☆38.8☆

[tearsofademon]

[For some time now, Rose has been wondering if her dear partner has been hiding something from her. It's not really all that much to go off of - a never-ending streak of unexplained depression here, a mention of the mysterious term "Alpha Stigma" there - and surely it can't be anything huge, because she knows Ryner isn't good at hiding big things at all... but it's enough to make Rose curious.

Lori can't tell her anything. She may be a psychic type, but Xatus can't use telepathy. If only she could! That would make things so much easier. But alas, Rose has simply had to make do with being curious.

...That is, until today.

There's been a Munna following them since yesterday. There sure are a lot more psychic types around than usual, but in particular, there's that Munna, trying to stay a good enough distance away as to not be noticed, but following nonetheless.

When she confronts the Munna during one of their breaks, it turns out he's a little shy, but just the help she needs. She brings up her problem, and he does have a solution. It's... unconventional, and could be dangerous depending, but upon hearing it, Rose likes the idea. And surely, there wouldn't be any danger in her dear partner's dream, right? :)]

.
.
.

Rose? Where'd you go?

[Just great, Rose ran off somewhere. Ryner sighs.]

Ahh, what a pain. Only ever does what she wants to do...

["Fairy!" ...Oh there she is, leaping right up onto his back as she usually does.]

There you are. Come on, we're--

["Clef clefairy fairy clef clefairy!" But she's ignoring him, instead calling out to someone else behind him.]

...Rose? Is everything...

[He turns around, and sees a Munna floating there.

...A Munna that then starts breathing pink smoke in his face.]

...The hell? What're you... What is...

[But he starts coughing as the smoke envelops him, and it isn't long before he crashes to the ground, out cold. Rose follows, passing out while still clinging to his cloak.]

Comments

[tearsofademon]

Of course I do. Call out to him, and from there, you'll figure it out.

[tearsofademon]

But how do I call out to him? I don't know his name.

[tearsofademon]

Don't you?

[and then as though fading into a gust of wind, he's gone, as though he was never there in the first place]

[tearsofademon]

[conveniently, the smoke cloud clears at this point]

[tearsofademon]

[Obviously, Rose is still standing, undamaged.

She considers the Mr. Mime's words. Call out to him. You know his name.

She considers the Bellossom's words. Take care of him for her.

...She considers the Mime Jr.'s words. When she brought him dango, he called her by name, didn't he? But she never...

and then it hits her. She does know.]

[tearsofademon]

[The Mime Jr., still possessed, raises his arm once more...]

[tearsofademon]

[She braces herself, and then calls out his name as loud as she possibly can.]

RYNER!!!!!

[tearsofademon]

[His arm falters at that name - his name, his identity, everything that was just out of reach, at the edge of his mind, hidden just beyond a (dream) smokey veil, now suddenly flooding his mind. His still shining red eyes widen briefly in shock, but just as quickly start desperately trying to close.]

...R-Rose...

[tearsofademon]

What?

[tearsofademon]

[Her ears perk happily at his voice - he can hear her! He can hear her! That means she can save him!]

Just hang on, dear partner! I'm coming!

[tearsofademon]

...my eyes... please... close...

[meanwhile he will fight to keep himself immobilized until you can]

[tearsofademon]

Do not interfere!

[Just because he can't move his vessel doesn't mean he can't attack. When Pokémon physics meets dream logic, these things can happen, okay.

Alpha used Dark Pulse!]

[tearsofademon]

Light Screen!

[Rose used Light Screen! She now takes half damage from all special attacks.

Dark Pulse barely phases her as she rushes forward.]

[tearsofademon]

[And Alpha can't even attempt to last minute steal control over Ryner's arm to choke her, because... what do you choke on a Clefairy? They have no necks.]

[tearsofademon]

[Not to mention that Mime Jrs. have tiiiiiiiny little arms.]

[tearsofademon]

[And when she eventually gets close enough...]

I just have to close your eyes, right?

[Reaching out to do that, then...]

[tearsofademon]

[Success! Ryner fades to the normal coloration of a Mime Jr., collapsing forward onto Rose.

Briefly - very briefly, slightly before and after the eyes actually get closed - because Foresight is still involved here, Rose can see not a Mime Jr., but her dear partner. She closes eyes that are not just arbitrarily glowing red, but cursed with shining crimson pentacles.

Only briefly though, because as quickly as it comes, it goes, and he's a Mime Jr. again.]

[tearsofademon]

[And for a brief moment, when Alpha reappears, enraged, Rose can see his "true" form as well - a horrifying winged monster, those same crimson pentacles in its own eyes.

...Thankfully, it's only briefly, because then, he's a Spiritomb again.]

[tearsofademon]

Dear partner! Are you okay? Please be okay. Say something!

[tearsofademon]

[He groans and opens his eyes a little. They aren't glowing anymore.]

...I'm sorry...

[tearsofademon]

Hey, it's not your fault, okay? You're okay now, right? That's what matters, dear partner!

[tearsofademon]

...Rose, I...

[He might be on the edge of crying.]

[tearsofademon]

How dare you...

[Yeah, guess who hasn't been banished to the depths of the subconscious yet.

Alpha used Dark Pulse!]

[tearsofademon]

P-Protect!

[Ryner used Protect! Ryner was protected from attacks!

Even if he only barely has the strength to do it, and even starts falling off of where he's holding onto Rose to stay vaguely upright.]

...He should be gone... You closed my eyes, that should have... Why isn't he...

[tearsofademon]

[Rose, however, is kind of miffed, because the stupid Spiritomb is ruining her heartwarming reunion with her dear partner, and hurt him, and tried to hurt her using him. Her finger starts waggling once again.]

I call upon the mystic power of the mother Moon
to grant her humble daughter just a trifle of her boon...
Metronome!