Chamomile: Do I lie about that? Really, Clarky-Cake? I’ve happily done it be-
Clark: Of course you’d pull out that nickname with new faces around-
Terry: When did-
Clark: NOT ANSWERING.
Chamomile: Well, they’re not new faces to me, just to counter that statement. Crysta’s told me all about them. Too bad the curious one isn’t here, Reid... I’d love to meet him, though I doubt he’d remember me-
Clark: Yeah, because the Pikachu he was given to make him isn’t the exact same-
Chamomile: Yes, but I’d still like to apologize to the little Nanab Pop... in one way or the other, plus, he’s a carnivore too, aaah, I’d love to chat with him about the types of flavors he’s-
Clark: Please stop.
Pyre: Um...
Chamomile: Oooh, you’re little Pyre right? A curious Sneasel... Hmm, not exactly, but you remind me of a Salac Berry, hmm... I haven’t had those since my battling days...
Clark: Earth. To. Chamomile.
Chamomile: Riight, right, I’ll stop, I still need to think up-
Clark: Focus on the concerned Sneasel over there, if you know everything you know-
Chamomile: Yep, yep, I do, breathe, I thought having your back ruined would’ve sobered you up a bit Clark-Cake... Anyway, Pyre...
Chamomile: Oh, no worries, my little Saffron Bun~
Bartholomew: What’s that...?
Chamomile: Oooh, maybe if you traveled the world after all is settled, you’d get to try it! Anyway, your question’s about my appearance, yes?
Bartholomew: Yeah...
Gino: Are you a mutant??
Terry: That’s rude to ask, Gino...
Clark: Agreed...
Chamomile: Not really, though, in a sense, I am a mutation, not in the same way you all are, more like Bartholomew there: genetically different because of my family bloodline. I’m a Botaren Meganium. To specify, that’s a form of Meganium from the archipelago nearby, many of the islands are full of their own “regional variants” like me, we’re all carnivores, but, I know who’s friend or food, no worries there~
Bartholomew: I... see... though, normally Meganium are a bit bigger than-
Chamomile: Oh, that’s because I was removed from my home when I was still young, and a Chikorita! Those who still live in their natural habitat... are much bigger than me, and hungrier too, I bet.
Bartholomew: Oh...
Terry: I-I see...
Gino: Why are you guys acting so awkward... you don’t eat meat??
Bartholomew: You do??
Pyre: Totally!
Terry: Well that makes sense for a Sneasel...
Clark: Eegh...
Chamomile: Well, I’m not sure what exactly you two eat, but I do have some lovely things stored up, all kinds of foods,-berries too for the light weights over there~
Bartholomew: H-hey...!
Chamomile: Follow me, I’m sure you’ve all been through a rough night and need some R&R, right? Everything’s going to be fine now, I’d leave things to Clark and Carla when it comes to that egg trouble too, they’re good souls~
Clark: Wait... but we don’t have any leads-
Terry: And how do you know about that??
Chamomile: Clark-Cake... you know as well as I do that someone around here sells various human items in the Under and other secluded places... Let’s see if they sell eggs too, yes? And I can only assume the Albino-looking Pikachu, Pinkan-looking Froakie and the the Riolu with the cane are looking for something similar? They’ve asked a lot of Pokemon in the area about eggs and those selling them... some weren’t too eager to answer and ignored them, but some know you Clark-Cake, go for it~
Clark: ... Leave that to me: Terry, Bartholomew, you’re with me!
Terry: What? Why me?? I’m hungry...
Clark: I’m not wandering around the Under alone, I can’t fight well, but you two can-
Terry: I suck at fighting!
Bartholomew: Maybe we can get something for the road...?
Terry: What-
Clark: Besides, you two need to talk, I bet.
Terry: What-
Bartholomew: That’s fine.
Terry: WHA-
Chamomile: No shouting with a patient sleeping, Choco-Nanab Pop~!
Terry: Choco-Nanab...? Yeah... I think I’ll go with you guys...
Clark: Perfect.
<Botarean Variants to be explored more in the future on @askdeceptiveliepard>
<This particular design for Chamomile is based on a design @ask-the-shadow-pokemon had created back when I was working on the variants for deceptiveliepard! \owo/>
Pyre: I mean, we did agree to talk more after taking those recording things, right?
Alan: Yeah...?
Pyre: So, if you’re saying that’s a compliment... then you look nice too! Your fur color’s really-uhh.... pleasing on the... eyes???
Alan: Pfft...
Pyre: What? WHat’s so funny?? Did I compliment you wrong???
Alan: No, no, you’re fine-thank you!
Zenix: I won’t let him die, so long as you answer quickly, simply, there’s a settlement that should be capable of handling a wound to the side like that quite easily.
Pyre: ...
Zenix: What do you know of the Scrafty and Ralts that took Reid away?
Pyre: ...
Zenix: ... What-
Pyre: You died... right? Why hurt Alan so badly...? Why...? Why...?
Zenix: ...
Pyre: I guess... either you reincarnated as a ghost, which doesn’t make sense if you’re still hunting Reid... did Rteddy do this? Terry’s story fits... Rteddy’s followers were after you, weren’t they...?
Zenix: I see you’ve done your own-
Pyre: If you know so much, you’d know how much time Alan and I spend together when we’re able to, for the last few weeks since Kryona was saved... since we had to try and escape it-even before we started seriously talking, I... enjoyed his company... why? Why do this? Why are you here? Why didn’t you stay dead...?
Zenix: ...
Pyre: Do you know... Project Green...? Which of the four was the strongest of the Alphas? Don’t you remember...? Or did Rteddy wipe that memory away? Mind if I show you? You want answers, right? We can talk... let’s talk, please.
Zenix: ... I-
Pyre: OOooh, no I insist!
To Be Continued...
<Alan, Pyre, Gino & Terry are no longer available...>
Gareth: That’s right, now... who is this Dusknoir and why is he after Reid?
Pyre: He’s... his name is... Zenix... he’s following Rteddy’s ideal of... I guess... watching Reid for them...
???: Zenix? And here I thought Zenix was a Scrafty... not that it matters right now.
Zenix: However... something seems familiar about you all...
Carla: Okay? If you’re going to stick around, why don’t I ask some questions: What exactly is Rteddy and why are you observing Reid and his actions? Why are you going out of your way to send his friends to some other world? What’s the point in that?
Zenix: ... Hmm...
Carla: Hey-
Bartholomew: Gone...? How? What happened??
Terry: Why should I... tell you...?
Bartholomew: At this point, I’ve quit the Knights... there’s a lot we’re going to need to talk about, if you didn’t hear from Alan-
Terry: I did.
Bartholomew: Then why don’t you-
Terry: Habits... anyway, someone took him and now we’re all scattered because of it and someone stealing an egg from us.
Bartholomew: Great...
Zenix: I gained some understanding here... hmm... well-
Zenix: Nor the others; I am merely to watch, and I have broken that strategy, believing I’d get answers... at least I remembered some things in the process. Allow me to disable my curses. Goodbye.
Carla: Hold on, wait-aagh...
Pyre: Carla?
Carla: ... Ah...
Gareth: Phew...
Gareth: That’s right, I’m a creation of Team Rockets-a natural born Eevee modified genetically to only be able to evolve into my base forms...
Pyre: Oh...
Carla: He sympathizes with you all, honestly... I can’t blame him either.
Pyre: Oh! Well... it’s nice to meet you, Gareth!
Gareth: Likewise, how do you feel?
Pyre: Better without that curse... but... um...
Carla: Huh? Aah...
Carla: Ah...
Gareth: Great, so, we only know of a Scrafty and Ralts that took Reid thanks to this Zenix character...
Carla: Well, I might have an idea of who they are...? I think, at least...
Gareth: Well, let’s focus on one thing at a time... Alan over there-
Pyre: R-right! Is he-
Clark: Seems that Zenix character damaged him pretty badly, but it wasn’t a deep wound, painful very likely, but that curse combination of his...
Terry: Is he going to be okay??
Clark: He’ll need a lot of rest, maybe...
Carla: Then, let’s head for the Under, I... guess...
Bartholomew: Are you sure about that? Shouldn’t we-
Gino: We have to find Reid.
Bartholomew: Right, why don’t we spli-
Clark: No more splitting up or going solo. The others from their group went there, so we’ll go there too, we’ll regroup, because it’s very obvious who likely has Reid right now...
Pyre: Who???
Clark: Lugia-
Terry: That’s a joke, right? What would a Legendary Pokemon want with Reid? Outside of King-
Clark: Shadow Pokemon, obviously.
Terry: ... ... Let’s... go to the Under and regroup.
Clark: I’m glad you’re still rational...!
Bartholomew: I’ll carry him, should we try teleporting there? Carla?
Carla: ... hmm...
Bartholomew: Carla!
Carla: Huh? Oh... yeah, maybe... I should be able to pull it off...
Bartholomew: You okay?
Clark: Carla?
Pyre: ...?
Gareth: ... Hmm...
Terry: Okay, guys, can we stop and get a move on??
Gino: Y-yeah... I’m really worried about Alan, he... lost a lot of blood, you know...!
Bartholomew: R-right...
Carla: I’ll be right there...! Just give me a moment to prepare... ... ...
Carla: Coming...!
...
Lugia’s... presence is... welcoming...? I... I don’t... like this... but... I-I need to go to the Under... yeah... that’s all... no wonder Clark was so suspicious of me... oh man... I need to focus...! Alan needs help... right!
Gareth: Exactly. If Lugia is on our side because of their connections with Mewtwo, we do not have to worry about any betrayals or any attacks... unless Lugia told their Proxies nothing, which is also possible...
Clark: And-
Carla: I’m going regardless of your arguments, Clark... I’m old enough to make that decision, you know that, right, technically I’m your boss if we’re still following Strident Knight rules here...
Clark: ...
Terry: This isn’t awkward at all...
Gino: Better to ignore it then...?
Terry: Smart move...
Bartholomew: Is this really the place to pull out ranks...?
Carla: No, but, I’m going to need Clark’s medicines.
Clark: What??
Carla: Come on... we’re losing time here...~
Clark: ... fine, whatever, I’m not letting you sneak off with my shadow locator though-if you don’t come back-I’m looking for you, got it?
Carla: Got it. Thanks, Clark.
Clark: Humph...
Gino: What kind of statements...?
Clark: Chamomile’s a carnivorous version of a species of Pokemon you might be familiar with...
Gino: Huh??
Terry: Carnivorous version... um... should we be-
Clark: She’s nice, just... I guess a bit eccentric, don’t be surprised if she nicknames you after foods-
Pyre: Huh???
Bartholomew: Let’s just get down there... I don’t think I want to know more...
Terry: Well, I still want to know what kind of Pokemon we’re dealing with here...!
Dicie: Since we’ve come here, Leo, Pyre and I haven’t been able to focus, Gino made a promise to keep watch, he failed at that, he’s lazy-useless...
Gino: I... I’m sorry...
Terry: I think you’re taking this too far, Dicie. It’s just as much my fault, since I was supposed to take over-
Dicie: Then you’re useless too; at that... you’re just as weak-if not weaker than Leo-
Terry: Excuse me?
Leo: Dicie... we’re not built for fighting, so what-
Dicie: Then what happened will happen again and again; everyone will die, because no one can defend themselves. Sometimes it feels like I’m the only one with any kind of power here-
Hikari: Dicie, you sound like Vou, before he decided to run away-and subsequently died... just like him, you’ve changed, both physically and in attitude... do you want to die too? Because that’s how you die around us.
Dicie: ...
Alan: What the hell, Hikari-
Hikari: Someone needed to say it-there’s too many problems building on top of each other right now-a third one is NOT needed, obviously.
Alan: Yeah, but-
Leo: Um, sorry to interrupt, but... I know my senses are a bit compromised, but... where’s Reid...?
Alan: Reid-
Hikari: He’s disappeared, and the only signs of him are a struggle and blood-lots of it-
Alan: Hikari, seriously-
Leo: What????
Terry: What the hell happened while we were sleeping!?
Hikari: I don’t know, I doubt it’s all connected either, but it’s still so sudden and strange... we need to think of a plan of action, right now, I-
Peroxide: Wait, don’t...
Hikari: I’m sure you’ve seen how well just the egg missing was received.
Peroxide: Yeah, I know... just listen.
Hikari: Am I seriously supposed to believe some random Pokemon defeated Vris? That’s-
Peroxide: Well, it happened... anyway, they sell things that humans often have easy access to in the Under and other places, at least, that’s what I’ve heard-
Hikari: Then, I’m going there. Whoever took it, obviously plans to give it to them-
Alan: Hold on Hikari-
Hikari: I’m not waiting, I’ve made up my mind already-
Pyre: Slow down-
Hikari: No-the last time we slowed down we lost Vou and that egg was all that was left of him-what happens if we slow down this time?
Pyre: I... well-
Alan: We can’t let you go alone-
Leo: I’ll go, I doubt I can help with Reid’s situation since there’s probably going to be fighting involved...
Dicie: I’ll go too.
Leo: ...
Alan: Um...
Hikari: That works fine for me, fighting isn’t necessarily a priority: Leo should be comfortable reading emotions if we get farther away from whatever it emitting this strange aura, and Dicie’s strong enough to handle herself-or someone else if it comes down to that.
Peroxide: Um-
Hikari: I know what I said, but she’d follow us anyway-better to avoid her getting into trouble with her Vou-like mindset.
Dicie: Humph....
Hikari: The rest of you try and find Reid... we’ll meet up at the Under-how’s that for a plan?
Alan: No, it doe-
Gino: Fine by me...
Alan: Wait, Gino, you can’t be serious...!
Gino: I... don’t want to be near Dicie...
Dicie: Fine by me.
Alan: You’re kidding me...
Terry: ... I guess I’ll go along with this plan... I’m no good anywhere else, apparently...
Alan: Terry...??
Pyre: Hikari... are you sure? I could-
Hikari: It’s fine, Pyre. Focus on finding Reid.
Pyre: ... A-alright... I... guess...
Alan: I don’t like any of this...
Hikari: Then you come up with a better plan: should we abandon Reid entirely? Or the egg? Tell me, Alan...?
Hikari: In my prime I wouldn’t be stopped by some obnoxious bitch, but now? I’m tired. I’d welcome a quiet life.
Speara: Well, you need to work for it, obviously.
Hikari: ... Nine years wasn’t enough work, Speara? I spent eight of those wasting away in a frozen lab, this was a chance, but no, Reid’s missing, without him we can’t even work to get Vris on our side-her kid’s missing, so how are we supposed to use her help?
Rteddy’s still a thing-everyone even remotely connected to Reid or Vris is at risk whenever they decide to act out... and they have Zenix as a weapon as well; there’s nothing left, and I still feel the Strident Knights are hiding something else.
Hikari: Ever since I tried copying Reid’s electricity I’ve kind of noticed it; if you haven’t yet, Terry, I guess you’re not as sensitive to whatever kind of energy this is, but, I can only assume it’s a Shadow Pokemon-a particularly powerful one. The feeling’s the same as Reid’s but worse-
Alan: Like when Reid went into Reverse Mode and we had to fight him back at the relic; it feels a bit like that, just... not exactly the same.
Terry: So, someone stronger than Reid is nearby? You think it’s Vris?
Hikari: Hell no, this isn’t Vris, whatever-whoever it is, isn’t shy about spreading their power around... Vris wouldn’t do that, not unless provoked anyway...
Terry: So what do we do?
Hikari: Keep our wits about us? I guess... I’m still a bit burnt out, and it feels calmer near here, so I came over here...
Alan: So, you don’t even have a plan-
Hikari: If this feeling is connected to a Pokemon that’s stronger than Vris or Reid-the only two Pokemon that once matched my strength back then, then we’re outmatched, there’s no plan, there’s no options to fight, it’s run away or die.
