Mewtwo's Lair

[Namohysip]

"Hug you? I'd crush you!" Owen said. On reflex he'd tried to get out from under Nova, but eventually seemed to resign himself to his fate--mostly because he could already feel his spirit drifting away. He'd die without this.

And Mhynt, sensing that time was short, vanished. In an instant, she was in front of Owen, her face like stone, and shoved the blade directly into his chest--straight to the heart. Owen's mouth opened in shock and surprise.

"Mhynt... wait...!"

"I won't let you die just as you're set free," Mhynt said. "I know you would refuse to let that happen to me. You would free me and let me live."

The blade went deeper. Owen was panicked--but it didn't look like he was afraid. "You'll--"

The shadow under Mhynt rippled. Her Umbral ability, which had been poorly developed, seemed to be staring at her from behind like a devil about to make a deal.

"To let you live, so you can for once enjoy after you've suffered..."

Upon closer inspection, Owen was not surprised at the blade in his chest. Instead...

It seemed the blade had no handle. It was also piercing the Grovyle.

The connection was made, and no amount of force would break them away now. And Mhynt had made this decision long ago with Powehi, not knowing what the outcome would be for her--only that it would help the one who had helped the Wayfarers in turn.

"What if... it kills you--?!"

"I don't care." Mhynt squeezed the blade again. "I didn't deserve to stand here. And your revelation... of being the one to take my place before we even arrived? It only confirms that. We took out Alexander. Forlas is safe from him. If I survive this... I will do more.

"But if the price to be paid to save your life is mine, then so be it," Mhynt hissed, Radiance and Shadow alike pouring from her blade. The Umbral darkness formed a dark puddle beneath them both. "I refuse... to give Alexander the last laugh."

A dark maelstrom swirled around them, completely consuming them. Radiance and light mingled all at once. Owen grunted, saying something over the rumbling turbulence that suddenly rattled the chamber. Blacklight sparks traced the ground, leaving small scorch marks and cuts...

But then, in the swirling chaos, they saw Owen reach toward Mhynt. She looked surprise.

Mhynt shouted, "No! Nova--Grace--Stop him!"

Then, with one last burst of strength, he pushed her away. The Leaf Blade clattered to the ground. Mhynt gasped, reaching for him desperately, before her Umbral shadow reached from below and pulled Owen down instead.

And then, it ended. A great plume of darkness drifted into and through the ceiling--the remnants of Owen's body. A lump of darkness remained on the ground, much bigger than Mhynt before. But... only one person remained as the inky darkness flaked off of the body like dust.

Mhynt--now a Sceptile--stood up shakily, looking at her claws. She looked forward. "Owen?" she whispered. "Owen?!"

No sign of him. She couldn't find where the Charizard had gone. Her Leaf Blade, once in Owen's body, evaporated into aura energy.

Mhynt couldn't find Owen, and the cold panic in her eyes said it all. But beneath her feet, watching her quietly, was a shadow that did not match her Sceptile form. It was a Charizard's. Her shadow seemed... stunned, and then pensive. Its seemingly immaterial hand... rose from its flat surface, reaching for Mhynt, yet seemed to hesitate to get her attention.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Uhhhhhh..."

Unlike certain folks back home, Nova was not so spiritually inclined. So he really didn't know what the heck just happened. But he saw a sceptile with a suspiciously charizard-shaped shadow. So, Nova pointed down with a claw.

"I think you should look down. And behind you." He cleared his throat. "If your giant tail sheds pine needles or sap on me you're going to have to clean it up."

 

[Namohysip]

"What?" Mhynt turned around, finally realizing the full extent of her change. She looked... horrified at first, afraid to be near anyone--but then she saw her shadow reaching toward her. She recognized the claws.

"Owen?!"

Owen pointed at Mhynt's hand. Mhynt tried to reach for Owen's, but simply passed through. Owen made a swinging motion.

"Oh, I--"

Mhynt conjured her Leaf Blade, now much larger to compensate for her new size. The blade glowed faintly.

"Hello? Can you hear me?" the blade's light seemed to correspond with Owen's voice.

"Owen!" Mhynt sighed. "You're--is that really you?"

"...What were you thinking?!" Owen shouted, pointing at Mhynt. "Were you seriously about to throw everything away for me? What's WRONG with you?!"

Mhynt flinched at that, saying nothing. "I... I..."

"Ahem." Giovanni cleared his throat. "...I appreciate this... relatively happy ending for you all," he said, "but may I ask why there is a giant rift invading my abode?" He irritably adjusted his suit.

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova blinked once. Twice. Three times. He scraped his right foreleg with the spikes of his left.

Okay, not dreaming. Or drugged. Hopefully.

"Is... is he your fucking sword?" Nova's crest fanned out, then constricted. "That's— I so badly want to make a joke here, but..." He shook his head.

And then Giovanni cleared his throat. Nova hastily turned around, his turquoise eyes glinting with mischief. "Right. Right. Introductions." He nodded, then gestured to Powehi. "Overseer, meet patron god of death, darkness, and despair." He turned to Powehi and gestured to Giovanni. "Patron god of death, darkness, and despair, meet Overseer." A pause. "Who's also technically an offworlder. And may or may not have been in contact with Auriga at one point."

He nodded with the self-satisfaction of chaos and returned his attention to Mhynt. "Okay. So. Wanna run us through how your ex is now your sword without speaking existential spiritual stuff that'll go over my head?"

Nova projected a tiny radiant halo around his crest and wagged his fish tail like a dog looking for treats. Or head pats.

 

[Magyk]

Grace also blinked a few times in shock, trying to figure out exactly what had just happened.

So many things had happened in an instant.

"Wh— Mhynt, you evolved!" she gasped, pointing at the new Sceptile. "And-And-And Owen, you're her  shadow now? How does that feel? Are you both okay?!"

 

[Chibi Pika]

Even having watched it all unfold, Jade wasn't truly sure she'd ever understand what had just transpired. It was all too alien, too many strange, unreal powers at play. What was obvious, however, was that these two had been separated for aeons, and that both were willing to give everything for the other. And Owen already had, and that's why he'd become that monster they'd fought on that night so long ago. But now, maybe... he wouldn't have to sacrifice anything more.

"Is he... stable like that?" Jade asked hesitantly. Powehi had said he'd need an anchor, but... did being Mhynt's shadow count?

 

[Jackie Cat]

Powehi exhaled with what seemed like palpable relief. Even if he'd been certain it would work, mortals were unpredictable at the best of times, let alone when they were offworlders wielding exotic energies. This may well have been an unprecedented procedure.

"...Owen will be fine. His soul is now bound to Mhynt's in much the same way as those of gestalt species. He will return to his home plane when she does."

Saying this, he glanced towards Giovanni, one ear twitching as Nova made introductions.

"An overseer. I see. Well, I must give you my thanks for... whatever assistance with which you furnished the Wayfarers in their efforts to remove... the Shadow Hydreigon. I trust you will be departing my world shortly."

Powehi clearly wouldn't trust Giovanni to so much as count a dollar's change, and made no effort to hide it.

 

[Namohysip]

"I, uh... it doesn't feel bad? Being an apple was a lot worse. This isn't so bad."

Mhynt sighed. "I'll have to figure out how to... summon you properly," she said. "But this isn't how I..."

Owen stared at Mhynt from below, arms crossed. Then, glancing at Nova, he said, "I think a lot of strange things happened at once. My body was part of the Voidlands. It wasn't supposed to exist here at all. So it went away. Mhynt... has a power that lets her manifest things from Shadows, and it looks like it takes the form of her literal shadow here. I think... that part of her absorbed me, keeping me here when I didn't have a body. Maybe because we're from the same world, it worked out..."

Owen stared at Mhynt. "But I also sensed she was trying to use her Leaf Blade's soul-draining powers in reverse to give me a body. Her body. First of all, Mhynt, I wasn't a girl for most of my lives. And even though I have some experience with Grass--come on! What were you--"

Mhynt quickly dispelled her blade, silencing Owen, though he still seemed to be lecturing her. And it seemed like Mhynt and Mhynt alone could still hear him. She sighed and looked toward the others. "I... suppose I wasn't thinking," she admitted. It seemed like she was trying to grapple with her spur of the moment decisions herself.

"Hmhm." Giovanni nodded at Powehi. "Yes, yes. In the end, I was sent here due to the many sudden and cosmic disturbances that took place here in Forlas. Not just Alexander and his 'Usurper' tendencies, but also Cipher and what they were doing. With both gone... I believe my role in Forlas has ended."

Red appeared nearby, giving Powehi big, pleading eyes from below. Today the team would discover whether or now Powehi counted as a 'Pokemon' Red could speak to.

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova tilted his head to the side. Far enough to scratch— no, more like hit his triangular ear with his hind leg. "Why is it feeling like hearing 'wasn't a girl for most of my lives' is the weirdest thing that's happened to me today?"

Maybe he needed to take up day drinking or something. Or would that just make him aloof like Gerome at best and perpetually grouchy like Dave at worst?

"Well, uh, happy trails?" Nova said, shrugging. "If you're feeling particularly friendship prone, then when you get back to your magic Overseer base camp or whatever, I need you to find this big ass light dragon who answers to 'Almighty Idiot' and slap him upside the head." He paused. "It's, uh, a friendship slap."

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Understood," Powehi replied to Giovanni, with a nod. "Very well, make your arrangements swiftly."

"Why is it feeling like hearing 'wasn't a girl for most of my lives' is the weirdest thing that's happened to me today?"

"Really? I would not think it especially 'weird', Nova. Like Owen, I was also not a girl in most of my incarnations."

Without elaborating, Powehi turned to meet Red's imploring gaze with his usual implacable stoicism. Some kind of communication seemed to ensue, though not half as effectively as Red normally managed with wildren. Powehi was a different sort of being entirely.

"You are petitioning me... to permit you leave to remain here?" he asked, flatly. "Whatever for?"

The enormous, wet, shining eyes became somehow more-so. Powehi did not flinch.

"That is a flimsy pretence," muttered the Lucario. "As is your countenance, for that matter. But so be it. See that you earn your keep, boy."

It seemed Dark Matter had granted Red an extended stay on Forlas after all.

 

[Ambyssin]

"Really? I would not think it especially 'weird', Nova. Like Owen, I was also not a girl in most of my incarnations."

"Yes, but you're a god." Nova gestured to Mhynt. "He's a char—" He cut himself off and looked at Mhynt blankly. "He's supposed to be a charizard? I think? I heard something about an apple in there."

His cheek bolts turned in opposite directions. "Stars, now I really want a drink."

 

[Chibi Pika]

"Hmhm." Giovanni nodded at Powehi. "Yes, yes. In the end, I was sent here due to the many sudden and cosmic disturbances that took place here in Forlas. Not just Alexander and his 'Usurper' tendencies, but also Cipher and what they were doing. With both gone... I believe my role in Forlas has ended."

Not just Cipher and Alexander, but Giovanni too... Forlas was about to get a whole lot lighter in the offworlders department. At least Powehi would be happy... er, in a manner of speaking.

"So, er... got any plans for the Bulletin Board now that you're leaving?" Jade asked. There was still some part of her that had never quite gotten used to having a mundane conversation Giovanni. But the Bulletin Board was at least something vaguely normal compared to all the high concept stuff lately.

 

[Namohysip]

"Ironically, 'being a Charizard' or some part of that line is one of the more consistent aspects of him," Mhynt said, arms crossed. "Let's just say that back home, in the past, Owen had to find some loopholes to not pass on, and that included reincarnation... with varying results."

Owen shrugged and said something.

"Secondhand information is good enough," she told her shadow.

Giovanni faced Jade with an entertained look in his eyes. "Well, much of that was to procure funding for some of our more... elaborate scouting missions. But I suppose I'll just divert the excess funds to the Rangers where Red has been working incognito."

His fingers seemed to tense over his suit.

"A shame some of the key missions were never fulfilled... but I suppose little can be done about that now. It's not really important anymore anyway."

 

[Cresselia92]

Everything happened so darn fast that Silver didn’t even have the time to process and react to the absurd chain of events. When it was all over, he just stared at the Grovyle — no, Sceptile — in disconcertment, trying to figure out what her deal was.

First, she didn’t have any qualms in decapitating a dragon, then she impaled someone who was a close friend of hers — because now people save others by stabbing them through the heart as an act of tough love, apparently! — and she also almost committed seppuku in the process? Jeez, if that wasn’t an obvious (and potentially unhealthy) impalement addiction, then Silver didn’t know what it was. No wonder she evolved into a species with two built-in swords in each arm. And apparently Owen was merged with her sword, too? How did that even work? Did he even want to know?

Silver shook his head, not wanting to overthink that matter any further. Gods, Betel, what kinda nutcase d’you bring into this world?

Giovanni’s appearance was a much welcome distraction from all that craziness, and Silver waited for the various introductions and stuff. He was about to quip something but faltered when Giovanni dropped a bombshell:

"Hmhm." Giovanni nodded at Powehi. "Yes, yes. In the end, I was sent here due to the many sudden and cosmic disturbances that took place here in Forlas. Not just Alexander and his 'Usurper' tendencies, but also Cipher and what they were doing. With both gone... I believe my role in Forlas has ended."

The Sneasel just stared blankly at the Mewtwo, unsure of what to say. Everything was changing fast, too damn fast!

L-leaving? Just like that? Leaving me behind again?

Silver blinked. Wait… why did he care? Giovanni leaving that world was a good thing. After all, Silver never fully trusted the old man and always felt this desire of monitoring him constantly since he knew that the ex-Rocket boss was one giant cat-sized time bomb. So why was he having conflicting feelings now?

“What… kinda missions were those?” he asked, his tone even quieter than usual. Unbeknownst to him, his head-feather had dropped slightly.

 

[Namohysip]

Giovanni eyed Silver. At first, there was a lack of recognition in his eyes, but then he seemed focused on the particular way Silver's hair had manifested. There was a glint of remembrance.

"I suppose I've turned a new leaf," Giovanni explained. "And while I am... watched very closely due to my past, but my skills and assets at manipulating a society to my needs has been... useful, as I'm sure you have observed. My ability to plant roots and grow necessary assets rapidly... It's a very useful tool for an Overseer, wouldn't you say?"

 

[Cresselia92]

Silver tilted his head when Giovanni stared at him, his eyes narrowing in thought, then a neutral smile touched his lips and he straightened his stance.

“I guess so.” His eyes flashed with the intensity of a nostalgic memory. “After all, it’s by putting together the potential of many that you can produce a huge power, that you can create a strong organization.”

Silver looked away, his red irises dulling slightly. “My old man told me that the last time I saw him. I didn’t understand those words back then, but now…”

The fresh memories of the battle against Alexander played in Silver’s mind: Nova protecting him and Grace with his shields, Grace soothing his and Nova’s mind, him punching and slashing at demons to keep them at bay, and then the others arriving for the great finale… That was the kind of success that could only be attained through teamwork. Something that Alexander never learned and that led him to his karmic demise.

He gazed at his teammates with a faint smile of appreciation, then he stared again at Giovanni, his eyes sparkling with mirth and his smirk wide.

“You and my old man always had a knack for control, leadership and synergy of unique strengths, huh? No wonder those Overseers are interested in your skills!” A frown replaced his amused expression. “But… is this departure temporary cuz of bureaucracy and whatnot, or… are you leaving for good?”

 

[Ambyssin]

"I think if he were to come back, he'd give Powehi whatever the shadow equivalent of an aneurysm is," Nova deadpanned.

 

[Chibi Pika]

"A shame some of the key missions were never fulfilled... but I suppose little can be done about that now. It's not really important anymore anyway."

Jade had vaguely noticed, the last time everyone had gathered at the board to receive Powehi's blessing, that one of the earliest missions from the board was somehow still there. She'd always just sort of assumed that someone else would get to it first. But when dungeon-hopping to get back to Frontier Town after the harrowing experience inside a shadow-corrupted Huzan, it'd been kind of relaxing to collect uncanny dungeon items along the way. Maybe it was the Meowth part of her brain, soothed by gathering shiny things.

Most appeared to be missions to navigate an uncharted road and to chart it. Another seemed to be for gathering resources of a specific kind. There was one asking for a Moon Stone.

Jade shrugged and reached into her bag. "I, uh... don't suppose it's too late to turn this one in, is it?" she asked, holding out the dark, iridescent stone.

 

[Namohysip]

“But… is this departure temporary cuz of bureaucracy and whatnot, or… are you leaving for good?”

Giovanni let out his usual, reserved laugh, more like he was playing along rather than truly mirthful. "I suppose the most I'd be allowed is contact through visions, dreams, or some other nonphysical connection. My primary mission here is complete; my contract, you could say, is up. And I shall be on my way."

"I, uh... don't suppose it's too late to turn this one in, is it?" she asked, holding out the dark, iridescent stone.

"Hm?" Giovanni eyed the stone. "The Moon Stone..." His smirk seemed almost... irritated. "Of course it would wind up with me now. Thank you." He took the stone--

And abruptly flashed with the light of evolution. His body grew and bulked out--

Rrrrrrip!

And standing before them was a Nidoking... whose spikes and general stature completely shredded the suit he'd once been wearing. Giovanni was no longer smiling.

And somehow, Giovanni's presence suddenly felt even stronger than before.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade was frozen with her arm outstretched, paw still in the same position as it had been when she'd handed over the stone.

"What."