Mewtwo's Lair

[Namohysip]

After a while, being in a Poke Ball made it hard to feel the passage of time. Had it been a few minutes? A few hours? Sleepy wobbling as Mew flew--and Teleported--through the air was their whole world for all of some time. Rocking gently in the breeze, perhaps they could have been content with that existence for a little longer.

But the ride eventually came to an end. Mew took out each ball and tossed them in the air, the jostling enough to send everyone out on another natural reflex. Mew threw their little homes with odd precision.

They all emerged in what was most definitely an underground bunker. Based on the echoes, it didn't *sound* large, but where they were presently standing, it was not clear which way was out... or if there WAS a way out. Mew could Teleport, right? For all they knew, the only connection this place had to the outside world was through a vent or two...

Mew floated in place patiently, giving the team some time to gather their bearings.

Mhynt was unconscious on the ground. She'd dozed off entirely during the flight, curled up with her green tail against her nose.

 

[Namohysip]

Mew waited for the Wayfarers at the usual secret location further away from the bulletin board. After those familiar with the process explained to the others what had to be done, they were captured in Poke Balls and transported to Mewtwo's lair. Knowing that it was Giovanni left several of them feeling nervous and leery... but despite everything, something about this Giovanni was different. Perhaps that was something they could ask him later...

They were soon deposited in the underground lair's main lobby. Mew gave them all a quick nod, and the pure Pokemon understood that he meant, 'wait here while Mewtwo arrives.'

That gave the Wayfarers some time to discuss, quietly, what they planned to do.

 

[Namohysip]

"Hmm, I see."

It wasn't long since they'd left the Twilight Quarry, but Nova had taken the change to speak with Giovanni at around the same time Silver wanted to do the same, though perhaps for different reasons. Mew Red didn't seem to be present at the moment; perhaps he was busy with board errands.

Giovanni drifted left and right as the Wayfarers filled him in on what had happened in Twilight Quarry. "A great concentration of Shadows, corrupting any who enter, led by a Hydreigon or Zweilous for the sole purpose of... What, exactly, is his goal here?" He casually twisted his palm upward as if to shrug. "I'm not sure what the endgame is for him."

 

[Cresselia92]

During the travel to the secret lair, Silver sobered up the weird energies infesting his aura and soul. With a clearer mind came clearer thoughts, but those clearer thoughts also turned into incessant overthinking, which plagued him even when they reached the lair.

The members of the group had different priorities: Mhynt and Grace were concerned about Owen’s state, Koa seemed mostly focused on Ein, and Silver… well, he was actually thinking about their ally and, ugh, savior.

While he couldn’t be angry at Giovanni for keeping his promise and bailing the group out of that horrible prison (gods, who knew what would’ve happened if him and Red weren’t around!), he couldn’t really shake off the awkward feeling of having Giovanni rescue them. Rescue him. Because he was too weak. Pathetic. Still too weak…

Does that mean he has really turned a new leaf…? Silver wondered loudly in his brain, not wishing to linger on his insecurities any longer, his mind and heart working to piece together a coherent answer. Am I an idiot for having some doubts yet? What should I do…?

Silver scoffed and shook his head, tired of all those mental gymnastics. There was only one thing to do to get to the bottom: have a talk with his inter-dimensional “father”.

Doing his best to ignore the faint tiredness still shackling his body, he sneaked away from the others, his footsteps and movements as silent and soft as a thief worth their salt (ugh, painful mental image…), and set out to find Giovanni. Where could he be?

 

[Magyk]

Grace couldn't remember if she'd ever really slept underground.

Unless she counted that one time she and her friends were captured and locked up until Ben had the strength to teleport and free them. Except now, this was willing, and Grace was only mildly uncomfortable.

And she was okay with that. She knew why she was here, and even if Giovanni had said it might be impossible, she still had to try.

They had Owen. Finally they rescued him, but why did it feel like they'd lost? Despite her relief, she couldn't help but feel that if they couldn’t cure Owen of the Shadows that blighted him, then was it worth capturing him instead of just sending him home...?

Grace wished she was an expert with Shadows and Radiance.

She fluttered down the halls, looking for the room that Giovanni kept Owen in. While she didn't exactly agree with the Mewtwo's methods, she was grateful for Owen being less... feral while Giovanni had command over him. It helped her to remain calm as she planned to see him personally. Hopefully this time it didn’t end with her being mauled.

 

[Magyk]

She was familiar enough with Giovanni's lair at this point. Togetic Grace was a frequent visitor to the lab, always offering to help out with something in return for allowing her to drop by whenever she was able.

The reason for her frequent visits was simple: she was keeping her self-imposed promise to Owen.

Since they'd captured and rescued him from Alexander's clutches, Grace had been determined to pull him from the shadows he'd been cast into, to give him the freedom everyone deserved. While it was uncertain that Owen could properly be purified, she was going at least try and coax the real Owen past the corruption so that his time on Forlas wasn't just a time of suffering. According to Mhynt, they'd both been through plenty already.

During one of her visits, she'd gifted Owen a proper deck of cards so that they could play other games when she was around, and if Owen had asked for any books, she'd come by with those as well.

At some point, the nightmares had lessened, and so did her fear of the monstrous side of Owen. While she was still a little cautious, Grace was at least confident that Owen wouldn't try to kill her anymore. And if it did happen... hopefully Red or Giovanni could step in. She at least felt that she was in good hands.

This time, though, she was a little nervous. Mhynt had tasked her with trying to get some information about Alexander, and she didn't want to force Owen to talk about anything... but information was crucial. They needed everything they could get to even try and get the upper hand against Alexander. If they left him to do his own thing for too long...

No, Grace was sure they'd stop him.

"Heey, Owen!" Grace knocked on his door with her usual cheery pep. "How's it going?"

 

[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?"