"Hey! Are you okay?"
 
Wait... what? You slowly and groggily open your eyes. The floor beneath you is a wet and spongy red. You can't see any walls - only an endless black void that seems to defy reality itself. Where are you...? "So, that bunny bastard got you too, huh?", the voice speaks again. With some effort, you get back to your feet, wincing as the ground oozes underfoot. You look to your side to find the source of the voice. It's Chespin, from the Barter's Guild.
 
"You good? Because we gotta get movin'. We're far from alone in here, and trust me, the company in here ain't nice."
 
In here? Where is 'here'!? What's going on!?
 
"We're in a mystery dungeon. And mystery dungeons have exits, right? I haven't been able to make it on my own, but... with you, we might manage something!"
 
You have so many questions right now, and it's making it hard for you to get your bearings straight. Maybe Chespin can indulge you in a few...?
 
[Get a closer look at your surroundings]
 
You squint into the dark void surrounding you... on closer inspection, it seems closer to a very dark red than a black. All the same, you can't see where it ends. It's practically a horizon. You look down, then up. Platforms much like the one you're standing on sprawl in both directions, with noticable - albiet, very few - connections between heights.
 
Far above you, you see a faint light, eclipsed by one of the above floors. Something tells you that you should be going upwards. That light is your only landmark. You don't feel like you'd find much going downwards, and who knows how long it'd be until you hit another floor if you fell. "Hey! Didn't you hear me? I said we gotta get moving! They'll find us for sure if we stay here too long!"
 
...who is "they", anyway? You don't think Chespin ever said. But in the interests of brevity, you decide to ask him on the move.
 
[Hideous Abyss - Floor 1]
 
[Chespin has joined the party. He currently knows Vine Whip, Rollout, Leech Seed and Pin Missile, and has the innate ability Overgrow]
 
[Ask Chespin what he knows about the dungeon]
 
"You mean besides being dark, damp and creepy as all hell?", says Chespin. He seems strangely... unintimidated by his surroundings. Either that or he's really good at pulling an upbeat facade. Wouldn't surprise you. "There's no food here. None. That would be bad enough, if not for the fact that most of the Pokemon have been here for years. Most've them have gone savage with hunger by now, and they're resorted to eating each other, over and over again."
 
Wait... over and over? Wouldn't that mean... more than once?
 
"Well, that's the thing... Pokes somehow just come back after they're eaten, right in that spot you just were. Hate to say it, but I... kinda had to learn that the hard way." A huge blush forms on his face. Why does he sound like he enjoyed it!? "A-anyway, dunno much else besides that. We could be here a reeeeal long time... it's kinda cosy though! I feel like we could get used to it~"
 
You can't believe what you're hearing right now... so you lose your temper and bap him as hard as you can. "Owow, relax, I was kidding! I don't wanna actually stay here forever or anything. I still got stuff I wanna do, y'know? B-besides, the boss is the only one for me...~"
 
What was that?
 
"N-nothing!"
 
[Check for your gear]
 
You didn't think of it at first, but you realized you do indeed still have your pouch. You take it off your back and open it to quickly take stock of your belongings. Yep, everything's still there. How? Shouldn't it have been digested like the rest of you? Or... is it here BECAUSE it was digested? You're so confused. But you're certainly not complaining.
 
All of a sudden, you look on to see Chespin staring at you eagerly. He's salivating. "Oh, dude... you got to keep your stuff? PLEASE tell me you got some fresh food in there!" Oh right, he said there was no food here, didn't he? Poor thing. He probably hasn't eaten a single thing since Victini got him. Slowly and reluctantly, you take an apple out of the bag. You have to quickly pull your paw away as Chespin chomps down on it! Dear Arceus, you've never seen anyone eat an apple that fast... or even the entire thing, core, stalk and all.
 
[Used Apple x1]
 
"Aaaah... oh, that's so much better. I was actually starting to consider eating another Pokemon! Might not wanna make a habit out of that, though... otherwise we might turn out like the others..." That's a worrying thought. If it comes to that, you might never escape!You're going to have to make the last 4 apples really count here. You'd never be stuck here a whole two days, though... right?
 
In any case, you finally have a chance to use that TM that's been sitting in your inventory! Oh, how long you've waited to be able to breathe fire proper.
 
[Vulpix has learnt Flamethrower]
[TM35 has become a Used TM]
 
Your ears perked up. What was that noise? You could have sworn you just heard some kind of... small bell...? No, that can't have been right. There's no other platforms in the direction you thought you heard it from, just the void. This place must be getting to you already.
 
"Vulpix, watch o--!"
 
That's all you hear before something warm and squishy wraps around your face. Son of a...! You were so distracted that you didn't even get a good look at who was ambushing you! The sheer ferocity of your assailant's swallows capitalizes on your surprise, and you're within their stomach before you even think to struggle!
 
Ugh, great... you weren't paying attention, and already you've made a stupid mistake. It's good to know that you'll get more chances yet... but it still means you're going to be stuck here for hours. You don't even know what happened to Chespin in all that.
 
You feel like you should be more terrified... but if anything, you just end up bored. Even as your body starts to soften up, you kinda just wish it would be over with so you could try again. You endure hours of gurgling and occasional prodding before you become outright malleable, squelching into vauge, smooth shapes before you're eventually processed into nutrients and fat. And then... nothing happens. Wait, what? You can feel what's left of you bouncing and wobbling at your predator's midsection, at the mercy of their movements... but isn't this the part where you're supposed to come back?
 
Panic takes hold of you as you're forced to endure this for hours more, able to think and feel, but only barely able to move, and completely unable to protest. And then suddenly, you black out.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
You're not sure how much later, but eventually you come to, groggy and tired, right back where you started. Phew... for a moment there, you thought you were going to be food permanently. Chespin is next to you, curled up into a tight ball. Sounds like he got eaten, too. You shake him a little to get him to wake up, asking him what happened. "Uuuugh... a Cinccino jumped you when you were staring off into space, then a Skitty dragged me away when she saw me trying to save you..."
 
A Skitty? Chesin got eaten by a SKITTY? Of all things, how? That's the least predatory thing you can think of! "Uh yeah, about that... this place doesn't screw around. Even the smallest, weakest Pokemon seem capable of eating others here. Maybe it's more fair that way? It'd kinda suck for one Pokemon to get nothing but devoured for all eternity..."
 
That would've been good to know earlier! Great, now you have to be afraid of every Weedle, Magikarp and Joltik you see. You pick yourself up and--
 
There it is again. That ringing. What IS that? You're swear you just heard a 'ting'! "...you sure you're 'kay, Vulpix? I don't hear anything", says Chespin, glancing back and forth. He gives you an odd look as you set off again, looking for a way up. Just let it go, you say to yourself... this is the last place you want to start a scene.
 
A while later, you start hearing a voice up ahead. And by the looks of things, Chespin hears it too this time. You never get to make out what it's saying, because it breaks into sobbing long before you get close enough to see where it's coming from. It looks like... one of the Piplups from Fost? You wonder how long they've been here.
 
"Well... that's a first", Chespin whispers to you. You notice he's trying pretty hard not to catch Piplup's attention, but you can't imagine why. "I don't like this, Vulpix... we don't know for sure if she has all her marbles still. Maybe we should go around her", he continues, pointing just behind her. There's a squishy ramp leading up to the next floor on the other side! "Or if you wanna jump her just to be on the safe side, that works too."
 
Wh-what!? Chespin CAN hear her crying, right? Maybe you can help her! Heck, maybe she can help you, too! "...you really think so? Well, I dunno about this. 'member, even the little guys still wanna eat ya. Though... I guess I can't blame ya if you wanna be locked away for another few hours~" Needless to say, you give Chespin another bap, letting him know that's not the plan.
 
[Talk to Piplup, but have Chespin back you up]
 
You still can't believe Chespin, but if he wants to be a pessimist then you guess there's no harm in him keeping watch. Naturally he nods silently in agreement. You creep up behind the sobbing Piplup, then tap her on the shoulder, asking if she's okay.
 
The penguin freezes, looking up. For a time, she stays motionless, giving no answer. This is... kinda starting to creep you out. You speak up again, asking if she needs some kind of help. That's when she slowly turns around with a savage snarl, and lunges at you! Once again you're caught off guard, and you find your face buried deep within her beak!
 
You feel a squishy pressure all around you as she rapidly swallows... Then, from outside, you hear a loud crack, and Piplup's voracious gulping suddenly ceases. Confused and disoriented, you try to squirm your way backwards, before Chespin grabs onto your hind legs and pulls you out. "...is this a bad time to say I told you so?", says Chespin, grinning sheepishly, retracting the protrusion he'd just used to Vine Whip.
 
Looking back, you can scarcely believe your eyes. Piplup is unconcious, but seems to have went out with a crazed look on her face. Starved, desperate, ferocious... you feel like you're going to have nightmares about this. "I know, I know, it's creepy. Look, once we get out, we can just punch that bunny bastard in the gut til he releases everyone. But right now, we gotta worry about ourselves, alright? We can't save everyone we come across. Besides, that just means more mouths to feed, and we don't know how long your stash'll last with just the two of us."
 
You try to think of an objection, but can't come up with one. Maybe he's right after all. Maybe there's nothing you can do for the others at this point in time... but it doesn't mean you like admitting it.
 
In any case, the way to the next floor is open. It's more like a spongy ramp than a staircase, sloping gently upwards towards the next set of platforms. It's actually a pretty unpleasant climb. The ground here sinks even deeper wherever step on it, and oozes more whenever you do. You close your eyes and try not to think about it. Eventually, it comes to pass.
 
[Hideous Abyss - Floor 2]
 
The ramp opens up into a large, circular platform, surrounded by dozens of smaller ones in all directions. As you're about to continue on, you feel your paw bump into a somewhat hard shape embedded into the soft, spongy ground. You push inwards to reach for it, groaning at the gross secretions that ooze out, and eventually pull out what seems to be a seed.
 
"Lemme guess. Decoy Seed?"
 
You, uh... yes, actually, it is. How did he know?
 
"Those things are scattered all over the place. I'd already found a few before you showed up, but had to use them all. Dunno why they're called that. Whenever I used it, Pokes seemed to get giddy and blushy and stuff. It seems like more of a love potion than a decoy..." Admittedly you're not sure you like the thought of savage, starved Pokemon being attracted to you. But who knows, maybe it might be better than some of the other things they can do to you, so you pocket the seed, just in case.
 
[Got Decoy Seed]
 
As you continue onwards, you can't help but notice this floor is very quiet. You haven't seen another Pokemon for a while now, and it almost makes you miss even Piplup's company.
 
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
 
You jump as a scream sounds out next to you... then duck quickly as a Vine Whip swings over your head. "W-w-what was that for, Vulpix!? You scared the crap out of me!"
 
What was WHAT for? You weren't even looking at him until he started screaming like a baby. "I... you... but then... what... where...? Look, SOMETHING tapped me on the shoulder, and I don't see anybody else around here!" You're about to answer back, when you tell Chespin to shut up for a minute. Was that...? You could have sworn you heard that ringing again.
 
"Again with the... ugh. This place is getting to us. We should just keep moving", Chespin sighs in defeat. You're not so convinced you were hearing things. In fact, now you're pretty worried that you're not actually alone, but you can't imagine how you would go about proving it. Up ahead, it starts becoming clearer why you're not seeing many Pokemon here. The terrain up ahead is clearly trecherous as all get out. On one side, the platforms aren't even connected anymore. They're not too far from one another, but you'd have to jump between them. And you don't like the thought of missing one.
 
To the left, the platforms are still connected by pathways... but there's some kind of strange growths poking out of them. Some of them seem kind of like cocoons... others look kind of jelly-like, as though they could engulf you. On a closer look, they've already done that to some unfortunate passers by, in fact. "Ugh... I think I even preferred fighting to this...", Chespin groans, not liking the choices on offer. In the distance, both of them seem to join back together, and you swear you see a growth leading upwards somewhere in the distance. You could probably climb that if you reached it... but which way should you take? Is there a way you could make either of them safer...?
 
[Attack the growths from a distance]
 
You have no idea what any of those growths could do to you, but you don't like the idea of getting close to one. And you'd have to, in order to get through the path they're guarding. Curious about what they could do, you take a Geo Pebble out of your pack and throw it at the closest one. It's actually a pretty good throw - the growth recoils from the force of the hit as the pebble is embedded inside of it. You then instinctively duck as it swings back, the pebble dislodging and sailing back towards you! Thankfully, it misses and sails into the abyss.
 
"Wow. It's a good thing you tried the pebble first", says Chespin. "I was about to try a Pin Missile on it... that would've hurt."
 
That flailing motion... strange, you swear you've seen a Pokemon move like that before, but nothing comes to mind. In any case, physical projectiles don't sound like a good idea. It's a good thing most of your best attacks aren't physical, then. Taking a deep breath, you let loose a Will-O-Wisp, letting the orb sail gently into that same growth. It catches fire as the orb embeds itself inside, clinging stubbornly to it. It burns for an uncomfortable length of time, swaying helplessly in its own flames. But some time later, it eventually succumbs and melts, clearing the path immediately ahead of you.
 
Somehow, you can't help but feel bad. You keep telling yourself you didn't have a choice and look ahead. One down, three to go.
 
The next one seems more like a cocoon then anything. You throw another pebble, just to check if it reacts differently. Of course, you're ready to duck this time. As the rock bounces off the cocoon, it shudders, as though something inside is awoken. After a few thumps from inside, a Minun bursts out, sprawling out onto the ground around it! Despite that initial burst, it seems too disoriented and exhausted to be a threat. He just lies in place, clutching his head and babbling nonsense. "Holy crap, that's messed up...", Chespin says with a gasp. "Poor guy must've been trapped in there for ages. I guess we did him a favour." He doesn't look like he's in any state to help you out, so you decide you'll have to leave him behind. Hopefully he finds his bearings before long...
 
The last two growths are together on the same platform, within metres of each other. Huh... what are you going to do about this? "Wait, wait. Gimmie one of those pebbles. I got an idea", says Chespin, holding a paw out towards you. After you give him the Geo Pebble, he takes a moment to line his throw up before aiming specifically at the cocoon first. As it ruptures, this time a Pluse pops out... only to be promptly engulfed by the jelly-like growth right next to it. "YEAH! Two with one stone! How'dya like that!?"
 
You're tempted to celebrate too... but something doesn't seem right. Pluse does seem a little traumatized from what you can see... but unlike the others, not nearly as crazed. "You think so...? Huh, I think you're right. Damn, now I just feel bad."
 
You're not convinced that the growth is docile with just Plusle inside it anyway. There's still easily enough room to fit both of you too. Maybe you could take it down and save her in the process? But you can't just burn it like the last one. That would hurt her too... Maybe you could cut it down with enough Pin Missiles?
 
"Uh... you sure? You saw what it did with the pebble..." You have a brainwave of your own this time. You let loose a few Will-O-Wisps, not directly at the growth but in the air just ahead of you. If those can incinerate the pins as they're flung back to you, maybe you can use these as cover? "Well... it's worth a shot. Okay, get ready!" The quills on Chespin's back stiffen before he launches them at the entrapping growth. On the first try, he misses completely.
 
"Uh... bear with me. These are kinda hard to aim." He tries again, this time landing a few hits. They cut into the growth, dealing some modest damage. With a fling, it manages to launch some of them back. The Wisps block most of them... but you can't help but notice some of them made it through. And some are on fire to boot, fizzling gently in the ground around you. You look back at Chespin - thankfully, he hasn't been hit, either.
 
"Just keep your guard up! We're not done yet...", he says, launching another barrage. The growth almost seems to groan as it's hit again, starting to sever at its stem. It doesn't seem to have the leverage to swing back anymore. Chespin takes this as his opportunity to finish it off, separating it from the ground entirely. The growth melts and evaporates, leaving a shaken Plusle trying to rub and shake the excess goop off of herself.
 
"Unngh... uh... w-where is... Minun...", she says as you approach, seemingly struggling to form words. You blink in surprise, having thought she'd be a lot better off than this. You point her back towards the platform you just came from, where Minun is still lying. Plusle gets to her feet and shuffles away, ignoring everything else you ask. What's going on? What happened to those two? How long have they been like that? Either she can't answer, or doesn't care. She only seems to be focused on Minun.
 
You watch her walk over to him, collapsing by his side. They seem to be cuddling. It's kind of cute, but somewhat depressing too. You're not sure what else you can do with them. Even if they had any hope left, they're much too exhausted to keep pace with either of you.
 
"I don't wanna see this, Vulpix... let's just go..."
 
You're none too hesitant to agree. Hopefully this won't be the last time you see them, you tell yourself. The growth leading to the next floor is very steep, almost vertical. The two of you have to climb the whole way up. It's not just unpleasant - it's physically demanding. You have to cling on tight to keep a grip, because it's kind of slick. One wrong move and you'd slide all the way back down again. Some minutes later, you make it, lying down and gasping for breath.
 
[Hideous Abyss - Floor 3]
 
You lend Chespin your paw and help him up, and he takes his own turn catching his breath back. "Phew... never thought I'd miss climbing on cliff faces. 'least those are solid." As he sits back upright, his eyes widen, and he stutters. You can't help but notice his face is turning pale. What's he looking at...?
 
As you turn around, you freeze. The subtle glints of eyes in the dozens unfold, slowly approaching you. Just when you thought you'd gotten a break... you've climbed right into a Monster House!
 
You glance back and forth... There are pathways on both sides that haven't been blocked yet. Maybe you could still escape if you ran now. But you have no idea where the exit is. You could get lost, or worse still, find yourself in a dead end... and then you'd have to fight anyway.
 
You try to get a quick look at the crowd. You see a lot of blues and greens... water and grass types? Just the sheer number of Pokemon ahead of you don't make you too pleased about your chances... though if worse comes to worse, maybe you can play to your strengths? Or distract them enough to slip away...?
 
[Throw your Mystery Seeds]
 
You decide to take a gamble on this one and throw those unknown seeds you got from Delibird. You're not sure what will happen, but at the very least you pray for a distraction. The first one hits a Wartortle in the crowd, immediately dazing him. Despite his confusion, he attempts to attack you with a Water Pulse... and instead hits his own mob, in turn confusing them! A significant chunk of the mob starts fighting amongst themselves! You couldn't have hoped for a better result!
 
The second seed hits a Chikorita... which abruptly vanishes from sight in a flash of light. You guess that must have been a Warp Seed. Well, that's one less you have to deal with, right? That being said, the remaining crowd still outnumbers you by a fairly large margin.
 
[Make a break for it]
 
You can't afford to hold your ground here, so you urge Chespin to keep pace as you run to the right through the open path. "Aww, c'mon! I can take 'em! I can totally take 'em!", Chespin protests as he's almost dragged along behind you, before curling up to roll alongside you. Thankfully - or luckily - you gain an early lead on the remaining mob. It should be a while before they manage to catch up. Even luckier still, this path seems to lead directly to a way up to the next floor! You're almost out to safety already!
 
Before you can celebrate, you weave out of the way of an incoming whiplash. That Chikorita from earlier had warped to this very room, and tried to grab you with a Vine Whip. Wasting no time, you let loose a Flamethrower over her, instantly knocking her out and almost knocking her into the abyss outright. "Wow. Sucks to be her.", Chespin quips, glancing down at
her.
 
You hear the growls of the encroaching mob gathering at the narrow pathway just behind. You can't afford to be distracted here. You tell Chespin to get started with the climb to the next floor. "Huh? What about you?" You tell him to just shut up and do it. You have an idea.
 
Chespin reluctantly nods and begins scaling the fleshy growth between floors. Once you're confident he has some distance, you breathe another Flamethrower onto the growth behind him, setting it ablaze. The flame soothes you as you climb it, but that was just a bonus - the real plan was just to prevent the mob from following you upstairs. Judging by the relative silence as you clamber up to the next floor, it seems to have worked.
 
 
[Hideous Abyss - Floor 4]
 
"You crazy bastard!", Chespin exclaims, leaning in to hug you. "I can't believe you pulled that off!"
 
Neither can you! You thought you were done for back there... hell, you very well could have been, had you not found the exit so quick. You're convinced you were just lucky this time.
 
Both of you freeze as you hear the jingle of a small bell again. And this time, it's very close by! "Gah! What was that!?", Chespin shouts, glancing back and forth. Even with both of you franctically searching, neither of you can seem to tell where it's coming from. A mysterious, feminine presence seems to giggle in response, as though mocking you.
 
"S-stop it! Come out where I can see you, so I can kick your ass!"
 
The mocking laughter seems to continue - if anything, grow louder. It's then that you get fed up and Flamethrower into the abyss where the laughing is coming from. You swear you see a small shape briefely illuminated by your flames, before it blinks out of existence with a gentle blue flash. "W-what the hell is that thing!? Has it been stalking us the whole time!?"
 
The laughter in the air does little besides vindicate Chespin's claims. It's around now that you look down, determined to ignore it as best you can and move onward. You then tap on Chespin's shoulder and tell him to look too.
 
"What...? What's this? What's up with this pathway!?"
 
It's difficult to describe... but somehow, you have a really hard time focusing on it. One moment it seems one shape, the next it seems another. Sometimes it's not there, sometimes it seems like an assortment of shapeless blobs. You look around you. ALL of the pathways are like this. This can't be right... You must be hallucinating or something. Was it some kind of trick? Were there even any pathways left at all?
 
You look up at the platform directly above you. The light is right there! You didn't come all this way just to screw up now! You move over to the edge of the platform, hesitantly lowering you paw to one of the flickering pathways. Just as you thought, it passes right through. Something is definitely playing tricks on--
 
Suddenly, you feel something grip onto your paw and tug! You're almost pulled over the edge, but Chespin pulls you back, saving you. "What are you doing!? You can't just walk over these things before we know they're even real!" You tell him that's not what happened at all. Chespin's face turns pale as you tell him something in fact, grabbed hold of you. "Oh crap... something's actually out there...?"
 
You don't want to admit it, but you're scared. You have no idea how to get through this. Even if you took things slow and felt your way through, there's something out there that wants to catch you. Taking your time would just make you an easy target. The soft jingle of a small bell continues to taunt you, and your inability to see it. To... see it? Is there a better way?
 
[Use the Luminous Orb]
 
You were hoping to say this for a rainy day, but you don't see any other options. You take the Luminous Orb out of your pack and smash it against the ground as hard as you can! Almost immediately, your surroundings are drenched in a healthy white glow, illuminating everything and everyone as far as your eye can see.
 
You instinctively blow a Flamethrower upwards, but your assailant flees upstairs before you can land a hit. You can only make out a pink blur in the short time you get a look at it. As it flees, your head throbs with an ever so familiar headache. It's a psychic. Why's it always gotta be psychics? As your head clears, so too does the path ahead. An ominous silence fills the air. You're the only two Pokemon on the floor now, and beyond the winding paths to the stairs ahead, the floor itself is featureless.
 
"You get the feeling this is... TOO convenient?" says Chespin, tilting his head. Even though it's literally impossible for anything to sneak up on you now, you can't help but feel a sense of unease yourself. Not because you're in any immediate danger - rather, because this is the calm before the storm.
 
A few minutes later, your paw falls apon the first step towards the next floor. You pause in surprise. Until now, the ground had been squishy and spongy... this is the first smooth and hard surface you've touched for at least an hour now. On one hand, you're really greatful to be on solid ground for a change. On the other, it begs the question of how it was even constructed in a place like this.
 
"I don't wanna think too hard about that, do you?", Chespin interrupts. Poor guy. He's starting to look genuinely miserable now. What's left of his chipper spirit seems to be gone - he just wants to get out of here and forget this ever happened. You don't blame him. After readjusting yourself to the hard surface, you start climbing the long stairs up to the peak of the dungeon.
 
[Hideous Abyss - Peak]
 
You're not in the slightest bit prepared for what you see at the top. Tremendous torches line a long, narrow pathway, each glowing with an ominous purple light. The craftsmanship seems almost impossibly intricate, laden with patterns and murals within one another. It's so fractal that you can't actually see how deep the patterns end at.
 
The pathway opens up into a lavishly decorated larger platform. An intricate red carpet covers the majority of it beneath your paws. A large, warm fireplace burns fiercely to your right, decorated with gothic statuettes of a bipedal Pokemon you are unable to recognise.
 
To your left is a landscape painting, depicting Victini atop a shining tower. His ears partially eclipse the rising sun behind him. Not only is it very detailed, some of the paint is still wet, as though being worked on constantly. At the back of the room is an ornate throne, styled after a large, open maw. Sitting atop it is a pink feline figure with a long tail. She wears cotton sleeves over her thighs and upper arms, and a small bell is tied to the tip of her tail, lending it a familiar jingle whenever it moves.
 
"It's about time you two boys made it here. It's been a long time since my sweetheart sent such worthy toys to play with...", says Mew, her tone somewhere between seductive and unhinged. Her... sweetheart? Surely she couldn't be talking about Victini... right?
 
"You must be so tired... how about you save us both the trouble and roll over? Submit and I... *might* be merciful~" You have to admit, you're tempted for a moment... but you shake yourself off, realizing Mew is still trying to fool with your head.
 
"S-sure miss... I could really use a--"
 
And while you're at it, you bap Chespin restore his senses. "Uh I mean... We're not falling for a cheap trick like that! You let us out of here, right now!"
 
"'Out'? Ehehehe... what makes you think there's any escape from here?"
 
"W-what...?"
 
"I own this realm, and everything within it. There ISN'T any way out. Hasn't been for centuries! And once I crush that hope under my paw, you'll have no choice but to become my toy and servant, just like everybody else." You recoil as she appears right in front of you with a soft blue flash, stroking Chespin under the chin. "Isn't that right, little hedgehog?~"
 
"I um, uh...", he mutters, flustered. He can't seem to work up the will to fight back. You have to physically barge her out of the way to catch his attention again. You ask him what the heck's gotten into him. "You heard her, right? We're stuck here. Nothing we can do. There's... no point. No... hope..." You're a little unnerved yourself... but you're not sure you believe her yet. What if she's lying?
 
"What if she isn't, Vulpix? What if she isn't!?"
 
You don't even want to think about it. But you come to the conclusion that you'll have to, just to keep Chespin focused. After a moment's thought, you tell him that if it's true, he'll have an eternity to make Mew regret trapping you here. Chespin opens his eyes and blinks. Slowly, he scowls, and starts descending into seething, barely contained rage. Well, at
least it's better than having him in submissive despair.
 
"Aaaaah, there it is. The second stage! Ehehehee...!", Mew cackles to herself, suddenly floating back near her throne again. What was she talking about? "I was hoping you would say that! They're so much more fun to break when they think they still stand a chance~"
 
Her tail bell makes another little jingle as she touches down. "It'll be just like the old days! First I beat you up... then I catch you, then you'll have no choice but to serve me~"
 
"Fat chance! I'll grind you to a pulp over this!"
 
"Little hedgehog... I don't think you even realize what kind of situation you're in", Mew replies, looking over your shoulder. Oh crap. That mob from earlier has followed you upstairs. But they're all just... sitting there, watching on. A flicker of movement out of the corner of your eye reveals that the 'flames' in the torches above you have eyes... is that a Gastly? Did she seriously use Gastlies instead of actual flames?
 
"I told you, I own everything and everyone here. With a snap of my fingers, I could have my toys devour you for sustenance, over and over again, until digestion is all you ever know. But they're sitting this one out. Do you know why? Because I'm already powerful enough to wipe out all of them with a suggestion. What makes you two think you're any better than them? You already belong to me, just like all of them, and if it takes a beating to make you realize that, well, more fun for me~"
 
You have to admit, the outlook looks grim. But some part of you still believes Mew has been bluffing all this time. It can't be hopeless now... you didn't come this far just to take 'hopeless' for an answer!
 
[Coax a Gastly to your side with Decoy Seed]
 
You don't like your chances here. To win, you'll have to pull out every ace you have up your sleeve. You wind up to throw the Decoy Seed at one of the Gastlies planted high above... ...and the seed slips right out of your paw before you throw it. Well, that was embarrasing.
 
Chespin facepalms none too subtly, before picking the seed up and throwing it in your stead. He on the other hand, has much better luck. The Gastly seems a little puzzled at what's coming over him at first, but soon he floats down towards Chespin with a lustful look, giving him a friendly lick on the face.
 
"Blugh... n-no, not me...", he says, repressing the subtle blush on his cheeks. "How about you help us take care of her first, then I'll take you out?", he adds, the Gastly glancing towards the feline ruler with a low growl.
 
"Hehehe, are you making a new friend there? Maybe we're not so different after all~", Mew taunts. She doesn't seem all that worried that you're using one of her minions against her. If anything, she seems kind of pleased. Chespin grits his teeth angrily before signalling Gastly to attack. Which he does by... materializing a small spike? Before you realized it's pointing towards himself, he drives it in deep! What the heck is his problem!?
 
You hear a pained grunt from Mew almost at the same time. Gastly seems hurt, but it seems to have affected her too!
 
[Gastly is wounded]
[Mew is cursed]
 
[Use Confuse Ray and Fire Spin]
 
Realizing this is the closest you're going to get to momentum, you focus on Mew yourself, aiming to debilitate her as much as possible! Chespin seems to have the same idea. You try to disorient Mew with a Confuse Ray, but she manages to resist its effects before she's completely overcome. Chespin goes for a Leech Seed, but he seems to screw up the launch, only flying a metre or so. He must be feeling pretty silly about mocking your throw earlier.
 
Mew's clearly had enough of humouring all of you, and lifts you up telekinetically, hurling you into one of the lamp posts! You're not quite prepared to right yourself in the process, and end up taking most of the blow in the process.
 
[Vulpix is wounded]
 
As you get back to your feet, you can't help but notice Mew panting a little through that vicious, unhinged smirk of hers. It seems like she's underestimating the effect that Gastly's curse is having on her...
 
[Mew is winded]
 
Speaking of which, you notice Gastly's eyes are glowing, apparently trying a Confuse Ray of his own. Mew seems too distracted to deal with it this time, and clutches her head in disorientation!
 
[Mew is confused]
 
Now that Mew's already confused, you decide to lay on the other half of your plan, and let loose a fire whirl! But she manages to weave out of the way! You can't tell if she realized it was coming, or she just happened to dive in confusion as you shot it out. Chespin, tired of the debilitation approach, just starts hurling Pin Missiles at Mew. He seems to land a few good hits at first... until you realize Mew isn't there anymore. Why is there a plush doll where she used to be?
 
Mew pokes out from behind the Substitute with a somewhat flustered, barely restrained giggle. The doll has taken the hits in her stead... but both it and the curse have visibly taken a lot out of her.
 
[Mew is wounded]
 
And on top of that, she falls to the floor, unable to restrain her giggling any longer. Wow, that sounded like it actually hurt a little. At least Confuse Ray is doing its job. Now that you have a little breathing room, you hand out an Oran Berry to Gastly and munch down on one yourself, restoring the wounds you've accumulated so far.
 
[Used Oran Berry x2]
[Gastly and Vulpix are fully healed]
 
Meanwhile, Chespin revs up a Rollout and charges forth. The Substitute takes the hit, but he bounces off before he can really start grinding into it. Mew seems to regain enough of her focus to pull off another stunt... and much to your surprise, she knows how to Transform! In practically a blink, you see her shapeshift into a familiar looking Wartortle, which fires a Water Pulse at you! You're too surprised by the initial transformation to react, and end up soaked quite deeply!
 
You feel a little dizzy, but manage to shake it off... oh no! Is that what you think it is? You feel around your collar to make sure... Yep, that attack forced you into your Eevee form. Crap, now what!?
 
"Aww, it's so cuuute!~", Mew - or you guess Wartortle now - cooes from behind her Substitute. Is she making fun of you!? You tell everyone to regroup with you. You need to get through that substitute now, before she regains her senses proper!
 
Gastly snarls and unleashes a wave of Night Shade towards Mew on his own... and not only disintigrates the Substitute, but even manages to knock Mew over from behind it! Chespin sees an opportunity and follows up with a Vine Whip, and you lend a Helping Hand with it, striking at her simultaneously! Suffice to say, she doesn't take the hit too well. Judging by her transformation wearing off and fading back to her usual pink feline self, you don't feel like she's getting up from that.
 
"Hah... hah...", she half pants, half chuckles, sprawled out over the tattered floor. What's so funny? "You're... no fun at all~", says Mew, struggling to sit upright. The previously stationary mob rushes in to help her, casting accusatory glares at you... but she still waves them off.
 
"I guess I can't win them all! But I'll get another chance someday, I'm sure~"
 
"Oh hell no. I'll make you sorry you ever--!", is all that Chespin manages to say, before Mew's lackeys put themselves between him and her threateningly.
 
"Enough!", she shouts, causing them to back down. It's like they have enough problems with self restraint as it is. "Fine. If it'll stop you from upsetting my toys... I lied. I can release Pokemon from my realm as I see fit... and I think we all agree you're not worth keeping here~"
 
"W-what's that supposed to mean...!?"
 
You tell Chespin to leave it alone. She's clearly baiting him. Instead you ask her to elaborate. "What's there to add? You came here because you wanted to escape, right? Well, congratulations, I can fling the both of you out of here. But I promise you, you'll wish you took up my offer once you do~"
 
"I don't trust her..." Chespin whispers to you. "What if she's doing this to trick us?" You admit it seems like a possibility, but you've literally got nothing left to lose at this stage. If it'll make Chespin feel better, you volunteer to go first. "Okay! Just lie down for me... it won't hurt, but it'll feel a little... weird~"
 
Your vision distorts as Mew does her thing, and your muscles seem to spasm uncontrollably as though in rhythm to those same distortions. In a few moments, there is... nothing. You can't feel your body. You can't see. You can't hear. You can't feel. You can't even move. Everything is an empty, featureless void around you, and you float without aim or purpose, as though propelled by little more than a gentle, non-existent breeze.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Before long it claws at your very psyche. Before now, you'd never imagined such a miserable existence. You feel like there's nothing left of anything... you've lost everything and everyone you ever held dear... at least, that's what it feels like. You're honestly not sure what to think. You drift for quite a while before you realize you don't know if Chespin ever followed you. If he's around, you can't tell. Did he even make it out?
 
You feel like you'll never find out, now...
 
You instinctively wince... or at least you would, if you had a face to wince with. You sense the faintest twinkle of an etheral light what seems like eons away from you, almost beckoning you. You have no choice - you have nothing else left. You drift, exhaustively, towards the errant light. You quickly lose track of time, and your mind becomes burdend by monotony and grief both. But still you trek onward, the light expanding ever so slightly as you gradually approach.
 
You've been drifting for ages. For how long exactly? You don't know. Only that it's far longer than you're comfortable with.
 
One day, you notice something odd. Just for a moment, the light... blinks, as though now aware of your presence. You find yourself rapidly tugged into its embrace, towering high above and below you. Before you know it, you're resting in the palm of a tremendous Pokemon's hand... or are you just really tiny by comparison? You're not sure what to think. You've had no point of reference for so long.
 
"Ohohoho... hello again, child. It's nice to see you again... though I had hoped it would be under better circumstances", the Pokemon speaks. She appears to be dressed like a shrine maiden, and has a large, star-shaped yellow growth on her head. You feel like you should recognize her, but instead only her name comes to mind. Jirachi.
 
After a moment, she seems to sense your apprehension. "Oh dear... do you not recognize me, child?", she says softly, stroking you gently. "I'm so sorry to hear that. I should have known that terrible man would do something like this... Yes, you know who I am talking about", she adds. Victini? Did she know him? Your head swims with thought for the first time in ages, and it kinda hurts.
 
"I'm afraid we do have important matters to discuss... but you clearly have a pressing need for knowledge. Please, by all means, ask as many questions as you like, and I will do my best to help you. You will need your bearings before accepting my burden."
 
You don't feel like you are in the biggest rush right now, so you take your time to collect your thoughts. Maybe Jirachi can answer some questions that have been nagging at you for ages, on top of ones that concern you right now.
 
[What happened to you?]
 
"I know you're not going to like this, child, but... right now, your physical form is no more.", says Jirachi, glancing aside. "What you saw was a realm of your faith and imagination, given form. Ask yourself this... you know how we reproduce, yes? Pokemon have lived many lifetimes without realizing it. The food chain serves as an opportunity for rebirth... but what happens if a Pokemon chooses to disallow their prey's reincarnation?"
 
"Without Pokemon reincarnating, the population dwindles, and a possibility of extinction lingers. This realm is intended for those not reborn on their predator's whim - to send them to one that will grant them a new birth, and a new caretaker. You find yourself feeling a strange sense of deja vu... haven't you heard something like that before? A Pokemon ending up with an egg despite not eating anyone?
 
"That is supposed to be the responsibility of Mew, but... I suppose you've already seen what became of her. Poor thing, being manipulated like that. I've had to take over those duties in her stead..."
 
So, wait... does that mean nothing you just experienced was real? You just dreamt the whole thing?
 
"Well, not entirely, child. The Pokemon you met were very real, and some semblance of your surroundings were, too. But without a distinct form to see, your mind uses belief to make sense of it, to fill the gaps... it is likely no two Pokemon there saw the realm the same way." That might explain why Chespin thought the place looked "cozy". He probably had a different impression of what they actually looked and felt like than you did.
 
So... if you're body's gone, then what now?
 
"Relax, child. Your journey is not over yet. I will see that you get another chance to make things right once we are done here." You can't help but breathe a sigh of relief... at least, you think you are? This belief stuff is kinda confusing.
 
[What is Victini's deal?]
 
"You seem to already know this, but Victini was not always a Pokemon. He was originally born a human."
 
...what IS a human? You don't think you ever figured that out. "You could say they are precursors to us. Many of the things Victini claims are not hyperbole - they were a talented race of inventors, and we owe a lot of our current stature to them, even though most of us don't know to acknowledge it."
 
That was... true?
 
"Yes it was, child. Just as it was that we drove them to extinction a long time ago... though we were not ourselves back then. A plague swept the land, making Pokemon of all reaches hunger excessively. I'm ashamed to say I was no exception in this... sickness. But to Victini, that matters not. We are, all of us, a scapeskiddo for his grief."
 
"He is one of the fortunate ones. Most humans didn't retain any memory of their original lives when reborn as Pokemon. He was also fortunate enough to meet me while I was awake. Because while I am, I have the power to grant a scant three wishes. Most beings don't even know of me, for I sleep for eons at a time in this realm, only appearing on the surface for one week."
 
"His first wish was to be reunited with the love of his life. But when he found that she was already a Pokemon, he was aghast. He couldn't bear the thought of his 'Maria' being a simple beast with little self control and no recognition of him. So consumed by hate, he made his last two wishes in the interests of making things 'right'. He wished for himself and his Maria to be reborn as Pokemon of considerable status... and then wished for an opportunity to overthrow the new world to bring his race back."
 
"I cannot discriminate on wishes based on morals, so I had no choice but to grant them. The best I could do was to... bend the rules, not break them. He would have his opportunity, but it would come eons later than that. I told him that was when resistance to him would be at its weakest - and that victory would be assured, provided that even one of a group of six Pokemon was no longer a threat to him. Aipom, Pachirisu, Spinarak, Marril, Petilil and Vulpix. I had hoped that his hate would fade with time, but the many centuries he's spent alone with nobody to console his grief has only made it worse, I fear. Left unchecked any longer, it will leave this world a barren husk, devoid of life."
 
"Naturally, you cannot let it come to that, child."
 
This is a lot to take in at once. Pokemon had wiped out his whole race, but they were... sick at the time? Part of you feels a little sorry for Victini, but at the same time, you can't condone his methods. He's destroyed cities, attacked communities and friends... friends? Aren't you forgetting something?
 
[Where is Zorua?]
 
"'Zorua'... who is that? I don't believe we have been introduced."
 
You quickly describe him to Jirachi - his colour, his traits, his abilities. She seems to frown when you mention he is a dark type. "I... see. I cannot say I would even know whether he is still alive", she replies, almost ashamedly. "Dark Pokemon are an interesting sort, for better or worse, because they are skeptical and faithless. Skepticism is actually a very effective shield against those who use faith as a weapon - I suspect you already know this if Victini tried to get a hold on him like he did you, and didn't budge."
 
Hey actually, that's right! Zorua was completely immune to Psychic attacks! So... Jirachi can't see him because his skepticism... blocks Jirachi's psychic powers, too? That makes sense. "Regrettably, it is a cursed existence. If ever they were devoured and not reborn as normal... they would never reach the realm you are in now. Until their predator is devoured themselves, they would effectively cease to exist. And if it were by a powerful Pokemon who has kept the same form for generations... that could effectively be forever as far as you're concerned."
 
"If you truly treasure your friendship with this Pokemon, then you must have faith that he is still okay. Find him, and protect him, and he will do the same for you." You had no idea Zorua was really that vulnerable. Was it really possible you might never see him again if he was digested and entrapped like this...? No, you're not going to think about it. Both of you WILL make it through this. You're going to see to that once you get out.
 
"That's what I like to hear, child~", says Jirachi, stroking your sides playfully. You can't think of any other questions off the top of you head, so you ask Jirachi what's next. "In a moment, child, I will send you off to receive a new body... but before you do, you must heed these words. The anniversary of my awakening approaches in just a few days, and with it will appear my home - Millennial Peak. The moment that happens, Victini will know exactly where I am."
 
"You must find where that is and arrive... before it even exists."
 
Wait, what!? How is that even possible? Are you supposed to just take a wild guess?
 
"There are some to whom the future can be read in advance. I know of one who could help you. She is a... jailer... who helps out Rast and the Rescuer's Guild in her spare time. Seek out either of them, and they may guide you in the right path."
 
"There is a caveat, too, which you must not mention to anyone until you are done, under any circumstance", says Jirachi, a serious look on her face. You nood affirmatively. "Most Pokemon reborn this way are stripped of their memories, so as not to arouse any suspicion of this realm and their own past lives. I make an exception for you, because the fate of the very world could depend apon it. But the moment you fulfill that duty, I won't be able to uphold it any longer. I will have to recall you and do the process proper, taking your memories away. For all intents and purposes, your life will... vanish."
 
That's... not fair... You won't remember a thing? You won't remember all the times you've spent with Petilil, Clefairy... Zorua?
 
"I don't like it either, child. But it is for the best. Keep your chin up, and worry about it after the world is safe, okay? Do that for me." You reluctantly nod, stifling what you think are tears in your eyes. You ask her to just get it over with. She seems to understand.
 
You feel a lurch, and the visage of Jirachi slowly fades from sight. You feel so... sleepy...
 
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