Dreams

[MintyMimix]

Ghaspius's head weighed down like lead as he stumbled through the abyss of a nightmare. His cloth convulsed at the voice's grave words as his mind was forced to focus — any wandering thought consumed by the endless void.

"Y'all aren't able to? Just how'd he get so strong? Where did he even find out about this stuff?" But none of that mattered. Someone needed help. It just happened to be the world itself. "Ah, forget about all that; what do ya need us to do? What kinda aid are you talkin' about?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

If I fought him now, it could tear open the voidlands – the Forlasan underworld – and risk the souls therein. I cannot allow that.

He was once mortal, but usurped the role of Dark Matter in his home reality. He seeks to do so here.
​

Powehi's voice ceased for a moment. It could mean anything – a deliberate emphatic pause; deep contemplation; working up the will to speak something more – his voice barely changed.

It was my folly to pit him against Cipher. While he has harried them and brought them low, he has grown far stronger than I ever should have allowed, and now gorges himself on Shadow power.

I require you Wayfarers to battle him to a standstill, that I might repossess that power from him.​

 

[Shiny Phantump]

Gladion's first instinct was to jab at Powehi. For disdaining them, wanting them gone while being fine with Alex, then getting bested by Alex and deciding he needed them to clean up the mess. But Gladion held his tongue long enough for Powehi to admit to folly. He... didn't have it in him to hold a grudge over that, especially when they probably weren't good for the fabric of reality.

"Alright." His tone was respectful, albeit a bit cold. "Can you tell us where and when we can fight him, or do we have to track him down down ourselves?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

He is corrupting rifts – mystery dungeons – with Shadow. If this goes on, the wall between the void and the living world will crumble. I expect him to maintain a presence in as many as possible, but the rift of greatest importance is Eremus Rift, in the subpolar wasteland sometimes called the Wight Barrens.

What remains of Cipher is also there. They have been studying the rift, with the intention of fully bridging their world and Forlas. This could never be permitted, and was the reason I sought to levy Alexander against them.

The Wight Barrens are far to the north and east of the plains you find yourselves in. You would need to cross a great distance over land – less so if you can cross Kyogre's Tears, the great lakes of Luctemar.

You would do well to find other rifts he wishes to seize, and contest them. This will divide his attention, and weaken his grip on reality.​

 

[MintyMimix]

"So we're gonna need to uh, clear out the 'corruption' in these Mystery Dungeons?" Ghaspius replied as he adjusted his hat. "I know we've been helpin' Betel set things up, and we've been makin' some progress on some of the shadowy stuff, but this sounds like a whole 'nother level. There somethin' special we ought to do for these Alexandungeons?"

He paused. "It also sounds like we ought to get in touch with some new friends for that barrens place. Y'all said 'subpolar'... just how cold are we talkin'?"

 

[Hap]

Ridley hadn't intended to fall asleep. He'd only meant to rest his eyes for just a moment, to take a momentary break from the rest of the world while he tried to recover from what he'd discovered about Andre. And then, slowly, like waves eating away at the shore as the tide came in, he was back on that silver-sanded beach, staring out at Powehi's black ocean.

He'd assumed it was a nightmare at first. It wouldn't be the first. But as Ridley heard the other Wayfarers ask and Powehi answer, he accepted that it wasn't.

"Look," Ridley said flatly. "I'll help if I can. I don't want this world to explode or whatever. But last time we were here you effectively said that the best thing we could do would be to kill ourselves so that we wouldn't fuck things up just by existing, but now that we're useful you wanna use us? Can we get, like, an apology for that or anything?"

The situation had changed so much from their first encounter. It was a stupid question to ask and a childish thing to ask for. But after Whisperwind Comb, after Andre, Ridley wanted to feel like he'd won something. He wanted someone to admit that they'd been wrong.

 

[Jackie Cat]

"So we're gonna need to uh, clear out the 'corruption' in these Mystery Dungeons? I know we've been helpin' Betel set things up, and we've been makin' some progress on some of the shadowy stuff, but this sounds like a whole 'nother level. There somethin' special we ought to do for these Alexandungeons?

"It also sounds like we ought to get in touch with some new friends for that barrens place. Y'all said 'subpolar'... just how cold are we talkin'?"

Cold enough.
​

After a moment's pause, Powehi seemed to consider that he should elaborate.

The northern reaches were once known as the Kingdom of Malantau. The pokémon there relied on the ocean and the Tears for survival. There yet remain the ruins of seaports there, though few have done trade in the Barrens these last generations. That climate is not intolerable. The Eremus Rift, however, is profoundly inhospitable.

I cannot know what will come to pass in the hydra's lairs, but you must stand against him nonetheless.

To accomplish this, I shall grant you power – soon – when you are ready.​

"Look. I'll help if I can. I don't want this world to explode or whatever. But last time we were here you effectively said that the best thing we could do would be to kill ourselves so that we wouldn't fuck things up just by existing, but now that we're useful you wanna use us? Can we get, like, an apology for that or anything?"

Powehi contemplated his answer for a few moments before speaking his reply. Ridley would hear the lapping of black waves on silver sand, near-silent, like the thinnest breath. When Dark Matter made his reply, he did so with care, speaking slow and deliberate.

I spoke just now of the Eremus Rift. That mystery dungeon is an open wound in the world-flesh, reality peeling away as it abhors the unreality that was forced upon it. A powerful offworlder, in his hubris, tried to seize still more power. In doing so, he inflicted this wound, through which to this day one can glimpse the Astral Plains beyond material reality.

I was there. It fell to me to cauterise the injury. I did not... feel pride, in this.

I am cautious by nature, and from experience. I do not impose my will unless it is absolutely required. I told you the truth – that in your great numbers, as your souls accrue power, you represent enormous potential risk.

So too could you prove indispensible in defeating an enormous, certain threat.

My only agenda is to protect this world. I will use you for this, as I sought to use Alexander for it just the same.

It was my mistake to believe that one, dependably vile creature would prove a better asset than dozens of... unpredictable... heroes.

For that choice – with regret – I do apologise.​

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

Steven had been so busy as of late he'd barely had the energy to think, let alone dream. But that didn't stop a singular name from interrupting his slumber with startling, unwelcome clarity.

Powehi.

The feeling of that voice sent a chill through him that cut through sleep's hazy nothingness. This wasn't like the last time, when they stood on the dark ocean's shores. It was more like before they'd met Powehi truly, whispered communication in a faceless void.

Except this time it wasn't a threat. It was... a plea? An apology?

"I'm glad we're both on the same page, now," Steven replied, unable to hide some of the bitterness in his tone. Was his lapse general fatigue? Irritation from having what little sleep he got interrupted? Or the very nature of conversing with the being of despair? Either way, he couldn't take it back. Something else Powehi said caught his attention.

"Although, you said you'd be granting us power? Isn't that the very thing you'd wished to avoid? Besides, shouldn't we combat this Shadow threat with Radiance, like we did with Cipher once before?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

A sigh – like the rustling of sand grains by a desert wind, or an ocean breeze passing over barnacle-encrusted flotsam.

Radiance brought something poignant to Powehi's mind.

Radiance would sear Alexander's lightless aura, yes – but Shadow is all I can give you, Metang Steven.

Take comfort in the knowledge that while cloaked in Shadow, that same power will not harm you so grievously.​

 

[Shiny Phantump]

For that choice – with regret – I do apologise.

“Thank you. For saying it.”

The amount hearing that sentence aloud did to calm Gladion’s nerves made him feel somewhat foolish. It’s not like he couldn’t intuit that Powehi wasn’t happy with how things had gone with choosing Alex from context.

“We’ll get him under control,” he resolved. The words were similar to what he’d offered just before, but his tone had warmed. A shift from being obligated to being willing.

 

[Panoramic_Vacuum]

Steven was quiet for a spell.

"I see," he said. He hadn't dabbled much with Shadows in battle. The thought of his evolution still unsettled him; what the Shadows felt like. But it wasn't like he was that proficient with Radiance either. At this point, if Powehi was going to offer help, it would be foolish to turn it down.

"I'm sorry that it's come to this. Having to trust us on account of things having gotten so dire. But as much as our being summoned here as a group poses a problem, I believe it's also our greatest asset."

Some of the weariness Steven had felt upon waking to Powehi's voice began to fade.

"I've heard stories of past heroes who turned, who gave in to selfish desires and let their power corrupt. The difference is, they were here alone. I like to think that should anything like that befall one of us, the rest will pull them back from that brink. After all, we all arrived here with the same goal. The same as you. We want to protect this world, too. I hope we can continue to prove that to you."

 

[Jackie Cat]

“Thank you. For saying it.”

...Don't mention it.​

"I'm sorry that it's come to this. Having to trust us on account of things having gotten so dire. But as much as our being summoned here as a group poses a problem, I believe it's also our greatest asset.

"I've heard stories of past heroes who turned, who gave in to selfish desires and let their power corrupt. The difference is, they were here alone. I like to think that should anything like that befall one of us, the rest will pull them back from that brink. After all, we all arrived here with the same goal. The same as you. We want to protect this world, too. I hope we can continue to prove that to you."

I never doubted your intentions, Steven. Much ill is done with good intentions.

But what you say... is something I have scarcely considered, let alone witnessed. If you are right, then perhaps you could achieve much more to aid my world than I ever thought possible.

I wish for you to continue to prove me wrong.​

“We’ll get him under control.”

You must, Gladion. You cannot fail.

...

I will meet with you soon. Until then, tread wisely upon the earth... and good luck.

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