'd consider a creepy goth girl, they left indignantly disowning Mike as their son.
Mike had no interest in being with his old family ever again tho, he was fully content with his new life; he tried taking Marina to the doctor and seeing anything about her cackling condition but there was no cure to this nervous system illness.
Marina and Mike kinda just accepted that she was gonna be like that forever, their children never seemed bothered by their mothers cackles.
Overall life was very good; they were a middle class family, living in a good area, with a nice savings account and a beautiful family; nothing could ever go wrong for these-
Then Marina and Mike were teleported to a white void, and I'm sure you know the rest...
Years later, Mike managed to escape the white void, he found his children all grown up and it was difficult to explain to them what had happened, but they believed his father.
Mike kept working in his old office job, doing as well as he did before, it was hell clearling up all the presumed dead paperwork but it was also done.
However the Rowlet was feeling guilty everynight, he was haunted by memories and scenes of his time in the white void; all the people he met, challenges he did, players who died.
"You okay dad?" asked his Decidueye daughter, it was insane how she was almost his age by now despite them spending such little time together
"...Chondria, i been having insomnia for the past few weeks now..." Mike told her.
"About the white void?" Chondria asked.
"Not just that but, about everyone who was lost in the white void, the objects, the humans, the pokemon... they all had lives, all had dreams... and they're just gone..." Mike looked sad.
"There was nothing you could've done to save them right?" Chondria frowns.
"No... we were all doomed there from the start... i tried saving Marina but, it wasn't enough..." Mike looked very sad.
The room was silent for a few seconds, his Decidueye daughter decided to break the ice.
"I think the best thing you can do is write that biography you said you'd write, Deadly All-Stars was it?" Chondria told him.
"Yeah..." Mike replied.
"Even if it won't bring them back, it will explain what happened to them and will be able to tell their story to everyone, keep their name remembered..." Chondria gave a tired smile.
"You're right... thanks for the help Ria, you're a good daughter." Mike relaxed a bit and began drifting to sleep.
"And despite what anyone would say, you're a great father dad." Chondria looked happy as she also began sleeping on her own bed.
Toxapex was already sleeping on the couch; as Mike fell asleep it was decided what he would do.
He began working on writting and publishing a fanfiction called Deadly All-Stars; printed many copies of the book and sold them all over Alola and many other regions.
They didn't sell particularly well as many considered the story to be fictional despite it saying it was based on a true story.
However for those who did read it and believe it, they were absolutely amazed at Mikes tale.
(8 months later)
Despite his best efforts to have a normal life, Mike could not live comfortably with the knowledge he now had, the knowledge that he wasn't even real and he was being written.
He couldn't look at his job, his kids, his new life without wondering if it's all true or an illusion; nothing more than a simple facade he had to endure for the rest of his meaningless existence.
Mike was desperately trying to find a way to cope; he just didn't know what to do... he felt this itch to just find PumpKingKing and make him pay for what he did to him, he felt like he wanted revenge.
While the Rowlet was watching TV with his Toxapex son, he got a golden envelope floating infront of him, it was shiny.
"Woah what's that?" Toxapex asked.
Rowlet instantly used Magical Leaf to shred it to pieces but another one popped into existence instead.
"No.. no... no... not again..." Rowlet looked worried.
"Dad... w-what is that?" Toxapex asked.
"It's him! I know it's him..." Mike was looking very stressed.
"The guy that took you to the white void.." Toxapex frowned.
Mike just nodded, he felt terrified.
"Should i... read the note to you, i don't think he's gonna take no for an answer..." Toxapex frowns.
"...fine..." Mike sounded defeated.
Toxapex took the note, he read it to his father who was half listening; only paying attention to important details.
"-Signed, The PumpKingKing." Toxapex finished off. "At least it has a cool little stamp huh."
"Yeah i guess..." Rowlet looked tired.
"Will you join?" Toxapex asked.
"What?! Why would i join!" Rowlet looked angry.
"Dad we've seen how you been acting lately, you barely eat, you usually can't ever sleep, we are worried about you..." Toxapex frowned.
"...still, it doesn't make sense... why would i leave my normal life to compete on a show i know will just cause me more pain..." Rowlet countered.
"More pain than you're already suffering right now? Come on dad... at least it's worth a chance to try, if this wish is true maybe we can wish mom to return, we can also wish aunt Primarina to be alive again!" Toxapex smiled.
"No, please stop i don't wanna hear it!" Rowlet was covering his ears.
"Please dad! I want to see them again, you're the only one that could win the show and potentially get them back, you can do it! You can save them!" Toxapex begged.
"NO! STOP TELLING ME TO JOIN THE SHOW!" Rowlet screamed shutting his eyes.
Silence.
"What's the matter... "dad" you afraid you gonna lose your fan-favorite status?" said a distorted voice.
"Huh..." Mike opened his eyes and saw his house was dark and twisted, his sons face was melting and glitching and all the furnature was also looking like melted wax; the house reeked of rotting pumpkins.
"Your existence is fucking pointless and you know it Michael Leif Junior, you know nothing in your story matters~" Toxapex told him, but he didn't sound like his son anymore... but like a corrupted horrifying mess.
"GET OUT! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE! LEAVE ME ALONE! I WON'T JOIN YOUR STUPID SHOW!!!" Mike screams as loud as he can, he was angry.
"If you don't, you will cease to exist Mike, your entire family as well and your tale shall be over, this is my final warning to you because i like ya okay, so you either join and live or don't and be erased, choice is now yours knowing owl." Toxapex gave a creepy distorted cackle as the room became darker and smelled even more fowl.
"STOP! STOP! STOP! PLEASE!!!!" Mike was shouting at full strength closing his eyes trying to shield himself, he was horrified and dropped his tophat.
"Dad! Dad! Are you okay dad!" Said a female voice.
Mike opened his eyes, he didn't realize it but he was crying; the smell of rotting pumpkins had gone away.
His Decidueye daughter and Toxapex son were both looking at him confused and terrified; the house looked normal once again.
"Y-you were screaming and having a panic attack dad... you were yelling at nothing, i-i didn't know what to do I'm sorry..." Toxapex was crying.
"What happened dad, what did you see..." Chondria asked.
Mike was shaking, he was trying to stop himself from crying but it was difficult, very.
Eventually he was able to calm down and speak.
"Kids... i'm gonna have to go soon..." Mike replied.
"What?!" Both of them yelled.
"Dad you just came back into our lives!" Toxapex pleaded.
"Yeah, we haven't seen you in 20 years and now you are planning on leaving again?!" Decidueye looked scared.
"It's for the good of everyone, I'm sorry but i have to do this... i have to fix this or at least try..." Mike looked tired and serious.
Both of his children stared at him in disbelief for a few seconds, but Rowlets expression was unchanging; he was determined to join this show and win no matter what it took.
"Well... we will be watching you on the TV dad..." Toxapex tried giving a small smile.
"Here, you never go anywhere without this." Decidueye picked up the tophat Mike dropped while having his hallucinations and placed it on top of his head.
Mike looked genuienly happy and hugged his kids, thanking them for everything and apologizing over and over again.
They hugged him back saying they loved him and wished him the best of luck on his new journey competing.
Mike gave his office job a leaves notice, got his final paycheck and trusted Chondria to manage all the savings responsibly, it was a lot of money.
"Don't worry dad, we will be fine." Decidueye smiles.
"Do your best, we will be cheering for you!" Toxapex waved.
"Thanks, i gotta do what i gotta do." Mike looked serious but had a smile as he fixed his tophat on top of his head and began flying towards the docks that would begin the season of PumpKingKings Newest Afterpiece.