Yoshi: She never seemed to care about the Knights under her command, often sending them into situations that would've gotten them hurt or worse, myself included sometimes. And when Victini started burning Unova.... she didn't seem to care... And don't get me started on her style of fighting-it's just.. fucked up, alright? Despite how mortified I was when I heard she died... somewhere deep down, I'm happy she’s dead...
Reid: Haarsh...
Cassidy: Considering I-I had to stop you... I don’t believe that-
Yoshi: Listen, at that point, just learning someone else died when I could’ve done something hurts...
Reid: Look at that... something we can agree on...
Yoshi: ... Let me finish... Like with Ilumia, Nelda would send squads out to dangerous places and often they either didn’t come back or came back in worse shape than when they left, which is part of the job of a Strident Knight obviously, but the thing is-especially if she went with them-she’d come back... different? I couldn’t ever grasp it at first, not until we fought with Team Machine during that year you and the other Trio members vanished, Reid...
Reid: Hmm...
Yoshi: During that battle, we suffered a lot of losses-especially Unova and Orre’s Knights-the Orre Knights lost their original leader-and the Unovan Knights, um... the only ones who came back were Nelda and myself...
Reid: What?
Lugia: Ooh, she’d work wonderfully with Giratina...
Cassidy: W-what-
Lugia: It’s no longer important~
Yoshi: ... Ookay... anyway...
Yoshi: It was... weird... normally Banette can’t open their mouths or their soul would drain out, but not hers... I’m just glad Ace wasn’t able to go on that mission... I couldn’t imagine him being a part of whatever amalgamation she was...
Lugia: Oh my...
Reid: That... sounds disturbingly... familiar... different, but still...
Lugia: You know, it reminds me of Dusknoir-maybe she was a reaper of souls and decided to ignore that duty.
Reid/Yoshi/Cassidy: What???
Lugia: I mean, it’s a thing, it’s part of Giratina’s job and all-
Reid: Please stop... Legendary Pokemon roles are just confusing...
Yoshi: And so is this reaper nonsense, besides, she’s dead, so it’s not like it matters...
Cassidy: M-maybe we should change the subject before you g-get-
Yoshi: You’re right, Cassidy... I still have a question to ask Reid.
Reid: Sigh... shoot..
Lugia: ... [Are they willingly being ignorant right now or do they just... not that I could blame them-especially Reid-if he knows as much as we do... that Proxy of Celebi’s is a problem... I envy them there... but maybe I should focus on my personal goals and-hmm... but still... this Banette...]
Giratina: And I have to admire this one’s soul... Annika was merely to distract this Banette, but... look at this beautiful soul... brimming with the lives of so many-many burned away by Victini... victims of missions that failed that she led... so many that are filled with pain, regret, hatred... but they were never allowed to become ghosts themselves... isn’t it fascinating, Dialga?
Dialga: No.
Giratina: It is to me... she single-handedly collected the population of a small island... she assisted in the genocide without even knowing it... ah.
Diagla: ...
Giratina: If only Annika was this thorough in Hoenn... hahah...
Dialga: Contact me when Father re-
Giratina: Father wants us to stay here... eventually they’ll want to talk about something... important...
Dialga: ... Another meeting?
Giratina: No. Just you, me and Palkia...
Dialgia: ... Why...?
Giratina: ...
Dialga: Are you listening? Gira? Stop gawking at that Banette’s disgusting soul and-
Giratina: What kind of timeline are we heading down, Dialga? Something feels... wrong?
Dialga: ... You know I do not speak of timelines and their futures.
Giratina: ... Right... then we wait.
<While everyone else continues down this timeline...>
Carla: Simply put, focusing on the Team Machine bit: one of their many plans were to use the Emotion Trio as weapons to control the masses-I assume anyway; the experiments imply they went for the islands around the Archipelago near where Kryona used to be. Their experiments must’ve failed, but the idea that the legends were made to control People and used them to kill Pokemon is a bit unsettling, to say the least...
King: I thought those islands were inhabited by Pokemon only...
Carla: So did I, so they were likely humans who chose to isolate themselves from advancements, which is rare in this day and age... but not unlikely, I guess. And then, there’s the bit that made me curious about other, presumably safer areas-
Nelda: This idea that Team Machine had some of their mutated Pokemon infect the population somehow? It’s a bit of a stretch... what’s the point in that?
Carla: Probably nothing, but we can assume they were going after certain kinds of places-I’m sure if they knew about the Emotion Trio, they knew about other Legends and made the effort-
Alma: To target and probably kill them-got it...
Lyle: Oooh....
Lyle: That’s quite the plan, using Pokemon like that-and presumably-based on bits from that other book-Team Machine had a habit of using their “Preserve” as a way to get more and more Pokemon for their experiments-thus more “Agents”... That’s a bit... smart, regretfully.
Bartholomew: ...
Carla: I know, but we can’t... ... ....
--
“Daaad... m-my head-”
“W-what?! Son!? Terry!? Alan?! Why are they-what are you three doing here?!”
“T-there was a weird... f-flash and then... they fainted, m-my head....-”
“The mission is a failure! Retrea-”
“We can’t!”
“Try blocking my power a second time!!”
“Yvetal!”
“Barto-MOVE-”
--
“Terry and Alan’s dads are still “missing”-it’s been YEARS!! When are you going to tell them the truth, dad!? When are you going to tell us?!”
“When I’m ready-”
“They’re dead... dad, they’re dead... and it’s OUR fault! Why were you fighting Yvetal?! Why were you able to block the death beam once?! WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME?! WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEM?!”
“Calm down... calm down... please... give me... time, I’ll... I’ll consider it-”
Lyle: Bartholomew?
Bartholomew: Huh...?!
Lyle: You... alright?
Bartholomew: Yeah-yeah, I was... spacing out pretty bad, huh? The idea of Terry’s dad being... a Team Machine agent, just... got me thinking back a bit...
Lyle: Anything useful?
Bartholomew: ... N-no... sorry...
...
Did I miss anything?
Lyle: Hmm...
Carla: Are you serious, King? After what I’ve said?!
Lyle: No-
King: We should not ignore their actions! If this... “Rteddy” creature was created by The Black Pikachu and it torments the Terrible Trio, has enough power to seemingly finish off Team Machine, fight with me on equal and greater footing AND after taking one of our own hostage-despite it saving her-we cannot ignore that! Any of it!
Damaris: I agree-
Gareth: I don’t.
King: What-
Gareth: Think about it from the standpoint of the available Knights; they’ve been handling their respective regions, but hearing things from others visiting; Alma’s base? They all know he’s upset with you concerning what happened with Locke and Zara and now that we all know they’re truly dead... do you THINK-once that gets out-anyone will side with another hunt for The Black Pikachu OR other members of the Terrible Trio? I WON’T be offering the Kanto Knights towards any hunts for the Trio or this Rteddy individual. Did I put enough emphasis on my words for you, King?
King: I... Gareth-
Damaris: Someone sounds a bit... testy... that’s new of you-
Gareth: This is a conversation we’ve heard and had for years; it’s about time we moved onto more serious situations, don’t you all agree?
Alma: Yeah.
King: ?!
Alma: It has nothing to do with my grudge about Locke and Zara... I’ve... moved on. I guess being in Orre and its really strange “air” has some impact on me, so, I had time to actually relax and think...
Carla: ...
Alma: We’re a team short since Annika’s entire base is apparently in shambles and her team’s missing in action-we really can’t afford it. And if it wasn’t for Gareth, Damaris and Lyle, Annika, Jett and I would likely be dead-something’s off in Hoenn and we need to investigate that over this pointless chase.
Annika: ....
Bartholomew: I wandered around the area-found a broken Mega Stone in the scorched earth; on top of that, I also met Yoshi’s mother-and learned what they’re dealing with while you let Victini run free...
Nelda: Bartholomew-
King: Victini...
Gareth: So, we’ll add Victini to the list of problem Legends...
Damaris: Those stones came up again...
Lyle: Ah, yes, Mega Stones... it is curious how problems seem to follow them if they leave Kalos or Alola or Hoenn, since they’re common in that region too...
Annika: ....
Gareth: I have to agree, we need to learn more about those-would you know about them, King?
King: Mega Stones? ... I know little, to be frank...
Gareth: ...
King: ...
Lyle: Hmmm...
Annika: B-besides... we’re still on the issue of the Trio and this Rteddy thing-even if you think we SHOULDN’T worry about them, we really should. This Rteddy thing could potentially be causing the problems that caused Legends to lash out, right? By Altering reality by opening holes in space, that’s what you and Carla saw, right K-King...?
King: That’s... right...
Carla: Hmm... true, but, we can’t focus on hunting the Trio then-let’s focus on at the very least finding a safe way to confront them.
Lyle: I can agree there-we don’t need to fight-and I’m on the same page as Gareth and Alma: there may not be many of us in Alola-but we’re going to shy away from the Trio’s punishment.
King: Right... they’re “welcome in Alola” or something similar to that, if I remember correctly, Lyle?
Lyle: Of course.
Bartholomew: Kalos won’t join in on this either.
King: Ugh-
Damaris: This is ridiculous... You four are defending a monster created by Team Machine, another monster made by Team Cipher, and a Politoed who rallied together two destructive forces that were produced to destroy-and their target is humanity! Do you understand? If we don’t deal with them, and they attack again, we’re allowing the condition of how humans view Pokemon to change-to worsen-where they fear and resent us to a point of wanting to control us more than they already entertain. We cannot ignore these monsters-especially the freaks of nature that are Vris and the Black Pikachu-
Gareth: So, why can’t we help them instead?
Damaris: What?
Gareth: Why? Why do we have to fight them? Why do we have to punish them? What’s the point? When this organization started, our focus was on humans who harmed Pokemon. And what does the Terrible Trio have as a mission? Dealing with Humanity, for the sole reason we existed-they’re just violent about it. Team Machine? Cipher? What about Team Rocket, Damaris? What about me? Am I a “monster” in your eyes?
Everyone: ....
Gareth: Experiments, torture, forced to fight one another, who knows what they did to the Black Pikachu to not only make him, but to train him... prepare him for what he is now-what amount of power he has-the control he has-the skill-it’s all hardwired into us-and here you stand, claiming ‘monsters’. The Trio are the biggest examples of why we, as the Strident Knights exist-or it was-
Damaris: Why should we care?
Gareth: ...
King: Damaris!
Carla: What is wrong with you? Were you just pretending to listen to what I’ve said? You’re not interacting with Pokemon like Gareth, like I do, like Gareth himself has experienced and what we can only imagine for the Black Pikachu-Gareth, Shadow Pokemon, Mutants-
Damaris: Are among individuals that should be wiped out.
Alma: Sheesh...
Lyle: My-my... Johto’s traditions are scary-and to think Alola took them on...
Nelda: ...
Annika: Damaris, please...
Bartholomew: ...
Gareth: ... Is that what you-
Damaris: To be truthful-knowing your standings now-
Carla: Don’t you DARE!!
Nelda: Oh please! Get off that high Ponyta you’re on, Carla-you’re not a Shadow Pokemon, not a Mutant, not whatever Gareth is-you can’t speak on their behalf-
Carla: And YOU can?
Nelda: I’m not the one threatening to keep one of MY Knights in Orre over what YOU caused! You and that “client” of yours! I wonder why he left so suddenly, huh? Scared off by what he caused? He’s the reason Yoshi is a Shadow Pokemon, isn’t he?
Carla: That’s not-
Carla: Coming from the ghost that’ll die if she even receives the tiniest of rips in her body? Yeah, I’m doing damn well FINE!! And Yoshi? He is too-better than fine-he might be staying here, permanently-
Nelda: Excuse me-
Carla: Go home to Unova and tell his mother that-if there’s anything left after it’s all burnt to ash-you lazy excuse for-
Damaris: Stop.
King: I think it’s understandable that everyone’s on edge; yes, Gareth is a “Creation” like Vris and the Black Pikachu, so what? You shouldn’t carry that kind of tone with an ally-
Carla: Seriously...?!
Nelda: What’s with you all of a sudden?!
Carla: WHAT’S WITH THE BOTH OF YOU!? Who comes here and starts saying shit like THIS!? Unlike you, I can sense emotions-even Gareth FEELS, despite what he puts out-at least somewhat-being this harsh-DAMARIS-is uncalled for, and YOU Nelda-
Nelda: What?
Carla: You’re just a failure at everything-we’re all looking to Alma as the troublemaker here, because he’s the youngest, the loudest, but his Knights operate fine! Last I checked, outside of Annika’s missing Knights-how many died between the Team Machine attack and the Victini attacks? Huh? We’ve been skirting around that subject all evening, but I’m aware-you’re throwing lives away at a losing battle and now you’re letting Pokemon and Humans die because you’re too damn lazy to do anything about it-
Nelda: WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I HAVEN’T!?! Unova is the founding land of the Strident Knights! DO you think it’s EASY?! Do you think it’s easy running that place?! We’re on fucking sacred land for crying out loud! The Swords of Justice-Yoshi’s mother-the whole damn village-all of it is important, not just to the Knights as a whole, but to King as well! You can’t hope to understand the weight on my shoulders! Your region is the calmest one there is-
Carla: You say that knowing next to nothing about what goes on here-that “Air” Alma mentioned before? That’s a Shadow Pokemon-a powerful one, stronger than the Trio for all we know-and instead of throwing lives away, I’m trying to understand them, and understand ways to HELP them, but no, no, I have to sit in this room, right now, and justify why we shouldn’t be focusing on three damn Pokemon that have been missing for nearly a decade!!
They were never a problem-Goldenrod was our fault! People and Pokemon died because of our Knights-the damn human we let in with his uncontrollable Dragonite-you know where it ended up, King? HERE! It’s dead! Buried in the Relic Forest! WHy? Because that piece of shit human YOU trusted ditched it on someone from here! This region is full of pain and death, just because it’s not exclusively over some overzealous Legend does not make your problems any larger than my own, Nelda! And I dare you to say the shit you’re thinking-do it, and I will era-
I love this and hate this now because I see an error days later and it’d require me redoing the text to fix it and I don’t... remember... what... I... did.
Let’s get this very slow moving show on the road, yes?
Chansey: And... if all of this is serious... what exactly did the Trio do beyond Goldenrod’s incident-which apparently was instigated by one of those trainers?
Clark: I dunno, read further? It sounds more and more like we instigated a lot of conflicts with them that led to large fights, or we heard about them being involved in some serious incident, deemed it a threat to us, and instead of trying to run away or prove their innocence, they either fought back or just fed off the hype...? If any of that makes sense.
Clark: The Terrible Trio definitely caused some problems, but-if Crysta would tell us anything-we’d likely have a better idea, but... obviously this might have deeper, Legendary-related issues...
Chansey: You’re... reaching a bit, aren’t you?
Clark: When Crysta comments on ‘alternate timelines’ I don’t know what to think anymore-and she won’t tell us anything...
Clark: And for all we know, the other Knights of other regions might have stories or fears involving Legends as well-even without Crysta telling us-there is some kind of issue going on in the world... something’s very wrong-even I can tell that.
Clark: The bigger question is... are they going to bring it up? Crysta implies we need to “go around” the Knights because of that...
Chansey: So... we just have to hope they’re all on the same page...? But what if there’s someone who isn’t?
Clark: Then... let’s hope Arceus-willing, Carla can stop that...
Chansey: ...
Clark: We know he’s obsessed with the Terrible Trio, though knowing all of what’s in that book, half-if not all of the Trio aren’t... “normal” Pokemon...
Chansey: Like that Eevee?
Clark: Oh, you’re aware of him too? Yeah, he crossed my mind-the Prince of Kanto... wouldn’t he fall into the same boat as the Trio? Two of which were basically made with ill intentions, wouldn’t he sympathize with Carla and the Trio?
Chansey: This is... going to be very complicated, isn’t it...?
Clark: Possibly... and that’s not counting what Reid might do without us knowing-
Chansey: Oh gods, what does that mean??
Clark: We may have told him about the Cipher Lab-
Chansey: Y-YOU DO KNOW WHAT’S THERE-
Clark: Yeah, yeah, but if Reid has been a regular traveler to Orre in the past, he likely knows some things there anyway... besides... there’s likely less of a chance he’d do anything drastic-he literally tried to trick Carla into killing him. He won’t go back to being “Evil” unless something goes dramatically wrong between this meeting and the next time we all meet him... plus... something deep down tells me that these energies Carla and Crysta supposedly feel in that direction... he’d likely know who or what it is...
Chansey: ... Well... what about Carla...?
Carla: Plus, I’m a bit aware of you and Vris having an interaction?
Cassidy: ...
Carla: She mentioned you to me when I ran into her...
Cassidy: Y-you’ve SEEN her?!
Carla: Relax... she’s... just as bad as Reid-the Black Pikachu-it seems... but in a more... “Leave me alone” way instead of “Kill me” way...
Cassidy: ...
Carla: I know you don’t want to end up wrapped in some kind of crazy conflict, but... this might be better for you-in case... something bad happens here.
Cassidy: W-what...
Carla: I’m getting a bit uncomfortable with the Strident Knights as a whole and this meeting might strain Orre’s connections with them. I doubt they’d target you, but still... I’m not sure... so, I’m debating on explaining things to Yoshi-he seems mellowed out, but, I’m still nervous about him. But for you, Cassidy... are you aware of another method to enter the labs?
Cassidy: I... what if I am...?
Carla: Heh... use it.
Cassidy: ???
Carla: My mother made a link with Alan-the Meowstic traveling with Reid right now; if he mentions that Reid’s gone towards that lab, my mother will alert me, and then... I’ll alert you... I want you-and possibly Yoshi to go there.
Cassidy: Why Yoshi-
Carla: Because, well for many reasons-though it’d be dangerous having him meet Reid again-neither knows the other’s situation... but... I don’t intend to let him be taken by the Unova Knights-because he’s dangerously unstable-even if he’s not while with you or me...
Cassidy: I... understand... but I’m not comfortable trusting myself with him-this all... it... makes me anxious... and you know when my anxiety gets-
Carla: I know, but this’ll be your mission from me, I may be looking to promote you-if we’re still Knights after all this is over... h-hahah...
Cassidy: ... Don’t you go... becoming like Yoshi or this Reid...
Carla: I... doubt that’d happen...!
Cassidy: ...
-------
???: I’m sorry, but I have to ask...
Reid: This basically means life or death for us, doesn’t it?
Speara: A bit extreme, but-
Reid: I wonder how long before they try to jail you too-you’re rogue, aren’t you?
Speara: We’re getting off topic. Book. Truth.
Reid: Right, right, yeah, my memory’s pretty good, I mean, most of our... ‘incidents’ were my fault anyway, that’s what you were all told, too right?
Speara: People and Pokemon were seriously injured in your counterattacks when the S-Knights or police forces got involved with you-is that in there?
Reid: I think so...?
Speara: You think so??
Reid: Come on, half of that was like... a few days ago? Hours? I don’t really remember-
Speara: Because you’re an insomniac with a split personality of some kind and now you’re a Shadow Pokemon-you’re the most unreliable individual to be asked to remember anything.
Reid: Am I? Really?
Speara: Just because your... ‘situation’ was different and I’m still not clearly sure how exactly this happened... but you are still a Shadow Pokemon and the rules applied to them applies to you too.
Reid: Uh-huh...
Speara: What are your moves.
Reid: Well-
Speara: Non-Shadow Moves? Tell me exactly what they are, and demonstrate them, right here, right now.
Reid: ...
Speara: You can’t can you?
Reid: That doesn’t prove a damn thing...
Speara: I’m not going to argue with you, just... keep in mind what you are now, being a mutant does not make you different-you lost whatever that was a long time ago, right?
Reid: ...
Speara: Now, can we get on with why you wanted to talk to me in the first place?
Reid: Right, whatever... I wanted to warn you...
Speara: About Rteddy-
Reid: About everything involving that thing... and if it has followers we’re all going to have to be cautious, because I know next to nothing about any of them...
Speara: ... Alright.
Reid: ... Royo wasn’t with Vris...?
Speara: I didn’t see him, no.
Reid: ...
Speara: Before you ask, no, I don’t know where.
Reid: Alright... so, I guess The Under’s the best bet?
Speara: You could try it...?
Reid: And you?
Speara: I’ll be around, unless you need my assistance-
Reid: Pfft, no...
Speara: ...
Reid: ... I’ll consider it...
Speara: Apparently you have friends who can fly, so you know where to find me.
Nelda: Looks like we missed them by maybe an hour or two... hmm-
Bartholomew: Why are you so calm about this?!
Nelda: Because, getting worked up doesn’t help anymore. It’s starting to literally get old... besides, we’re dealing with a Victini here, and-
Bartholomew: Wait, Victini? As in the legend of victory?
Nelda: Oh yeah...
Bartholomew: ...
Bartholomew: Do you even have an idea of how to deal with this?
Nelda: No.
Bartholomew: Nelda-
Nelda: Whatever is going to be talked about in Orre will easily overtake this issue; it’s not the first time I brought it up to King-he doesn’t like hearing about it... changes the subject near-instantly.
Bartholomew: ... If you can’t handle this alone, maybe-
Nelda: Enough ‘mons have died fighting Victini, so, take your offer back.
Ace: Yes, she... took it oddly well, she's upset, more at herself than anyone else, but... she's ready and willing to meet with the others to finalize a plan to try and, um.... cure Shadow Pokemon.
King: That's what she took from all this?
Ace: Can you blame her? Yoshi is her subordinate; she actively let this happen, so-
King: Hmm? Ace?
Ace: S-sorry, I'm actually... trying to keep Yoshi's mother calm... Nelda's... doing well, but, she needs a friend-
King: She knows...
Ace: You shouldn't come here, King. She's very upset-
King: no... I'll be there in a few moments-
Ace: N-no, you don't understand-
King: I said I'm coming. End of story.
Ace: ...
Nelda: W-wait!
Yoshi's Mother: King ...
King: Please... c-calm down... I-
Yoshi's Mother: I'm tired of excuses! First Tai and now this!? I won't lose Yoshi too!!
King: AAGH
Nelda: Should we... help-
Ace: No.
Ace: Yoshi's mother, like most Pokemon here in these woods are, well, former trainer-owned Pokemon, and not just some that they gave up on for not being the best bred or something similar, no, we were specially bred, but released when the trainer who owned a ranch passed and no one claimed the land or his Pokemon. We were all free to go and do what we wanted... Haven't you ever wondered where Yoshi's unique skill came from? Why I’m so fast? Any of that?
Nelda: No, but... you mean that freaky 'make physical moves into projectiles' BS he pulls off?
Ace: Yes...
Nelda: Okay???
Ace: Long story short, you're a wild-born Pokemon, right?
Nelda: Yeah?
Ace: Despite what your type is, Yoshi's mother would most likely destroy you, me and King based on how angry she is right now...
Nelda: ...
Ace: Plus, she's the one who made up that skill and taught it to her sons...
Ace: Oh, this is going horribly-
????: What's going on out here?!
Ace: Oh, of course...
King: ... Please-
Yoshi's Mother: Enough with the-
Ace: Please stop-
Yoshi's Mother: No! Because of you, King, Yoshi's just another freak, like that monster Sneasel Vris!!!
Minccino: What...?
Cinccino: Yoshi's...?
Yoshi's Mother: He's a Shadow Pokemon...
Ace: It was an unforeseen incident! You have to-
Yoshi's Mother: And where were you, Ace?
Ace: I... w-well...
Yoshi's Mother: ... They also told me about Cherry-
King: Don't...!
Ace: Please... you don't understand how sensitive this is-
Yoshi's Mother: They believe she's alive.
Minccino/Cinccino: WHAT?!
Ace: We don't even know if that was really her! We can’t be sure unless-
Minccino: Then what do you think you're doing just sitting around here?! It's been nearly a decade and you're telling me there’s a chance our daughter's alive?!
Cherry's Mother: You've been hiding that from us all this time...?
Ace: N-NO! We just discovered this days ago! We're still trying to understand how this-
Cherry's Father: So did the Black Pikachu really kill her? Or was that some elaborate lie just to make it and its group feared and hated more?
Cherry's Mother: Did that thing take our daughter?!
Ace: No, it’s nothing like that... please, stay calm-
Cherry's Father: Seven years, Ace.
Ace: ...
Cherry's Father: Tell us what exactly is going on out there... Because we're not getting answers from the King...
Ace: What-
[The Strident King has fled...]
Oh...
Okay... fine... no point in hiding it anymore, is there? From what another of our high-ranking Knights, and Yoshi, discovered is that Cherry is likely alive, how... we don't know, but some kind of... “Pokemon” disguised as a human toy has done something to save her life... why they took her, I can only imagine...
Yoshi's Mother: ... Apparently, it was an accident caused by a third party this individual works with, and likely helped cause various problems relating to the Black Pikachu-
Ace: That's conjecture-
Yoshi's Mother: That you said was disclosed to both Yoshi and this Carla-where is that "conjecture", Ace? Tell them the truth: you've been hounding the Black Pikachu and their allies for so long, dragging in so many others, putting so much stress on them, that they finally snapped-YOU created the very problem you thought existed!
Ace: ...
Yoshi’s Mother: This puts into doubt everything that they've done, you do understand that right? What about what happened in Johto? Did it really happen because they felt like ruining a city? Or were they pushed by someone we know nothing about? Do we even know where that Black Pikachu came from?
Ace: We may, but-
Yoshi’s Mother: We don't know what they lived through, all we know is that they're a band of freaks, probably created to do horrible acts and they’re either are running from that, or were acting on them, so, which is it?!
Ace: I..
Cherry's Father: That's a good question...
Ace: ... There's nothing I can tell you... I'm just as confused as all of you are.
Cherry's Mother: What's going to happen now? Are you going to chase after this individual who has Cherry? Or the Trio? If I’m understanding all of this correctly... whoever this is has some deep connections to a lot of your problems...
Ace: Apparently... but King was overpowered by one of them, so we need to-
Cherry's Father: ONE of them? How many are you dealing with?
Ace: ...Well-
Yoshi's Mother: They don't know...
Ace: .. We theorize that this being is either trying to protect the Terrible Trio as a whole, or is hunting a specific member, or members, and... it's likely they took care of Team Machine, the ones responsible for Tai’s death, as well-this group... they're... either enemies or allies, but I fear that we may be enemies in their eyes.
Yoshi’s Mother: ...
Cherry's Mother: Are we safe?
Ace: ... That, I... don't know...
Yoshi’s Mother: I want to know more about this, Ace... I want facts this time...
Ace: What do you want me to do? Bring you along-
All: ...
Ace: Oh, no... no, no, no....
All: ......
Ace: Okay, that’s it. Listen, and listen closely... if you want to do anything for your children... stay here, and wait for them. Because, as much as I don't wish to get on any of your bad sides, I have no intention of putting any of you in danger and you will just have to accept that!
Yoshi's Mother: Ace-
Ace: Alright... I didn't want to have to explain this, but your life might be in danger if you go to Yoshi right now.
Yoshi's Mother: What?
Ace: When he changed, he assaulted Carla, the Strident Princess of Orre, stabbed her clean through with one of his schalchops.
All: !!!
Ace: He said things that, truthfully, could just be this shadow side to him, but it did involve you, and we all know, at the very least, how dangerous Shadow Pokemon can be, even to the ones they care about, so I'm not asking, I'm telling you: none of you are coming with me.
King: [So... tired suddenly...] Um... Right, sorry, I’m losing a bit of focus here...
Alma: Hmm...
Lyle: Worried about Gareth, too, hmm?
King: Among many other things... yes... anyway-
King: Gareth, Carla, Lyle and Bartholomew... will task themselves and their personal teams if they so wish with... finding and reaching a safe.... resolution with the... Terrible Trio... and this Rteddy creature...
Carla: [Dad...]
~~~~~arla~~~
Carla: ...? [I’m... hearing things now?]
Gareth: ...
Bartholomew: Terry, Alan... Should I... say sorry...?
Alma: ...?
King: ... ... ... Ugh-
Annika: King-
King: Guugh... s-sorry...
Annika: ...
Damaris: This has been a taxing evening, I say we turn in for the night after this.
Nelda: I... agree...
King: Right.... ... ... Annika, Damaris, Nelda and myself will go about capturing the Trio our way, which will likely mean confronting them and anyone that so much as associates with them or this Rteddy creature-we won’t hold back, you three... ugh... u-understand?
Nelda/Damaris/Annika: We do.
King: Good... Alma-
Annika: H-huh-
Lyle: Oooh, you noticed too~? I’m shocked!
Annika: W-w-what???
Nelda: Huh?
Damaris: Hmm?
King: Ugh...
Alma: At first I was just too frustrated to really put two and two together back in Hoenn, but when Lyle mentioned Mega Evolution, everyone reacted with curiosity in our... own unique ways, but Annika.
Annika: ...
Alma: And even during the meeting, she dodged the question Lyle was setting up with a subject change... and now suddenly, King’s too tired to continue, Nelda and Damaris are suggesting we call it a night, Gareth and Carla, honestly voices of reason, suddenly snap? Especially Gareth, the freaking “robot”-even I understand that much...
Lyle: You’re surprisingly observant...
Alma: Because, like I said before, the “Air” here helped me think.
Lyle: Shadow Aura?
Alma: No,
Annika: ... Please-
Alma: It’s the aura of a Legend.
Lyle: Oh?
Alma: My base is near Regigigas’ shrine, of course I know what it feels like to be near a Legendary of god-like power... there’s one here, within one of you three... Nelda, Damaris, Annika... right?
Nelda: ...?
Damaris: The hell are you getting at?
Annika: ... ...
Lyle: To be frank, Nelda’s reactions to being accused by Carla seems to fit the bill of someone telling the truth, so I’d narrow it down to Damaris or Annika-and I’m leaning on Annika... Gareth and I intended to bring that up, then suddenly he broke down and fell into this...
Alma: Honestly, it’s because Jett’s “voice” reaches fairly far-I can hear him... he says the entire base is engulfed in a weird fog that’s hurting Carla’s Knights... he’s helping where he can. Since I seemed to be resistant to whatever got to the others, I was tasked with drawing out the Proxy... didn’t expect this though. You with us, yet? Everyone?
Carla: ... huh...?
~~~Carla!!!~~~
Carla: Huh?
Nelda: ... Annika...
Annika: YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING, NELDA!!!
Nelda: ...!
Damaris: She was in on it too?
King: Nelda... Annika... what’s... going on...?
Carla: [Mom...?]
~~~You’re all going to die! You have-~~~
Carla: [What?! Mom!?]
Annika: Ooh... we’re all going to die...
Carla: .... ....
~~~~~~~Psychic~~~~~~~~
Carla: ....!
Nelda: W-what are you talking about?
Alma: ... Lyle... if you have some fancy Proxy power might want to use it... you’re the only one here, unless I was wrong-
Lyle: No, it takes time and energy...
Annika: God’s going to destroy us...
King: God? Which ‘god’?
Annika: ...
King: WHICH GOD?!?
Annika: ...
King: ANNIKA-
Annika: Giratina. I’m ready.
Annika: The “blessing” God gave me-the power to “Reverse” things, I didn’t understand at first, but... I can basically toy around with your mental stability to varying levels-so, I thought... “Could I pass on my exhaustion?” And it worked!!
King: A-Annika...
Annika: You’re not like me-you didn’t have to become an insomniac to survive the stress-sleep, King-when you wake up, you’ll have the choices: Kill the Terrible Trio and Rteddy-or give up, and let us be Reset-in a world much better, much happier-where I can finally sleep without having to steal it!
King: ... ...
~~~CARLA!!! PSYCHIC!! NOW!!!~~~
Carla: [Mom?! Why?!]
Annika: Because, Carla...
Carla: ... Oh gods-
Annika: You’re a Proxy spawn-you shouldn’t exist-an abomination-die-please-I-want-to-sleep-so-badly-
Alma: Enough standing around like idiots! Bartholomew!
Bartholomew: I-I’m aware...! Let’s go!
Damaris: We’ll figure this out later...!
Nelda: ... Annika...!
Lyle: Agreed, let’s-
Annika: Nah~
???: SINCE WHEN DID YOU HAVE OPTIONS-
Everyone: !!!?
Abominations must die!
Nelda/Lyle/Bartholomew: CARLA!!!
Nelda: DAMN IT!!!
Annika: Nah~
Nelda: IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO-
Nelda: Aa-
Annika: I trusted you to protect me, Nelda, you didn’t do that.
Nelda: B-because that request was insane... I... I- ugh...
Annika: Remember what Carla said: one rip and you die? I’ll make two, just to be sure. Now, THIS Nelda, should sleep-
Nelda: A-a-a-
Bartholomew: N-Nelda...
Lyle: Why can’t I use Koko’s power-
Annika: Duh, because I’m the proxy of a real God, not some wanna be deity of a dinky island chain... the Tapu are WEAK compared to the Original Gods! So long as I have you bound, no Proxy powers for you, Lyle, at that, I should just move on with this, before King wakes up-your bodies will be his message... soon, soon enough~
Lyle: ... You won’t achieve that, King’s smarter than that!
Bartholomew: And we’re still here, We’re still capable of fighting! Just because Lyle can’t use his full power doesn’t mean I can’t!!
Annika: And that is? Oh right, the Mutant Spawn-you’re just as vile, you’ll die first, Barto-thanksss~
Damaris: You’re not Annika... whatever you are, you’re using her body... her voice-you-
