☆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]

[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!

[tearsofademon]

Rose, what are you...

[tearsofademon]

[A ring of orange light appears around Rose's back, almost like the halo of a solar deity. She raises her arms to the sky, and between her hands gathers an orb of orange energy.]

Stop bothering my dear partner!
JUSTICE!

[The orb of energy, once it gets big enough, flies quickly into the sky, leaving orange streaks behind as it travels. It explodes at its peak, clearing a patch of the ever-present red clouds to reveal a dark sky with a full moon behind it, and the shrapnel descends as meteors, all of which target the Spiritomb.

(Rose used Metronome!

Rose used Judgment!)]

[tearsofademon]

[With a snarl, the Spiritomb is hit by every single one of those meteors. Foresight still being in effect, the ghost immunity to Normal type moves is irrelevant, plus she gets STAB. Not to mention, this is freakin' Judgment we're talking about.

And that is how Alpha was banished by the power of the god of Pokémon.]

[tearsofademon]

[And as soon as the big bad is gone, Rose relaxes and smiles at Ryner.]

There. Now he won't try to hurt you again.

[tearsofademon]

[If he wasn't so exhausted, and if this wasn't a dream, he might have something else to say about that. For now, though...]

...Thanks, Rose.

[And then he completely falls to the ground. It's actual ground, now. Subtly but suddenly, without anyone noticing once more, the two of them are now in a small underground cavern, the surrounding stone tinted to appear almost blue. The ceiling is open to the sky, however, and a full moon shines down, reflected on the surface of the pool of clean water in the center of the cave. A warm, gentle breeze blows through the cave, probably a draft from further in.]

[tearsofademon]

[You're still hurt... oh dear, what to do, what to do... Oh!]

Dear partner! Use Mimic, okay?

Moonlight!

[Rose used Moonlight! In this moonlight, that nets her 2/3 of her health bar.]

[tearsofademon]

...okay...

[He pushes himself to enough of a sitting position to be able to function, and then his eyes momentarily glow red.]

Mimic.

[Ryner used Mimic!

Ryner learned Moonlight!]

[tearsofademon]

Good! Now try using it, okay?

[tearsofademon]

Moonlight.

[Ryner used Moonlight! 2/3 of his HP was restored.

...which is good, because he. Pretty much had like 1 HP left.

Stupid Curse.]

[tearsofademon]

Feeling better now?

[tearsofademon]

[stretching a little]

Yeah, I am. That really is an impressive skill, Rose.

[tearsofademon]

Isn't it? It comes naturally~

So what was that, anyway?

[tearsofademon]

[looking away...]

...you don't want to know.

[tearsofademon]

[Swat!]

[tearsofademon]

Owww!!! Rose?!?

[tearsofademon]

I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know.

What was that?

[tearsofademon]

...Alpha Stigma.

[tearsofademon]

[Oh, it's that mysterious term after all.]

Go on. I have all night.

[tearsofademon]

[Every day, I regret teaching you Thunderbolt. :\]

...Back home, I have this power. Alpha Stigma. It lets me copy any magic I see... but sometimes... that happens. I lose control.

I didn't want you to know. You shouldn't have to. It shouldn't matter here. It's supposed to be sealed, I... I'm supposed to be harmless.