Episode 45: I Won't Leave You Alone

"I thought I'd find you here," Mog said quietly. "Even after everything that happened, you can't stop, can you?"

May ignored the comment. She was fiddling away with some wires on a circuit board, attaching and reattaching them as needed. Several of these boards and bits were littered around her, each one with a different set up. She started making sparks by trying to join two gold wires together, but they barely generated a glint.

"You still blame yourself, don't you?"

She wanted to ignore it, but the question made her shiver. Mog not following up made it worse, as it gave time for images to force themselves into her mind.

"I can't imagine how you feel, and I won't try to. I just… I just want to steer you in the right direction. May, we can move on from this."

"Mog, could you PLEASE?" May snapped. The wires snapped with her, creating a far larger spark than intended that forced her to back away. The tips of the wires were fried, rendering them useless. May tossed them aside with a huff, pulling new ones from a pile. "As you can see, I'm hard at work here. I have a lot to do, managing Paradise while also needing to build this vehicle. I would appreciate not being bothered about trivial subjects."

Mog's third eye opened, and she gawked. She shivered like she might cry, then quickly steeled herself. "No."

May finally stopped.

"No. I won't leave you alone," Mog stated. "Not after everything you've done for me."

May huffed again, setting down her work to turn around at last. "My situation is not the same as yours. You can't compare them."

"I'm not comparing them. And you're right, me making up for Mathildaath isn't the same as you moving on from Dusk. But I'm also part of that. I was there. I know what he did to you and why you feel the way you do—"

"You weren't there. I left you and you became an archfiend a year later. You have no idea what happened all those twenty years after," May stated. "And frankly, you shouldn't. You're not involved anymore. It's private."

"May I'm worried about you!" Mog shifted toward her. "I get it, you're the big brains and the mature, glue, that sticks this team together. But this, this stuff with Dusk, you can't shoulder it on your own. You're just a Pichu!"

May's glare tightened, and Mog was intimidated. She gulped, but held her ground.

"You said it to Kayla as well. We're your friends, May. You have to talk to us, please. Let us help you through this," Mog begged.

"There's nothing to help me through," May turned back to her work.

"Rrrg, I can't believe I'm saying this but will you grow up here?" the Swoobat snapped, spinning her back around. "You think we didn't hear and see you back there? Freaking out and refusing to fight? That guy has you by the chokehold even though you haven't had your collar for twenty years now!"

"He—" May looked away. The realisation hurt so much that she could have flinched. For some reason, Mog went quiet. "Mog?"

"You're still wearing my scarf," she said.

"I… never took it off. Why are you surprised?" May couldn't face forward.

"Look at it. It's old and thin. You became a commander for Netherworld, took a high position at RSE Academy, and still kept that old thing around. I may have been out of the picture for twenty years, but I know what that means," she answered.

"'Out of the picture' is doing some heavy lifting there," May joked.

"This isn't over. You set me free from Mathildaath. Now let me set you free from your demons, too. But to do that, you have to talk to your friends. If nobody else, at least me," Mog stated.

May took a deep breath in as the option ran through her mind. The moment Dusk entered those thoughts however, she shook her head. "You can't deal with him. Only I can deal with him. Trust me, that man is too much for all of you."

"Why don't you want us to help you?" Mog raised her voice.

"Because I don't want to him to do to you what he's done to me," May let out her breath. She sniffled, surprising herself that she shed a tear at all. "Mog you've just gotten your life back and I already had to gamble it by pulling that stunt with the hostile takeover. You're finding new life cooking for everyone in paradise. Value that instead of involving yourself with this mess I've gotten myself in."

"And you got yourself into that mess trying to help me, didn't you? You said it yourself, too. This isn't the life you want, that's why you took the chance when you met Kayla, and saved my life while destroying Netherworld's plan. Netherworld isn't the way forward, you left, and now you're going to let them enslave you again? Just because of this one guy?"

The whole thing made May grit her teeth.

"I'm not going to give up on you, May. If you won't tell me, then I'm going to fight and find out on my own," Mog warned.

"Don't!"

"It's this or you let us help you. Me and the rest of Team Daybreak," she stated.

It was Mog's determination that did it this time. She had a familiar determination in her eyes, one that could only be seen from a young Pokémon. It drove her guilt to extreme levels, harder than the whirlpool of sick filling her stomach. May struggled to gulp, but couldn't hide her miserable look. "I can't bear you to get involved. But if you really are going to throw yourself into this, then I can't let you walk into it blindly, either."

"I'll be there. We'll all be there. We're a team, and we're friends, aren't we? You don't have to fight this alone," Mog nodded.

May sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Thanks. But if you can do me a favour, please don't tell anyone that you saw me like this."

…

Even though it wasn't her work, Kayla stood back to admire their new request boards. They were electronic corkboards the size of bulletin boards set up right here in the central area of Paradise. Welder helped her to hammer them into the ground. They had already been activated too, displaying all manner of jobs. They had the same as Repose: three boards, one for general requests, one for wanted Pokémon, and the last one for local chatter. The outlaw and gossip boards were empty right now.

"Hope I didn't break 'em," Welder commented, admiring with her.

"You didn't. They're registered to each region of Isnomia, but this isn't a proper area, y'know? I'll fiddle with it later to get them up and running. We can still write on the bulletin, so feel free to use it as a to-do list or something," she explained.

"Yer too smart fer your own good, y'know that kid? Mind all this doesn't blow up in your face," he commented.

"Hey I accept feedback and criticism. Pokémon can use it for that, too," she tried to shrug.

"Kayla! Kayla Kayla Kalya!" Kari squealed, bouncing over at high speed. "You'll never guess what we found come see it you've gotta come quick c'mon c'mon c'mon!"

"Whoa uh, what's got you all- Kari, zoomies!" Kayla laughed, unable to keep up with her.

"There's no time for that! You've gotta come quick, now now now!" the Furret suddenly popped up beneath her.

"U-uh, okay," Kayla squeaked as she was carried away. She could barely stay on the Furret's back, but giggled as she leaned in to latch herself as best as she could. Something about Kari was comfortable, even though she wasn't trying to sleep right now.

"Wait WHAT HAPPENED?" Kari's scream sprung her back into focus.

Kayla hopped down without a word. Not far from the fields Sylvia and Christel were tilling, an enormous crater had formed. The floor here was oddly smooth and sleek, while the centre of the crater was slightly raised earth, resembling a cooking pot filled with crumbled rock. "Er, did you guys dig this?"

"We kinda just found this underneath a pile of scrap," Pola informed. "It was filled with steamy water a while ago."

"Steamy… don't tell me it's a hot spring?" Kayla leaned back.

"It's a hot spring," Ashe smiled. "I don't understand how a hot spring was functioning underneath all that scrap, but the gardeners found it after getting the scrap moved."

"But now the water's all gone! I was looking forward to having a bath again…" Kari deflated.

"Perfect soil, functional material in place of scrap, a private beach, and now a hot spring… now I'm wondering exactly what this place was before Pokémon started turning it into a scrapyard," Kayla commented, swaying with her thoughts.

"Maybe it was a mystery dungeon! Instead of human stuff, it had all this metal stuff instead," Kari perked right back up.

"That… you might be onto something there. We're sleeping in an old train, after all. I guess it somehow lost its mystery dungeon status and turned into a scrapyard…" Kayla rambled. "Anyway, we've gotta figure out how to get the water running, don't we? That spot in the middle's the obvious point."

"Oooh, yeah. It probably all like, boings up there like a giant spring, right?" Kari ran up to it.

"It's called a geyser, Kari. But you're probably right again. Go dig there and see if you can get the water running," Pola suggested.

Kari squealed as she rose her shovel claws high to do some digging, and then instantly froze. "Uh, wa-wait a minute. It's water, right? If I dig here but the rocks and stuff fall on top of me, I could get trapped underwater."

"Oh c'mon, what're the odds of that happening?" Pola rolled her eyes. May and Mog arrived then, curious about the gathering.

"Quite high, actually," Sylvia the Bayleef came forward. "If the way the rocks there are any indication, then the earth here is pretty fragile. You could dig your way back up, but that depends how good you are at digging in water."

"Not very. I've never tried!" Kari blushed in worry.

"If you get trapped, just grow big," Kayla smiled.

"Mmgg… I like breathing, though," she moaned.

"Y-yeah, so do I," Kayla said, staring at the pot.

"The geyser would likely thrust you back up. But if the rocks there are strong enough to stop the water from pulsing in the first place, then you'd be in trouble," May surmised.

"Oh, May. When'd you get here?" Kayla asked.

"Just now. I've... something important to talk to you all about," she announced reluctantly. Mog nodded in agreement. "However, let's get to the bottom of this, first."

"Pun intended?" Kari nudged her.

"Absolutely," she smirked.

"I guess we can tie a rope around you. If the rocks cave in, we can pull you back up," Ashe proposed.

"We've got rope, don't we?" Pola wondered.

"You're all here," Shannon arrived last, Genius shortly after. The Pawmot looked grumpy for some reason. "What is all this? I didn't miss another fight, did I?"

"Way better. It's a hot spring! But all the water dried up, so we're gonna try and dig it out!" Kari explained. "But I don't wanna get trapped in the water, so we're sorta stuck… Where've you been?"

"I was making sure Genius was alright. She tends to get really banged up in fights," he snickered.

"No I don't, worrywartortle," she pouted.

"You had so much leftover webbing in your fur that you would not have picked out on your own. If this is really a hot spring, the water would clean you up for good," he began to mumble as he checked the crater out.

"You don't have to worry about me like a mummy!" she started blushing.

"I'm not- urf, c'mon, don't bring the others into this. I was just cleaning you," he argued.

"You're worried about Electroweb on an electric type!" she cried, flailing her arms.

"Leftover Electroweb is gross! It's just sticky spider stuff. You really want that in your fur?"

"It's not causing any problems," she turned away to pout. "Worrywartortle."

"You already said that one."

"Well you didn't stop being one!"

Well now you're just being a dingle."

"EXCUSE ME? Ah, how could you?"

"If you don't wanna keep yourself clean, then you're a dingle."

"RUDE! And says the one who takes dust baths. You're the dingleberry around here!"

"Hey I said dingle, not dingleberry!"

"Stinky dingleberry!"

"Pinky!"

"Turtle!"

"… What is happening?" Kayla asked, staring wide-eyed with the others.

"All of a sudden, I don't feel like sharing any important news," May added pensively.

"Honestly, I should use some of their words. They're so colourful!" Kari giggled.

"Ugh. They're so sickening," Pola groaned.

"Alright. That's enough. Go dig, Genny," Shannon ordered with a point.

"Genny- no don't you dare, do not bring out the Genny!" Genius' face went bright red.

"If I'm a dusty dingleberry, then you're a Gennyto—"

"Lalala, I can't hear you!" Genius slapped her palms over her ears and ran off into the crater. With an excited giggle, she started digging into the rock pot in the centre, quickly disappearing into a pile of dirt.

"Uh-um, wait—" Kayla gasped, but Shannon stopped her. "Shannon, this is serious! The wa—"

"Shh!" he hushed her.

"Whoa, she can really dig! But is she gonna be alright?" Kari asked. Shannon nodded. "But what about if the cave…"

She trailed off as the ground started to rumble. Surely enough, the small quake caused the ground around the centre of the crater to crack and eventually break apart, with many chunks of earth breaking off to fall into the hole the Pawmot had just dug.

"Ah, Genius!" Kari cried, but Shannon stopped her again.

"Shannon!" Kayla snapped at him.

"Trust me. It's fine," he assured sternly.

"But… but the water…" Kari squeaked. Kayla started gritting her teeth. The Pachirisu was completely nonchalant about it.

"Hey I don't butt into stuff I don't get, but we're talking about drowning here," she turned to him. He still didn't seem to pay her any mind. "Shannon!"

He sighed. "You know how Genius is absurdly forgetful, right?"

"Oh trust me. I know," Pola rolled her eyes.

"That extends to her physical state. I don't really understand how it works, but she's ridiculously resilient as a result. I doubt you notice it, but that woman forgets to breathe half the time. Literally," he explained. "I have to take her aside after fights because her body tends to take way more damage than she herself realises. If I didn't, she might've died ages ago."

"Su-seriously? So she's like… still digging underwater right now? And just, not breathing? But she's still okay?" Kari questioned.

"If you make it apparent to her that she's in peril, she'll remember and then actually choke. But if there's an actual geyser down there, then she'll make it for sure," he clarified. "Genius may be resilient like this, but she's not invincible, either. She can still faint from blood loss and stuff like that."

"But what if she forgets that she's digging? Or winds up somewhere else?" Pola asked. There was a pause.

"You did say this was a geyser, right?" he asked. There was no response, making him sweat. "Uhh, you guys know where this leads, don't you?"

"We tried to tell you," Pola shrugged.

Just as he took off to go and dig her out, the ground started quaking again, this time far more violently than before. Kayla and Kari instinctively held each other to keep steady, and in her focus, the Buneary unrolled both ears. She gasped lightly.

"Wait a minute, that's- everybody get back!" she warned.

A few seconds later, a massive pillar of steaming hot water erupted up from the hole, punching the rock into smithereens. A squealing, giggling Genius came flying up with it, cheering as the geyser carried her up into the sky. Water rained down upon the area, enshrouding it in steam from the high temperature.

"Woo hoo, we got it! And it's hot, it's hot baby, yeah!" Kari cheered, dancing on her toes.

"Never thought you'd be happy about the rain," Kayla laughed.

"It's actually a hot spring," May said blankly, holding out her hands to feel the water. She noticed Mog cringing, and grinned at her.

"S-sorry! Water and me don't really mix well!" she cried.

Soon enough, the geyser calmed down and gradually lowered in height, all while the crater filled up. The still giggling Genius fell into it, turning her giggles into gurgly bubbling. Shannon swam over to lift her out, where she was still laughing.

"Geez, she's worse than you," Pola groaned.

"Hey, I only did that once," Kayla turned away.

"Still counts."

"Well, whaddya think? You could bath a Snorlax in here! Who's gonna take a proper dip?" Kari smiled overexcitedly.

"We really should clean it up first, but I know you're all excited," Sylvia smirked. Kari bounced on her tail so fast she was a blur. "Go ahead. It's safe."

"Geronimo!" she squealed, diving in.

"Waiwaiwait why is it always me ARGH!" Shannon shouted as he was splashed over. "Really Kari?"

"I got Electroweb on me too! So yeah, I get first dibs!" she chuckled.

"You're not trying to show me up, are ya? Move over, unless you want my CANNON BALL!" Pola perked right up, diving in as well.

"These girls," Kayla sighed while Shannon cried out from being splashed again. She tested the water with her feet first, finding it pleasantly hot, despite how steamy the place was. She eased herself in regardless, but was able to quickly sit back and relax. "Oh, wow. Uh, okay, this is the stuff."

"It does feel nice," Ashe commented beside her. She could only dip her hands in, but seemed just as content.

"I don't have to, do I?" Mog asked worriedly.

"Of course not. But… just stay close," May said solemnly as she watched them all get relaxed and play in the spring. It brought a little smile to her face, while her thoughts hovered on her task. She watched them for a while as her mind stormed into all sorts, which ended with her hands gripping her scarf. And then Mog's wing gave her a pat on the side, and she turned.

"Just take your time. They'll listen," Mog said. Hearing that, May took a deep breath, and cleared her throat to get their attentions.

"Right, you said you had something to tell us," Kayla said with a smile.

"I do. And it's important," she said, and then looked up at everyone with a straight face. "And it's about Dusk, the Morpeko."

"Really? Of all the times to drop the depresso bomb, you pick now?" Pola groaned. The whole group glared at her. "Just sayin'!"

Kayla remained relaxed even with the announcement, but when silence followed, she opened her eyes. May wasn't looking at anyone. She had one hand on her scarf and the other held low, with a look that said she had no idea what to say. Until Mog hovered close to her, once again giving her a light pat with a wing.

"You've probably guessed by now that I have a history with the Morpeko, Dusk, an admin of Netherworld. To be specific, he is the head of research and development within Netherworld. You would think that would be Zude, but she actually acts under him," May finally began. "Initially, his research led him to being head of recruitment, which led to me… and my kidnapping."

"Kidnapping?" Kari grew worried.

"Oh boy," Pola grumbled.

"It's no secret that Netherworld has a history with trafficking – Dusk is almost the sole reason for that. They wanted Pokémon in their numbers, so they targeted orphans and the homeless. They were most likely to be Extraordinary or disabled Pokémon, and he was right. Those Pokémon had nowhere to go and wound up growing under his and Netherworld's order. The perfect, brainwashed foot soldiers," May continued. "Except for me. I was one of the unlucky ones. I was an adult at the time of my recruitment, and Dusk took an interest in me. I didn't end up with the others, I wound up working on research with him, building weapons and the like."

"This is still my part, isn't it? I rescued you from there, and took you back home," Mog said. May nodded.

"Yes. Back home here… to the Nowhere Scrapyard," May clarified.

"You used to live here?" Kari was surprised. Kayla's gaze narrowed as her chest started to brew ill feelings.

"Born and raised in a family of homeless Raichu and Pikachu. My sole purpose, training day in and day out, was to pursue a career that could save the Pokémon from this place. So with years and generations of savings funds and drilling study exercises into me, I was shipped off to Hammock to hit it big. I fell right into Netherworld's game, and Mog got me out of it," May explained.

"That explains why it meant so much for you to save her, but that is not how this ends," Kayla said.

May hesitated again. There were ripples around her in the hot spring water, and her hand went to her scarf. "At the time of the rescue, I was… rejected. They wouldn't listen. I—"

"May," Mog whispered, patting her. The Pichu inhaled deeply, shut her eyes, and then exhaled slowly. The ripples around her stopped.

"The Pokémon of the scrapyard rejected the idea that I had been rescued. Rightly so, I had failed their lifelong dream of escaping homelessness. At the same time, Dusk was determined to keep me," May's voice grew quieter as she remembered the gravity of her own story. "I don't know how he did it, but he got my parents and trapped them in a mechanical weapon of his. I didn't know it at the time, but he attacked us with that contraption, and I killed them by destroying it with them inside."

"That tank…" Mog muttered.

"That guy? That little guy? How did- why did- I don't get it," Pola shifted angrily.

"I didn't have full control of my magnetism back then. So in a place like this filled with metal, attacked by a machine, I went berserk. They weren't the only ones I killed with my outburst," May stated darkly.

"May," Kari whispered, covering her mouth.

"That's why the Pokémon here weren't fond of you when you came back," Shannon grit his teeth.

"Homeless, a kill count to my name, and a Pokémon determined to have me use my brains for Netherworld… I rejected Mog and returned to Netherworld for good. If there was any chance for me to survive, it was for me to side with the Pokémon who knew better, and to live my life in servitude," May explained.

"Fuck that shit!" Pola practically screeched, making Kayla jump. She was livid. "What possible reason could you have to side with a devil like that?"

"I don't expect you to understand my reasoning. You especially, Pola."

"This is not the time to be so aggravating!" Pola shook a fist at her.

"Easy," Ashe said, waved a hand to put her down.

"What I expect the rest of you to understand is that that is what this Pokémon is capable of. If you ever see Dusk, do not interact with him. Just run," May demanded.

"You think he's going to do something as bad to us as what he did to you?" Ashe asked.

"I don't think. I know he will. Considering everything I just told you, where do you think I got all my knowledge and skills from?" May asked. The group's eyes widened one by one. "He is more calculated than I could ever hope to be, and his understanding of other Pokémon cannot be challenged. He learns everything he can and covers every last possibility he could run into. We can't defeat him."

There was silence. Silence and dropped hands from everyone as they stared at her. Kayla gulped and opened her mouth to speak, but Mog beat her to it.

"You're still not being completely honest. There's something else," Mog challenged.

May glanced back at her. "All you need to know is the magnitude of his potential. If Team Daybreak or Paradise are to survive, then you all need to stay away from him."

"May, he's trying to take you away. We can't let him do that!" Mog cried. Kayla gasped as her thoughts came to fruition. "There's something else, I know there is. What happened after you left and I turned into Mathildaath?"

"It's not 'what happened', but what you're thinking now," Kayla spoke up at last. May's glare snapped to the Buneary. Normally that victory would earn a cocky smirk, but this time, it simply made her heart race. So much so that her own glare intensified. "You want to go back to him, don't you? Back to Netherworld."

May didn't answer.

"N-no, wait. Say it isn't so!" Kari gasped. The Pichu still didn't answer. "But May, we're your friends! And we, we, Paradise, and the Dream World, a-a-and all that stuff with Azu and Celebi and the Fountain of Dreams and stuff… weren't we all gonna make a new world together?"

"It's this level of juvenile thinking that grates me so. This is also why I didn't want to explain this to any of you. You couldn't possibly understand how I feel. What all this means," May started shuddering again, and this time, it came out in her voice.

"What possible fucking reason could you have to go back to a prick like that? He literally stole everything from you!" Pola shouted.

"I… I miss him," May confessed. Pola's eyes practically fell out of their sockets.

"You WHAT?" she screamed. "You're outta your fucking mind! He, he—"

"You're the last Pokémon I expect to understand my feelings. You're just an immature flirt; don't act all melodramatic like you understand anything that's been said," May argued. "Settle down like the child you are and listen to an adult for once in your life."

"Hey!" Kayla snapped, struggling to stay calm. May gave her another glare, but she challenged it with her own. "If you can't see the irony in what you're talking about right now, then you're the childish idiot."

May's eyes narrowed.

"I'm not gonna tell you what to do. I can't. Not because I'm young, but because that's what Team Daybreak's built on. Trust, friendship, and each of our own independence. We even decided to trust you and come here on our own," Kayla stated. "But I will tell you that you have a very big choice coming up. One of those choices is the right thing to do. Whatever that is to you, don't look back on it."

The response took the wind out of her, clearly. May looked like she wanted to continue arguing. Everyone did, yet a piercing silence fell. Until a splash came from Pola. The Plusle's face was red with anger, and she was pulling her ears so hard they might come off.

"No… no, fuck that, fuck this, not…"

"Pola, keep it together. May's not gonna… I know she won't. I believe in her," Kari said desperately.

"No. I'm tired of being treated like this, of acting like you're being all smart and cryptic trying to hide behind all this shit, whatever it is. Can't you tell the guy's got you by the leash like some kinda braindead dog? You're still a Pichu, for god's sake!" she ranted. She jumped out of the spring and swiped her arm aside. "I'm gonna find him, and I'm gonna kill him. It's not gonna stay like this."

"Why're you so mad about this?" Shannon gasped.

"It's right to be mad, isn't it? This Dusk person…" Genius said meekly, hands pressed together. Kayla suddenly took off with Quick Attack, splashing a wave of water over the others. She stopped in front of Pola with a foot edged forward, ready to fight.

"Get out of the way, Kayla," Pola ordered.

"I'll admit, I'm with Shannon on this one. I thought you hated May, but I guess I was wrong," she finally cracked a cocky smirk. "Either way, I can't let you run off and spark something in a fit of rage."

"Shut up! You're an idiot who doesn't get this stuff either!" Pola shouted, crossing an arm over her front. Light and energy swirled toward the tip, forming her Tri Attack. "The only way to get outta this is to fight that guy, and kill him!"

Kayla's smile grew. "You're not really gonna fire that at me over this, are you?"

Pola hesitated, although she was livid. Kayla didn't move or lose her smile either, staring her down with carefree focus. Something about that pushed the Plusle to her limit. She thrust her arm and fired an electric beam straight at Kayla, not holding back in the slightest.

Kayla gawked before she was shrouded in smoke and dirt from the blast. She cringed and braced, and still felt herself give in to a harsh burn that showered her form. smoke and debris made her cough as well, but when it cleared, she was mostly unharmed. The ground in front of her had a heavy indent, while Pola was nowhere to be seen.

"How did she do that? The PET's friendly fire should've stopped her, right?" Kari cried, helping Kayla stay on her feet.

"She didn't hit me, she hit the floor," Kayla shook herself off.

"Damn it, does she seriously think she can take on Dusk by herself?" Shannon said.

"Kayla, you have to catch her. The rest of us will catch up with you," Ashe ordered.

"Don't dawdle!" Kayla wound up a foot as she charged Quick Attack. Before she took off, she faced May, who was gawking at the whole scene. "And you better come with us."

She bolted straight for the entrance to the scrapyard, taking to the unfinished rooftops to have a better view of the place. No one seemed to mind her while they worked, or maybe didn't notice her. Much to her dismay, Dusk turned up first, casually walking in from the main entrance. What the heck? He's still here?

Even stranger, he instantly turned in her direction. She didn't move, half expecting him to try something, but he didn't. He just stood there at the front of the clearing in his familiar pose, with his arms tucked behind his back. She dared to look away, and Pola arrived after a moment. She cursed under her breath, and hopped down to confront her.

"Oh for fuck's- why?" Pola snapped.

"That's my line! Look I agree with you, but sparking a fight like this isn't going to achieve anything," Kayla warned.

"This is the Zude shit all over again. It's okay when you go do it and get to brag, but when it's me standing up for a friend, it's all morally wrong, I'm immature, all the other shit you wanna preach at me," she ranted.

"We're not in a position where we can fall back! And honestly, between you and me…" Kayla lowered her voice, glancing behind her to make sure the others weren't there. "This isn't our battle."

"What?" Pola replied.

"Have you been looking at May? And she's like, double our age. The only way she's going to move on is if she overcomes this herself," Kayla pointed out. "You get that, don't you? This is her fight. We can only help her."

"You know, it's rude to talk about someone when they're right in front of you," Dusk said, monotone as always. The duo spun to face him and shifted backward for battle. "But unsurprisingly, we misunderstand each other. May can come to me anytime. She's independent enough. The idea that she ever left to join your side is nothing short of delusional."

"The only delusional one is you!" Pola thrust a fist at him.

"Unfortunately for you…" he said, going quiet.

"Why're you even here?" Kayla asked.

"To open your eyes to reality, both yours and May's. That I understand her better than all of you ever will," he answered, opening his arms out. "We have a closer relationship than she might have ever told you. In the years I've known her, I've become… somewhat of a partner. I know her ins and outs, her likes and dislikes, her habits, even her favourite colour. Our feelings for one another are mutual."

"Or 'cos you forced it outta her through torture. I wouldn't put it past you, bastard!" Pola snapped, crossing her arms over her front. "I'm gonna kill you, right here and now."

"The thing she hates more than anything in the world is this very act. A man standing up for her," Dusk's eyes narrowed.

"Seriously, why do you keep saying that? Specifically about Pola, too," Kayla asked.

"Why do you think that she dislikes you?" Dusk asked. His eyes returned to normal.

"What?" Pola replied.

What the heck is going on? It's just like when I met May in the first place… Pola's charging Visionary Magic in his face, and yet I can't get a read on him, Kayla growled. Dusk did not react in the slightest.

"Have you ever shared a positive moment with her? You and that unfortunate Pachirisu?" he challenged. "The fact that you have to think about it should tell you everything. That not even a moment where you share earnest smiles with one another exists…"

"What's it to you?" Pola replied.

"Even in her mission to manipulate your team, she couldn't set aside her hatred of men. And yet, you never suspected a thing. You trudged along thinking that she was your friend or an ally on your side, while we at Netherworld got everything we needed on you," he explained, beginning to pace. "And now, it is time for us to take that power and eliminate the rest. You were never friends, nor even allies. You were Pokémon who happened to have what we needed."

I'm not normally one for the whole villain speech, but if it lets the others catch up… Kayla shifted a foot back, implying he could keep talking.

"Oh yes, let them come. I want them all to see where they stand with this as well," Dusk said, making her gawk. "The only one that is any worth to me is you, Buneary. We honed your powers from afar, and now you can serve Netherworld very nicely. The others will be crushed."

"Oh come on. If you know me this well, you should know that I'm never gonna willingly join some messed up cultists, or whatever Netherworld actually counts as. You guys ain't cool," she replied.

"You will, once you understand your place in all of this," he assured, eyes narrowing.

"You leave Kayla outta this. This is about May, and me!" Pola shouted, swiping her arm aside. The others arrived just then, but she didn't notice them as they stood back from the confrontation. "I know May hates guys, and she can't tolerate me because of it. But she still stuck with team daybreak, helped us out with everything, and doesn't hold back when stuff gets going. She does her shit properly! Even though she hates me and Shannon, she does everything she needs to do because she's just mature and respectful like that. It's got nothing to do with what you think!"

May hesitantly stuck out a hand, but couldn't say anything, so she retracted.

"I dunno what fucked up stuff you did to her, but I'm not gonna sit there and let it go on. I know it's 'cos of you that she's still a Pichu who hates guys," Pola announced.

"Wait that's what this is about?" Kayla's brow furrowed and she glanced at her.

"Don't talk down about this!" Pola snapped at her. "I saw those cuts around her neck. I can put two and two together. You're one of those sick, twisted bastards who thinks of Pokémon like property. But May's not like that. She hates men because of you! You forced her to like you in a fucked up way that even she doesn't get! But if you die, all of it breaks."

"And you believe you can set her free?" Dusk said.

"I don't believe. I know I can take you," she bragged, starting to glow with energy.

"Yeah, yeah, that's how it is!" Kari bounced to the front. "May's our friend, and if you're gonna try and take her away, then we're all gonna fight together and stop you."

"Despite everything, we're both still here, and we've both come so far. I have really high respect for that, honestly," Shannon came forward to May's surprise. "You remind me of a certain someone I hated with all my being… someone who I almost let drive my life to ruin. I'm not going to stand idly by while that happens to someone else I care about."

"You all…" May shuddered.

"Well then, Dusk. I think the question backfires a little," Kayla came to the front as Ashe, Mog, and Genius joined the group. "Do you really think you can defeat all of us? Right now? By yourself?"

There was a moment of quiet. The Morpeko didn't even seem to be breathing, but she did catch hint of a sigh from him. A tired sigh of bother, as if he didn't have the drive for whatever he was about to do. "May, it almost feels as though you've forgotten your place in this. Behaving as a teammate was part of the plan, but encouraging them this much; we could have saved ourselves tremendous effort."

"W-wait. Don't do anything. I concede!" May announced desperately.

"May, don't!" Mog cried.

"I gave you freedom. I gave you knowledge. I taught you, I raised you like the family you never had," Dusk's voice started to raise. "And yet here you are, surrounding yourself with useless values like friendship!"

"Dusk, you don't have to do this! Please don't, just leave them alone!" May shrieked. She sounded unbelievably desperate, making Kayla's heart race.

All Dusk did was raise one hand high. In it was a small device a similar size to Kayla's own PET, but it was coloured like a Morpeko. "No matter how many times it takes, I will show you where true power lies. True power lies in total control, not in pathetic moral values. And you belong to me!"

A sharp light came from his PET, followed by a strong wind and the flashing of some electrical energy. Kayla grinned smugly at it, tensing herself up for battle. If there's anything exciting about Netherworld, it's that their admins don't mess around. To think he really has something up his sleeve!

"Guys, we need to get out of here, please! Just run, it isn't worth it!" May cried, stuck on all fours.

"We're not going anywhere!" Mog argued, showing her fangs. "I meant everything I said, May! No matter how scary it gets, even if I'm alone, I'm not abandoning you. I won't leave you alone!"

"Might be rich comin' from me, but we're your friends! It's not gonna kill ya to have a little faith in us," Pola added.

"No, Mog, Pola! You don't understand!" May shrieked.

Whatever Dusk was doing, a black line formed in the space above him. That line expanded into a blobby pool of energy, filled with stars and swirling colours, and then Kayla's blood turned cold. It was a Dream Pool, looking no different to the many she had spawned up until now.

"Wait isn't that a- how can Netherworld make a Dream Pool?" Kari slapped her cheeks.

"So that's your plan. Some kinda nightmare's coming our way. Girls, get ready!" Kayla said.

Dusk pulled his arm away once the Dream Pool was there. Its presence put the party into a world of battle, where it was Team Daybreak, Dusk, and the surrounding backdrop. Dark swirls and glittering stars, like a dusty night sky slowly swirled around the scenery. The world shook with shockwaves as more energy came from the portal, but instead of a monster forming, the face of a Plusle emerged instead. It was lifelessly pulled from within, and flopped to the floor.

Another Plusle? Kayla was concerned, but focused. They had quite a lot of extra fur on their head, evident as they struggled to their feet. Hair that almost touched the floor in length, though unkept and shrivelled.

"If you're going with a clone of me, Mathildaath already tried that. They're no match for the real deal," Pola commented. The other Plusle stood up and faced forward, and something about their face felt strange. Familiar, even. It brought Pola to hesitate so much she dismissed her magic. "Wha? What's… why do I feel funny?"

"Uh, I know they're both Plusle, but it's like I'm seeing double," Kari pointed out.

It is a clone, isn't it? Did he dream up an alternate Pola or something? Kayla stayed wary. And then her heart started to race. Mumbles only she could pick up came from Pola, worried mumbles and panicked comments. A moment later, it almost sounded like a heartbeat pulsed through the air.

"N-NO!" Pola shrieked at the top of her voice. She started hyperventilating, hugging herself and backing off. Her words turned into agonizing screams and violent convulsions, putting the team in panic.

"What's going on? Pola!" Kayla gasped, rushing over to her. The Plusle's screams only got louder and more painful however, even as Kayla tried her best to keep them steady. Pola eventually curled right back, and Kayla caught a glimpse of the most desperate, tormented look she had ever seen from a Pokémon. Her face was filled with tears and an absolute lust for life, but whatever was happening, she wasn't given that chance.

Pola's body took on a series of golden cracks that formed in an instant, covering her from head to toe, and then burst into light particles that showered over the helpless Kayla. Just like that, in the span of a few seconds, Pola was gone.

Kayla couldn't comprehend it. That wasn't what it looked like when Pokémon got killed. By all logical laws, nothing that just happened should have killed her. All she did was look at that Plusle that emerged from the Dream Pool, who was now face flat on the floor, out cold. And yet still, she couldn't pick up any sense of Pola's presence. Not her smell, not her touch, not even a lingering echo of her screams.

Pola was completely and utterly gone.

"What… what… did you just… do?" Kayla said blankly, stuck frozen to the spot. There was no reply. She wanted this to be some elaborate prank, and for Pola to show up from the Dream Pool or something. She glanced at her team, and every single one of them was speechless and wide-eyed, exuding even more confusion than herself. Back to Dusk, he went back to tucking his arms behind him. "Where… what… did you just do… to Pola?"

Dusk still didn't answer. He barely moved. The scene stalled, and yet nothing happened. No matter how hard she tried, there were no hints of Pola. It didn't feel real. Everything fantastical and lucky that happened to her recently couldn't have resulted in this. That wasn't how karma worked. Heck, that wasn't how the Dream World worked. And yet, Pola wasn't here anymore.

"Where. Is. Pola?" Kayla demanded, shaking as she leered at Dusk. He still didn't answer. Nothing came from him, either. The more and more the reality of it started to hit, the more her power welled up. Her world of battle turned red, and the energy she brought up for Quick Attack was a swirl of jagged red and black spikes.

"ANSWER ME!" Kayla roared as she blitzed toward him. Dusk lazily held his PET high and pressed another button, triggering some kind of electric shock. Whatever he'd done now, a searing pain worse than anything she'd ever felt coursed through her. It was like a series of knives had sprouted underneath her skin, and each one of them rapidly began to slice her apart from the inside.

And yet, it didn't stop her attack. Dusk was surprised by that as well, and his eyes widened as she impacted him. He yelled at the top of his voice as her Quick Attack sent him sailing into one of the scaffolds. The whole thing collapsed on top of him from the impact, frightening the onlookers. Kayla didn't hold back, however. She charged right after him, this time jumping up high with the aim to crush him into the earth.

Finally, Dusk looked like a normal Pokémon, a normal Pokémon anxious to escape the hunt of a feral. He barely managed to crawl away as Kayla slammed down into the ground so hard a dent was left. She hopped up and spun to kick him in the stomach, sending him flying into the scrap pile opposite.

She wanted to give chase with all of her might, but her body was giving out. She realised that she was being electrocuted somehow, and it wasn't stopping. She fell to all fours, helplessly letting out moans of angst as all the pain caught up to her. Her view was darkening and her thoughts were turning to survival instincts. She could barely breathe from how much it hurt, and turned to her team. They were just as bad, if not worse, writhing weakly on the ground as the electricity wouldn't stop around each of them, too. Each of them except for Ashe and May.

That was all she got before her body gave way, and she collapsed to the cold, earthy ground.