Mewtwo's Lair

[Magyk]

Her expression scrunched up with concern. "Um... we all came here with--" she paused.

Did Owen know about Betel?

"We're all linked to someone else," she continued. "That's how we're all here. Maybe we can... find someone else strong enough to remake you? I don't... I'm not really familiar with this stuff, but we can't give up before we've tried!"

 

[Namohysip]

That earned a faint smile, but Shadows blocked any sense of sustained hope that Owen could feel. He looked away, despondent. "Maybe," was all he replied with.

As far as Grace could tell, Owen knew very little else. Only that Alexander was seemingly invincible, and healed all damage taken. In that silence, it seemed like he was insurmountable without Powehi perhaps disrupting that healing somehow.

"...Why are you going through all this? Don't you have enough people?"

 

[Magyk]

She frowned and inched ever closer to Owen. Grace was almost by his side, and she was watching the Charizard for any signs of discomfort, any signals that the Togetic should back off.

"This isn't about having more Wayfarers or anything," Grace told him with a shake of her head. "This might be selfish of me, but I don't like seeing people suffer. Even if, um, they tried to kill me. Seeing others in pain or doing things against their will? I just... I feel like I need to help."

 

[Namohysip]

There was a sense that Grace was being watched. Must have been Red again, knowing this was a very risky maneuver. Owen, too, had tensed, though he didn't lash out or give any true warning signs otherwise.

He opened and closed his mouth, unable to find a reply despite wanting to say something. His flame dimmed with guilt.

"Don't waste the energy," Owen said quietly. "Please... if he says this... don't hold back. Don't worry about me. Just... save this world.

"I don't want to be the reason another one falls."

 

[Magyk]

Another?

"Don't worry," Grace said firmly. "We're going to stop him, I promise. I... I'll tell Mhynt and the others of this, just in case, and that way he can't throw them off."

Slowly she reached out with her paw, wanting to comfort Owen but cautious about setting him off. "And... I'll do my best for you, too. I'll ask around, I'll even try and visit more before we stop Alexander! Because if... if it's true, then I at least want to give you some good memories of your time on Forlas."

 

[Namohysip]

He stiffened again, curling up more. His eyes were entirely focused on Grace. There was a faint glow about them... or maybe that was a trick of the eye with how dark the rest of him was from Shadows.

But then, he bumped the top of his head on Grace's side.

"Okay," he said quietly. "Thank you... I don't deserve it."

He hesitated.

"Are you... busy right now? I... don't want to be alone for a while..."

 

[Magyk]

Grace smiled and patted Owen gently on his head. It might not have felt like much with her light and little paws, but it was contact and comfort that she wanted to provide.

"No, I'm not busy," she said softly. "I can stay for a little while still, would you like to play a game, or just relax . . .?"

<><><>​

 

[Namohysip]

The quiet of Giovanni's lair was a small comfort. It eased Owen's senses. At least, that was Red's observation of him.

In this feral-minded body, Red had trouble processing familiar, higher thoughts of a past life. A small part of him was sad, but the rest of him didn't totally understand why. Besides that sense of longing, he was okay. He still could communicate with Pokemon as well as ever, even if a few things were lost in translation with the humans. That was nothing new.

Owen's heart was coated in thick darkness, but time and visits from friends had worn away at that tar-like outer coat. But the heart within was still blackened and tarnished; wiping it away wouldn't be enough. But... it was better. And better was good.

The Mew leisurely rested in the other room, keeping one ear up for anything Owen may need. So far, nothing much...

But then--

"You aren't Alexander..."

Red perked up. Who was he talking to?

"Yeah, that's me... Go away."

Red tried to act like he was sleeping. Maybe Owen couldn't tell.

"What?" Owen whispered. "But... already? Are they ready? What if... No, I know... No! I--" Owen shifted his weight.

Red wasn't sure what he was doing. Maybe standing?

"...Fine. Fine, okay. Whatever. Not the first time I've listened to someone like you... Go tell Betel, too. So they don't get paranoid. You know they will."

Red tilted his head. Who was he... talking to, really? This was all too strange.

But suddenly, Owen was definitely walking. Stomp, stomp, stomp, and he entered Red's little room.

"Take me to the Wayfarers... Just for a little bit."

Red flinched. He'd have to ask Giovanni, and he'd also, need to make sure Owen was okay, but...

That had been the first time Owen willingly left his room at all on his own volition. Maybe a little sun would help.

Red nodded. It was time for a short and guided field trip.

<><><>​

 

[Namohysip]

"Owen!"

A portal had appeared from the depths of the Voidlands, a final blessing from Powehi to ensure a Wayfarer could get a proper goodbye.

The darkened Charizard seemed to be in some kind of strain, pressed against the wall while billowing Shadows seeped from every ridge of his scales. It was like he was evaporating. Just in the hallway, Red fretted silently, while Giovanni scowled at the portal that had tore into his base. He didn't object, nor did he interfere with the Wayfarers who chose to follow Mhynt in.

"Mhynt..." Owen winced. "Hey... d-did everyone survive?"

Mhynt came to a stumbling stop about three feet from Owen, practically afraid to touch him without making him vanish. "Everyone but Alexander," she confirmed. "It's... it's over. We can focus on the real foes of Forlas now."

"Good... Good." Owen slumped over, one eye closed with strain. "Sorry. Getting hard to keep it together..."

Then what Owen had predicted--and what Alexander had no chance to threaten--was true. With Alexander gone, Owen's final tether to the world had been destroyed. He, too, would be expelled...

"Mhynt," Owen whispered.

"What?"

"...My Perceive doesn't lie," he said. "I've never seen you so energized. You... have hope again, don't you?"

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova came out from the portal to find what practically looked like Owen bleeding shadows. "Uhh... what's going on here?" He looked around the room, then glanced at his bag. "I've still got a sitrus. Is he hurt?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

"The problem is not medical in nature," explained Powehi, walking into the room apparently from out of the shadows themselves.

Then, after a moment to realise he should elaborate, "Alexander was, in unprecedented fashion, Owen's 'patron'. Summoner is not quite the correct term. Now that Alexander has expired, there is little keeping Owen in this reality. Whether his soul would return to his home reality unaided is... uncertain."

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova frowned. "And there's nothing anyone can do to—"

He cut himself off, blinking several times. His crest tightened a bit as he looked in Owen's direction. "Would you even want to stay here if there was a way to make it happen?"

 

[Namohysip]

Owen closed his eyes sadly. "...Would I deserve that?" he said.

"Of course you would," Mhynt said. "This wasn't your fault. And... we learned what you did, Owen. You fed false information to Alexander--his misaimed attacks completely neutralized any casualties we could've had."

"I still killed people," Owen reminded. "...I... it's only fair. I remember when we were summoned... Alexander was reaching for you as we were flying through the aether. I thought to myself... no. Not again. I pulled you away. I wanted you... to enjoy yourself for once."

"You... took my place?" Mhynt whispered.

"Please... enjoy your time here," Owen said. "If I have to go... I--"

"You don't," Mhynt said. "You--you just said I had hope. Why can't you?! We--we can find a way!"

"I... I only have seconds, Mhynt. I'm supposed to have hope for something to change in... seconds?"

Mhynt flinched, fist clenching. She glanced briefly at Nova for some reason, then at Owen. Her mind was racing.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Powehi's mouth turned grimly down.

"He would need an anchor to Forlas. I can hold him here for a time, but... it would come at too high a price to do indefinitely."

He hesitated. Reluctant. Torn...

Pity was also a 'negative emotion'.

"There are... other costs that can be paid."

 

[Ambyssin]

"If he needs a temporary anchor, then what about another Wayfarer?" Nova asked, cheek bolts slowly turning in thought. "If the shadows are the problem..." He slowly looked down. "Look, I've been a shadow pokémon back home for a very long time. I can deal with it."

 

[Namohysip]

That seemed to click for Mhynt. She nodded at Nova. "...You're right. But I also think... I can do that, too. for the same reasons... and also, we're from the same world. I... may need your mentorship, Nova, after this. Because perhaps... if..."

Owen strained, but seemed to be listening. "Quickly," he growled.

"...Then, you trust me?" Mhynt asked.

It was such a weighted statement. They had no time for clarifications or qualifiers. That one question carried with it a contract for Owen to answer. A last-ditch effort for a prayer and a little educated guessing.

"...Everyone. Please stabilize Owen for this."

Owen winced and braced for what he suspected would be a struggle to exist.

"And also restrain him." She readied her blade, which has recently been her answer to everything.

"Wait, what--"

 

[Jackie Cat]

"It will be alright, Owen. You have endured worse."

Powehi's bedside manner left a lot to be desired, but at least he was unflinchingly sincere.

Owen would be alright. He'd endured worse.

 

[Ambyssin]

Okay, well, of course Nova was going to trust— oh god damn it was the answer going to be to stab Owen with friendship or something? He was still bigger than Nova!

He practically flopped over Owen's legs in an attempt at keeping those in place. Which meant his gut muscles would probably hate him tomorrow morning.

 

[Magyk]

From finally defeating Alexander to rushing to Owen's side-- Grace was worn out, and remnants of Alexander's attacks continued to burn away at her body. Despite the pain, all she could feel was relief.

"I don't think I can help restrain, but, I'm right here, Owen!" Grace said, moving to the Charizard's side. Gently, she placed her paws on Owen's body, preparing herself with a Life Dew just in case it hurt too much.

Her voice was gentle and soothing. Grace's bedside manner was a lot better than Powehi's. "You're here, we're here, and we're gonna give you the freedom you deserve. Just... hold onto hope. Or me. I'm hug sized!"

 

[Cresselia92]

After checking on the other teammates back in the void and finally letting go all the Radiance he had built up in his body, Silver emerged from the portal, his mind hyperfocused on only one task: to have a talk with a certain ‘father’ and give him some updates.

“Hey, Giovanni, we’ve gotta—”

He froze at the sight of… whatever thing was happening there: Owen pressed against a wall in what seemed to be the shadow equivalent of cold sweat (huh?!); Nova essentially resting on Owen’s legs like a lapdog (huh?!?!); Powehi who was halfway between stoic and maybe worried (about what?!); Grace giving some kind of reassurance to Owen (for what reason exactly?!); and finally, Mhynt being stabby stabby again and having her blade ready for… something (where exactly was she planning to insert that sword?!)

In part weirded out and in part morbidly curious, Silver fidgeted on the spot and rubbed his claws together. Oh man, did he accidentally stumble upon one of those weird sado rituals or… or…?

Oh. Oh! By the gods, no! He was too mentally knackered and maybe a tad too young for that kinda PG13+ stuff!

“…Okaaaaay, what the heck is going on here?!” he blurted out at last, crossing his arms and doing his best to keep a cool demeanor, even if deep inside he was already dreading the answer.