[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!

Up against a massive gyrados drone, our heroes started to really feel the heat- but GY-935 still went down, with two more to go!

The third challenge awaits, but something in the air doesn't feel right....find out more, in this episode of Space Case!

EPISODE 6: PEWTER GYM (PT. 4)
 

---

You are now Stretch again.

FILIGREE: I'm-
FILIGREE: REALLY starting to question this whole "training on the same day" thing.
FROND: To be fair-
FROND: This is a pretty big step up from college!

 

You nod.

STRETCH: This is rougher than Pewter was a few years ago.
STRETCH: Difficulty being upped-
STRETCH: Normal.
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: Rookie gyms, though-
STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: ...weird.
FILIGREE: It's what happens when money gets involved, best I can tell.
FILIGREE: Stakes get higher and higher-
FILIGREE: Puzzles, tactics, rosters, everything gets changed out.
FILIGREE: Studying past challenges might not do us any good.
EERIE: Eughh.
FILIGREE: Not the worst part, either.
FILIGREE: Regulation modifiers are basically required.
MINERVA: ....like the safeword system.
FILIGREE: Yeah, but...
FILIGREE: This is a hell of a lot more forgiving.
FILIGREE: Letting you turn down the heat is basically unheard of.
EERIE: ....

 

The rhyhorn closes her eyes, thinking.

EERIE: Could be the point.
EERIE: Gym's hard, but you can bounce.
EERIE: Too much for you? Go home in one piece.
EERIE: Clear it? Good for the big league.
STRETCH: ....gatekeeping.
EERIE: Yeah, that.
STRETCH: ....hm.

 

It's not impossible- likely, even.





....but




Strange.






Rookie gyms usually wanted as many clears as possible to give the League fresh blood.





This...

STRETCH: We should go.





 

The lift down to the third challenge is faster- or, at least feels that way.


Upon the doors opening, your team is met with spooky string lights, clearly tacky and made from holiday decorations on clearance.





You are confused about the gym's budget more with every level.

MINERVA: ...so cute...



 

...At least Minerva's having fun.








You reach an elaborate door- handmade...



...and decorated with cartoon, mask-like faces.

FILIGREE: ...weird.
FILIGREE: Don't like it.
MINERVA: It's not too different from the rest, though!
MINERVA: A nice combination of silly and spooky!
FROND: BDSM's considered "play", so.
FROND: Makes sense!

 

Everyone turns to look at him.

FROND: What?
FROND: I like looking up stuff!




 

You have to push the door with Eerie's help, met with six pathways as soon as you walk inside.

MINERVA: ...is it like the doors?
STRETCH: Likely.

 

Eerie puts a single foot forward and rears back, something spooking her.

EERIE: hhhhhhhhheyyyyy
EERIE: Frrrrond?
FROND: Yeah, Eerie?
EERIE: Can you come with-?
FROND: Oh! Sure!
FROND: Frond and Eerie time strikes again!
EERIE: Haha
EERIE: hah
EERIE: yyyyeah!

 

There's a nervous look in her eye as they go through a path, the rhyhorn uncharacteristically letting him lead.

MINERVA: ....

 

She's got her wings wrapped around herself, fidgeting.

MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: Should go along by myself, I think-
STRETCH: But-
MINERVA: I promise!

 

She waves you off, shuffling off down a path before you can stop her.

MINERVA: I'll be fine!
STRETCH: uh






 

You whip around to check on Filigree-






-only to catch them passing through a different path by themself.

STRETCH: ....







STRETCH: shit.















 

You are now Minerva.








The air's clammy, and the lighting's dim-




You feel the shame start to seep in.


Stupid.
Stupid stupid stupid.



Some golbat you are.



Everyone already knows you're nocturnal-





...and....




... being scared of the dark...


It's just pathetic!




....






You wring your claws.



Maybe you should have gone with Stretch after all.



It'd only been a few days, but- despite the way light usually seared your eyes, its glow was different.



It reminds you of some of the crystals by your family's old-






You freeze.



In front of you stands an ornate mirror.

You tilt your head.
The Minerva in the mirror follows.

MINERVA: Hm.

 

The ground feels especially chilly now, a quick look revealing purple fog- odorless, likely some kind of special effects. It certainly didn't feel strange.



Following the stream, you find yourself seeing more mirrors, spread out in branching paths.




A maze.



Well-
You never really enjoyed mirrors, but you look good today!
Piece of cake!




You enter the closest path, trying to hold yourself tall.

Yes!
You had this under control!


You had bought a cute outfit and had extra weight on you to boot, curves filling out beautifully!


You even had a little bit of a chest today!
It'd been so long since you've had a chance to indulge, to let your body suit how you really want it-

????: If only you didn't have to do all that to get it, right?





 

You jump, whipping around.



Your reflection stares back at you, its face uncharacteristically smug.
It yawns, wearing an overly ornate gothic gown, holding a wine glass of blood between its claws.

VAMPIRE: You and I both know how you feel about being a leech.
VAMPIRE: And, really-
VAMPIRE: People are catching on quick!
VAMPIRE: What a lovely impulse to jump on immediately!

 

Your mouth opens in a partial snarl, the short fur on your body bristling.



This is a hallucination-
or-



some kind of trick-!

VAMPIRE: Perfect for first impressions, isn't it?
MINERVA: I-
VAMPIRE: Come now, don't protest.
VAMPIRE: Being a bloodsucker suits you.
VAMPIRE: You're upper class!
VAMPIRE: The peak of success!
VAMPIRE: Or-
VAMPIRE: Well-

 

It gestures up and down her body, chuckling.

VAMPIRE: You're certainly trying.
VAMPIRE: Shame you can't raid mommy's closet properly anymore.
MINERVA: That's it.

 

You start stomping away from the mirror-
-only for the reflection to follow.

VAMPIRE: All I'm saying is that thrifting is not doing you any favors!
VAMPIRE: Trying too hard never pays off-
VAMPIRE: You look desperate, though I suppose that's apt.
VAMPIRE: Just trying to play pretend, make-believe castles and courtyards.
VAMPIRE: Whatever will you do if-

 

You reach a junction, two paths.

The vampire slides onto the left, hands on its hips.

VAMPIRE: Running away already?
????: Don't listen to her!

 

There's another reflection, leaning against the edge of a mirror on the right. It wears a short, flirtatious dress, showing far more thigh than you'd ever be brave enough to on the street.

FLASHY: She's fuuuull of shit.
FLASHY: Acting all high and mighty-
FLASHY: Stretch gave you that blood in the first place!
VAMPIRE: Well of course she'd take the opportunity-!

 

You immediately storm down the right path.




Your head pounds.
Your ears are ringing.

This is-

This isn't real.


You just have to reach the end of the maze.





It can't be that bad- this stuff is built in hallways.


...



.....right?

FLASHY: And like I was saying-

 

The reflection floats on its back as it follows you across the mirrors, lounging as if on a pool toy.

FLASHY: Don't worry about it!
FLASHY: People give you permission for that stuff!
FLASHY: It's fiiiiine!!

 

The tension you felt with the vampire creeps back in.

You've heard that kind of tone before.

FLASHY: And as long as people give permission-
FLASHY: your needs can get filled
FLASHY: and as long as you make people happy
FLASHY: You won't be alone!
FLASHY: No more desperation!
FLASHY: No more darkness!
FLASHY: A roof over your head!
FLASHY: No more thoughts about running back home to mommy dearest-
MINERVA: SH-
MINERVA: SHUT UP ABOUT MY MOTHER-!

 

It bursts out of you, flinching as soon as the last word leaves your mouth.


.....

The reflection stares, raising its brows.

FLASHY: Now that's not very-
MINERVA: Oh be QUIET

 

You pick up speed, wings pressed to your chest.




Ridiculous.

This is ridiculous.



You're arguing with your reflection- and for what?!

FLASHY: Relaaax!
FLASHY: You're good at it!
FLASHY: Getting people to like you-
FLASHY: It's so easy when you tell them exactly what they want to hear, offer them everything they want...
FLASHY: They'll give you whatever you ask for.
FLASHY: That's mutuality, baby!
FLASHY: Right?


 

You're running now.
You don't have to hear this. You don't want to.
You aren't-




It's not like that!



That-

that would be wrong of you-


That'd be-





You only-

????: You could just turn around and go back.

 

You nearly slam into a mirror directly in your path, rearing back from it.


A completely blacked out silhouette matches your movements.

????: You could give up.
????: Do you even like the person you've become?
????: Rich, elegant, fancy Minerva?
????: Sexy, seductive, forward Minerva?


 

It ripples and shifts, molding itself into a cutesy, scribbled version of yourself with wide eyes and flowers- a half-hearted attempt to make a golbat marketable.

MINNIE: Or maaaybe you can be a cutesy, docile Minerva-

 

It pouts.

MINNIE: Who wouldn't even hurt a lil' daisy.
MINNIE: Sweetie pie Minerva who can do noooo wrong~
MINNIE: Everybody's friend!
MINNIE: Saving the day, making people smile-
MINNIE: And nothing else!
MINNIE: Just become everything people want you to be.

 

It warps back into the blank shadow.

????: Because you don't have anything else.




 

Your vision blurs, eyes full of tears-


Wh-



Why would it be so-




Glass shatters, your breakdown interrupted by raw panic.





It's none of the mirrors around you, the blank shadow peering around the corner.

????: You definitely know how to pick 'em.



 

Realization sets in.

MINERVA: Stretch-?!



 

You rush,


only to skid to a stop
and keep yourself from cutting your feet on shards.








The electabuzz' shoulders are hunched, trying to keep itself from hyperventilating.

Its knuckles are bloody, half of the mirror in front of them completely shattered-







-the bottom portion still reflecting, a pair of tiny, blacked out feet still visible.






Something drips in the reflection, obscured by what had laid above the broken edges-




-the shards on the ground covered in faint stars.






It doesn't say anything when it looks at you, just inhaling deep.

MINERVA: A-
MINERVA: Are you alright-
STRETCH: DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!


 

You can't tell if the force in its voice is more panic or anger.




There's movement in the corner of your eye-





-a reflection of Stretch leaning over in view.



It's definitely-




Well,

it's-






The leather-clad electabuzz smirks as it says something to Stretch, the words inaudible.


Stretch deliberately avoids looking at it, the reflection stroking the bondage harness on its chest and clearly looking back and forth


at you.


A growl sneaks into Stretch's voice, skin crackling now.

Your face heats up, and not in a way you-

FLASHY: Ohhh wow.
FLASHY: Talk about a hunk!

 

The scantily clad Minerva from earlier comes in from the other side, blowing a kiss at the dominantly dressed reflection.

FLASHY: Gets the dress code and everything.
FLASHY: No wonder you want to drink it dry.
FLASHY: Think you'd wanna let it get rough?
MINERVA: TH-
FLASHY: Maybe this time you'll even lik-
MINERVA: THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!

 

It's Stretch's turn to flinch, both of you making panicked attempts at apologizing-






Only for another goddamn Stretch to show up.



Its posture is stumbling, eyes dissociated- wearing only a hospital gown and clutching at its head.



This one doesn't seem to even move its lips, its mere presence getting Stretch to powerwalk as quickly away from the mirrors as possible.

MINERVA: W-wait-!

 

You have to hop over the glass shards, giving yourself a little flap for safety.


Any attempt to keep your eyes on Stretch is made futile by the mirrored reflections- the flirtatious ones seemingly having the time of their lives as they chatter at each other, only able to be heard from their respective sides.

The sultry Minerva wastes no time pulling the dominant Stretch into a tango, off any kind of implied beat and stumbling together.
Even so, they seem gleeful in mutually tormenting their sources, making sure every affectionate gesture is in perfect view.

FLASHY: You know, I think we're made for each other.
FLASHY: Someone finally willing to entertain this desperation-
FLASHY: Maybe you can fix me right up-
FLASHY: Oh, you don't say~?

 

It leans in, its counterpart grinning as it whispers something unseen.

FLASHY: Of course...
FLASHY: I'd be anything for you-
FLASHY: Or anyone who asked.
FLASHY: I can be your new favorite flavor of the week!


VAMPIRE: And I just- it's so interesting...

 

On the other side, the vampiric Minerva looms over the sickly Stretch, the latter limping along and looking back at her nervously.

VAMPIRE: You don't need to keep anything from me.

 

The Stretch seems panicked, picking up the pace and making unheard protests.

VAMPIRE: Are you scared I'll find out?
VAMPIRE: That I'll dig too deep?
VAMPIRE: Don't worry, I'm an expert at hide and seek, or any other games you want to play...
VAMPIRE: You've been so nice to me...
VAMPIRE: But how much are you willing to shatter?
VAMPIRE: When does it go beyond mirrors?

 

The electabuzz' reflection panics, pushing it away-

VAMPIRE: Because it always does.




 

You finally catch a glimpse of the real Stretch's face.





It looks back at you in the same instant.






You hadn't realized both of your cheeks are stained.





Your chest hurts.




You feel naked, more than you have even in the past few days together.

It-


It wouldn't-



You aren't-




These are just, tricks-










....right?



A branching path stops your attempt to escape.

Left, right, forward.

FLASHY: Whatcha say, Minnie?
FLASHY: Keep going with this piece of work-
VAMPIRE: Or run away, just like before?
VAMPIRE: And the time before that, and before-



 

From the way Stretch turns to you, it's been asked similar questions.


Surely there has to be a way out soon.


It's not as if you've hit any dead ends- just different ways through.



No matter which way you go, you'll reach an exit, and be tormented the whole time!
A miserable race to the finish line!






...but going alone means being alone with them.



It's selfish.

Typical for you!

Asking Stretch to suffer just because you're scared.





Maybe you really do just want to peel its brain open and see inside.
Maybe you like the idea of it doing the same, exposing everything you're trying to keep buried.





You've only known each other a few days.
You see somebody and you're so opportunistic- a traveler means a tent, appealing to someone means you'll be kept safe.
Going too fast, rushing into things, it's the devil you know.









You can't even tell if Stretch is happy.

Maybe you're just a fucking monster.


Selfish,
selfish,
selfish.



Self-




Stretch's hand brushes against your wing.



You think about it crying into your chest in the morning.
No pillow talk, no smug bragging, no negging or dismissiveness.
It had cleaned up after and stayed with you when you were so vulnerable after feeding.
Its worried looks, both then and now-





It's just as scared as you.




You take its hand, as best as you can with your limited claws.








You run.



It's easier to keep pace with each other than you'd expect, Stretch's floating matching how much ground you can cover. Whenever your grip starts slipping, you manage to hold tighter- refusing to let the barrier on its skin bounce or repel you away.





....






It seems so starved for physical interaction.


When was the last time someone held its hand,

even just like this?







You both collapse as the mirrors end, over far sooner than either of you expected.





....had they even followed you?
Had you just blocked out the reflections' jeering?



Stretch would be faceplanted on the ground if not for the hover, keeping it one inch off of the carpet-


-but not high enough to keep from sneezing over dust and the last traces of fog.

STRETCH: ....



MINERVA: .......






 

The determination begins to wear off.



You're still trying to catch your breath, Stretch's preference to stare directly at the ground not helping your nerves.


It's.

Well.



You had only known each other for a few days.




This kind of thing never lasts.






You pull your wings in tighter.



You probably screwed everything up.


As soon as the gym challenge is over, there'd be little use for you.



Dead weight.



You could just sneak off-
no, you're registered for the community center room with Stretch-


....


You remember its desperate grip both nights you slept together.

You-



Leaving it alone would be even worse





....you really are a horrible person.




And here you are-




Dragging it into the depths.




It stays there as you pull yourself into a sitting position, wings wrapped around your body.


What did it even think of you now?

What will it think of you?

It saw- all of these separated parts of you











dissected on an operating table.


None of them are- you wouldn't want ANYONE to think of you like that-

It's not-



It's not really you-!





...is it?






Would it matter?

In the end, Stretch saw what it saw.


You saw what you saw.


You saw its sickly reflection disturbed by you
its flirtatious reflection leering at you
and all you can think of is how you'd have it coming either way.






Just throw something at your head or rip you to pieces already.





Get it over with-

EERIE: H-
EERIE: hhhhheeeey

 

You jolt, looking over to see Eerie and Frond both looking like they've been put through the world's most grueling haunted house.





....oh, god, do you look like that?




You desperately try to smooth your fur out, Stretch rolling over to see what's happening.



Frond's voice is strained, giving a half-hearted wave.

FROND: Sup.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Guessing-
FROND: IT WAS BAD AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT
STRETCH: You're literally on TV-



 

He starts making a firm "zip it" gesture, the electabuzz immediately shutting up and taking a deep, shaky breath.

STRETCH: ...great.

 

You make cautious eye contact with Eerie, who looks down at Frond and makes a pained wince.



That's.




Noooooooot good.




Your chest hurts as you remember that you even considered leaving Stretch alone tonight.

EERIE: ...guessing it was just as fun for y'all.

 

You grimace, sucking air through your fangs.

EERIE: Cooool.
EERIE: Do we even know what the point of that was?
STRETCH: Torture, probably.
FROND: Seconding torture.
MINERVA: ....



 

You're inclined to agree-



You remember your own observation about earlier.
Physical overwhelm, sensory overwhelm-
All in service of teaching you limits.



But-

FILIGREE: Hey!

 

The bellsprout jogs in, nearly falling over as they skid to a stop.

EERIE: How bad was your house of horrors?
FILIGREE: Huh?

 

They blink.

FILIGREE: Uh
FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: Oh.
FILIGREE: Right.

 

Dead silence.

EERIE: ....
EERIE: No way in hell it was a piece of cake for you.
FROND: Wh-
FROND: Are you made of, like-
FROND: Some kind of, I don't know-
FROND: Invincible- brain, stuff?!
FILIGREE: Uh
MINERVA: You don't have to-
FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: It's, uh

 

They shrug.

FILIGREE: It was...weird, but-
FILIGREE: I guess....
FILIGREE: I knew what I was- getting...into?
FILIGREE: If you all call it a "house of horrors"-
FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: It was stuff I found scarier a long time ago.
STRETCH: .....

 

It looks away, Filigree wringing its leaves.

FILIGREE: Did I-
EERIE: It's just jealous or some shit.
EERIE: God knows I am, fuck's sake.
STRETCH: ...Let's just get to the rest area.










 

You fidget with your claws, everyone else looking equally as uncomfortable.
The only person who doesn't look like they crave the sweet embrace of death is Filigree, the bellsprout lost in deep thought.




You feel like you should say something.


That's what people do when things like this happen, right?


When something goes terribly wrong, and someone needs support-









The right thing to do is to stay positive and help them feel like it's going to be okay!










You say nothing.









Selfish.






The loudspeaker clicks on.

????: Congraaatu-

 

Stretch looks tiredly up at the speaker as the battler lets out a huge yawn, interrupting any attempt at drama.

There's audible noises of someone stretching and groaning over it.

????: hwateverrrrrhrhhr

 

The elevator opens.

????: Cmon down!
FROND: ....
EERIE: ....
MINERVA: ....
STRETCH: .....
FILIGREE: ....not liking this one.

 

The electabuzz takes the longest, most pained inhale you've seen so far.

STRETCH: Let's get it over with.





 

The lift feels agonizingly slow this time around.



You keep looking at Stretch.


It's staring at the door, straight ahead.






You wish you could pat it.
It seemed to help it a lot-








being a bloodsucker suits you








-but it'd




probably just make things worse






and you don't want that.








The lift dings.





Entering the next arena reveals a massive bedroom, ornate and covered in velvet curtains, cushions, plushes, string lights-


-a massive canopy bed occupying the far end.

EERIE: The fuck is-

 

A shape on the bed stirs, what appearing to be a giant substitute plush rising from a heap of pillows.

????: Man...
????: I really thought I was going to get more rest in.
????: Guests to my room are pretty rare!

 

She rolls out of bed, flopping on the ground before lifting herself up.

EERIE: You have got to be kidding me.
????: No kidding around here!
????: My name's Suture, and I can assure you-
SUTURE: I'm the last one before Cleave!
SUTURE: So this is as serious as it gets.

 

It's hard to tell if she's looking your team over, embroidered eyes and a static zipper mouth not giving much in the way of expression.

SUTURE: Quite the varied bunch...
SUTURE: I saw your performance in the maze-

 

A huge yawn interrupts her, only for the costumed mon to stretch, cracking multiple joints in the process.

SUTURE: And it gave me great insight!
FILIGREE: ....she was watching us?

 

Stretch pales, looking especially panicked.

STRETCH: shit
SUTURE: So, question is!
SUTURE: Who's brave enough to face some demons today?
SUTURE: You all gave me PLENTY of material!

 

STRETCH: I-
MINERVA: I'll go!



 

....



what?



why did you






ohhhh no

MINERVA: I-I mean-!



 

Ohhhhhh no why are you doing this

MINERVA: That was-
MINERVA: That was cruel!
MINERVA: That awful maze-!

 

Suture keeps stretching, doing some warmup exercises.

SUTURE: Uh huh.
MINERVA: What kind of a challenge are you trying to run?!
SUTURE: One that clearly got to your head.
SUTURE: So what's it gonna be?

 

She points at you, snickering under her mask.

SUTURE: You gonna lay down and take it?
SUTURE: Or, yknow-
SUTURE: If you're not up for it-

 

She tilts her head.

SUTURE: One of your buddies'll do just fine.

 

Your fur stands on end. Everyone but Filigree's face turns to panic, stammering.

FILIGREE: Minnie, maybe you should let m-
MINERVA: I said I'd do it!
SUTURE: Cool!

 

She waves a hand, heading to her side of the field.

SUTURE: Goood luuuuuck~!


 

 

Okay.

Ooookay
okay okay okay


Don't
mess this up



ohhh god-



You keep waiting for the buzzer to go off.

SUTURE: Gonna warn you, kid-
SUTURE: I play mean.
SUTURE: Do your best to keep up, okay?
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: I'll be fine.



 

The buzzer sounds.




You flap with full force, closing the distance and slamming directly into Suture with all you can muster.



She's sent flying, slamming against her bedframe with a nasty wooden crack.

SUTURE: Mgghh...
SUTURE: Yknow that's an antique, right-?

 

A little pang of guilt hits.

MINERVA: I'm sor-


 

The costumed mon laughs, loud and harsh.

SUTURE: Apologizing over a bedpost?
SUTURE: Just because it's old?
SUTURE: Fancy?
SUTURE: From the look of that getup in the maze, you've got an affinity for the stuff.

 

She steps back into the ring, stomping closer and closer.
You're having a hard trouble moving.
Your lip quivers.

SUTURE: How about lil' ol me, huh?
SUTURE: Easier to feel bad over breaking stuff, more than people?
SUTURE: Great news for you-
SUTURE: I'm the same.

 

You watch her fist reel back, her zipper grin feeling particularly manic.

SUTURE: My turn.


 

Her first strike hits directly into your side, heavy enough to get you staggering. You can't help but cry out over it, eyes welling up.


Why is


this so hard


immediately?

SUTURE: THAT ALL YOU GOT?
SUTURE: That's the FIRST hit!
SUTURE: You want me to feel sorry for you?
SUTURE: You're TWICE my size!
SUTURE: You could eat me in a single bite!

 

You try to uselessly whack at her with your claws, Suture just taking it as an opportunity to pry your wings apart with both hands.



peeling you open just like the maze

SUTURE: You just don't wanna LOOK BAD!
SUTURE: Soooo scaaared that someone will assume the worst~
SUTURE: BULLSHIT
SUTURE: People talking smack is INEVITABLE!
SUTURE: You'll never meet their standards!
SUTURE: Always a new hurdle-
SUTURE: And right now, I'm YOURS.
SUTURE: SO FIGHT ME LIKE A REAL OPPONENT!



 

You try to push on her with your full weight, only to be shoved hard enough to skid backwards.

SUTURE: I didn't come THIS FAR



 

you have to get away from her.

SUTURE: and work THIS HARD



 

this was a mistake.

SUTURE: To have my time WASTED



 

you shouldn't have signed up to go first.

SUTURE: By somebody more worried about fitting in



 

you probably shouldn't have tried to make friends at all.

SUTURE: than speaking the FUCK up!
SUTURE: You wanna be taken seriously?
SUTURE: LET IT ALLLLL OUT!

 

....



let it...out?

What is there to say? To scream,
cry,
protest?


There's no point to any of it!


Why would doing that


in front of
EVERYONE



...have any meaning at all?

She slams a fist into her chest.

SUTURE: HIT ME BACK.
SUTURE: SHOW ME WHAT YOU FUCKING GOT.


 

Suture comes at you fast, decking you directly in the stomach.

SUTURE: You wanna be pretty?


 

you don't know

SUTURE: Sexy?


 

you don't know

SUTURE: Cute?


 

you don't KNOW

SUTURE: Then DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO BE!
SUTURE: You can't get anywhere in the League without a spine!
SUTURE: What do you want to BE, MINERVA?!


 

Something inside you snaps.

MINERVA: STOP
MINERVA: BULLYING ME

 

You slam into your opponent hard, enough to stun anyone-

MINERVA: I JUST DON'T WANT TO HURT ANYONE!

 

She gets back up, laughing bitterly.

SUTURE: Mmm-mmm, the maze says differently!
MINERVA: Th-
MINERVA: Those are- EXAGGERATED MIRRORS!
MINERVA: False images!


 

they have to be

SUTURE: Exaggerated?
SUTURE: HAH
SUTURE: You just don't wanna face the FACTS!

 

She circles you, rolling her shoulders and prepping for another hit.

SUTURE: Everybody picks their look from a catalogue-
SUTURE: And you don't like your style!
SUTURE: Bit of this-
SUTURE: Bit of that-
SUTURE: And you've got a SELF image!

 

You hit her again.

She tanks it.


And she just

keeps



talking.

SUTURE: Those mirrors-
SUTURE: Don't show anybody's reflection on you-
 

SUTURE: BUT YOURS!


 

You can't break through.

She keeps getting back up.
Any attempt to keep her down, she just comes back from.


And every hit hurts more and more.






She gets you in the chest, leaving you gasping for breath.




please

please let her just


you need just one hit-



You manage to get a proper hip check in, Suture knocked to the ground.



Yes!
Oh, god, maybe you could-

SUTURE: Nice try.


 

She yanks your tail, using a distressing amount of force to pull you to the ground.

SUTURE: You fight sloppier when you're freaked out, yknow!
SUTURE: Got more damage on me than I expected-
SUTURE: I'm actually sweating in my suit!
SUTURE: You should be IMPRESSED!

 

She gets to her feet and kicks you in the stomach.


This is


could this even be called a fight?





There's no grace or technique to what either of you are doing.

SUTURE: WHAT'LL IT BE, MINNIE?


 

It's about as sporting as the scuffles you got into at private school, wrestling in the mud until someone lost a tooth.

SUTURE: You're SPENT!


 

It's like you said earlier

SUTURE: So close, yet SO FAR!



 

bullying.

SUTURE: But you're just getting started!
SUTURE: You got the whole League ahead of you-

 

She kicks you in the stomach again.

SUTURE: Right~?
 

SUTURE: Don't you wanna keep going?


 

You feel dizzy.

SUTURE: Make it big?


 

The room is swirling.

SUTURE: That's why you're here, isn't it?


 

You try to get to your knees and fail.


you messed up






why

did you offer to go first





You remember the fear in peoples' eyes when Suture introduced herself.




How Stretch had looked hovering over fragments of the night sky, shaking with its knuckles bloodied.



How Frond had looked shaken enough to frown, and scared not just for his sake, but for Stretch's as well-




....and how Eerie had no more jokes, no ribbing at all.



Just terror.







....why did you think you could defend them?

SUTURE: Last chance, Minnie!


 

you can get up
you can get up, you know you can

SUTURE: You bail now, you save some face!


 

it's just someone yelling at you.
this wasn't how it went with caress.
you handled that.

SUTURE: Get your chance to beat my ass another time-


 

but it isn't happening now.
you could dive in to save Eerie, someone you had barely known, someone even cruel to you at times-

SUTURE: -cuz proving me wrong is NOT happening today.


 

But you can't win this for yourself.

SUTURE: Or!
SUTURE: You can DOUBLE DOWN!


 

Why would you ever deserve that.

SUTURE: Pick your poison-

 

She grabs you by the face, raising you to meet her eyes. You can barely see her zipped-up face through the tears.

SUTURE: USE YOUR SAFEWORD
SUTURE: OR LET ME WIN.



 

....but you still can't let go.

Surely there's


something you can do-

MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I can't-
MINERVA: I CAN'T LET YOU-



 

of course


you'd

let them all down

STRETCH: MINERVA!
STRETCH: D
STRETCH: DON'T LISTEN TO HER!
STRETCH: Y-YOUR REFLECTIONS-

 

Even without looking, you can feel it choking on its words.

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: I THOUGHT THEY WERE COOL!
STRETCH: S-SO
STRETCH: PLEASE
STRETCH: DON'T KEEP DOING THIS
STRETCH: TAG OUT!

 

Its face falls, the insecurity immediately seeping in-


You give it a weak smile.

MINERVA: C. Crescent.
MINERVA: I give.
SUTURE: Tooook you long enough!

 

Suture sets you down with a shocking amount of care, toe tapping as Stretch makes its way into the arena.

It offers a hand, cautious.

STRETCH: ....can you walk?
MINERVA: ...yes.
MINERVA: I think so.

 

Stretch pulls you up, steadying you on your feet.

STRETCH: Go.

 

It takes some hobbling, but you flop out of the ring just in time for Stretch to avoid a penalty.

EERIE: .....you, uh-
MINERVA: I'm-
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: Hah...
MINERVA: I feel like shit.
EERIE: ...so the rich girl can swear after all.
MINERVA: On occasion.

 

Suture huffs, hands on her hips.

SUTURE: Y'all good now?
STRETCH: ....yes.
SUTURE: Cool!
SUTURE: Welcome, new toy!
SUTURE: Where to start~?

 

Stretch immediately goes for a jab, eyes fierce-

-only for the plush-like mon to dart away.

SUTURE: Nuh-uh.
SUTURE: You think you're too cool to get a roast?
STRETCH: Nngh-
SUTURE: NO SUCH LUCK!

 

You watch as Stretch and Suture enter what you can only describe as a frantic game of keep away, the gym battler seemingly more invested in its torment than actually winning.

SUTURE: STRETCH! Let's see~
SUTURE: Somebody wants to be the cooool guy.
SUTURE: So cool!
SUTURE: And your papers tell me you're the captain too!
SUTURE: Big dreams-
SUTURE: -for someone who can't accept being sick.



 

Its reflection clutching at its head, wincing in pain.
It had looked so terrified looking back at yours-



-you thought it'd been obvious.

The vampire had hurt it, clearly.



The hospital gown-

SUTURE: How'd you think that's gonna go, huh?
SUTURE: Leather daddy fit?
SUTURE: HAH!
SUTURE: Ohhh, so strong, so haaandsome-


 

You had been waiting for it to hurt your reflection-

-dressed tough, the kind of thing you'd seen plenty of times staring at a glowing tablet screen.

Surely there would have been a moment where it would lose it, because you made it easy


It had smiled, laughed, and told yours some kind of saucy secret.
Comfortable, playful.

SUTURE: What happens on a bad day?

 

The look Stretch had given you from night one, pleading and desperate when you offered something as simple as a hug.

SUTURE: Head hurts? Stomach sick?

 

Its fingertips buried deep in your chest.

SUTURE: Can't fight? Can't eat?


 

Its horror at how vulnerable you ended up after feeding, how attentive it was to things you never would have thought were a problem.

SUTURE: What happens when you cant BE the HUNK
SUTURE: Poor, sickly Stretch-
SUTURE: GET. REAL.
SUTURE: You wanna be a fighter?
SUTURE: You wanna have sex appeal~
SUTURE: Then work what you've GOT!

 

She dives out of the way of a particularly nasty swing, Stretch's eyes impossibly wide as it pants.

SUTURE: You think any of us hold back?!
SUTURE: NO!
SUTURE: We do it different!
SUTURE: We fuck nasty, we beat each other up for FUN
SUTURE: And spend a motherfucking WEEK laid up in bed!
SUTURE: Every action's gotta have an aftercare reaction-
SUTURE: And unless you shape the fuck up,
SUTURE: ADAPT
SUTURE: AND SIT YOUR ASS DOWN AFTER
SUTURE: YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.

 

Stretch lets out an actual snarl, patience completely lost.

STRETCH: Don't assume things about me.

 

Suture laughs, narrowly dodging another wild attack.

SUTURE: First impressions are all we got!
SUTURE: So-
SUTURE: Who do YOU w-



 

It finally lands one, directly to the side of the head.

STRETCH: What I pick-
 

Another hard slam, spiking her into the mat like a volleyball.

STRETCH: Is none of your business.
SUTURE: G
SUTURE: gooodddd
SUTURE: aaaansewrrrre


 

The buzzer sounds.



You almost collapse as you try to get back onto the field, Eerie immediately grabbing to support you.

EERIE: Don't eat shit-
MINERVA: I-

 

Stretch turns just in time for you to clumsily pull it into a hug.

MINERVA: ...I'm-
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: S'okay.

 

It sighs, clearly enjoying rumbling against your chest. It feels just as good for you, a welcome reprieve from the tension and aching in every part of your body.

STRETCH: I don't
STRETCH: like it when people talk like that.
STRETCH: ....

 

It rests it head closer, its voice quiet.

STRETCH: even if
STRETCH: she's not
STRETCH: wrong.

 

You comb its hair-antennae with your claws, giving it a pat.

MINERVA: ...I thought your reflections were very cool too.
MINERVA: Once-
MINERVA: ....I stopped seeing them as-



 

It nods.



You linger there together until you feel yourself sway, plunking down on the floor with Stretch in your lap in an effort to simultaneously not pass out and maintain your status as an ever-reliable living blanket.



Your moment of peace is interrupted by the plush-disguised mon stirring on the ground-


-and starting to laugh, tiny at first, and building up to a proper cackle.

SUTURE: Sheesh-
SUTURE: Only got to fight two of you, and what a SHOW!
SUTURE: I've gotta thank you for such a good TV debut.

 

Frond splutters, stomping into the carpeted mats.

FROND: Th-
FROND: The fuck is your problem?!
FROND: Putting us through all that-
SUTURE: What, mad it stings more than the others?

 

She shrugs and starts getting up, making an unsteady noise in the process.

SUTURE: I'm the second to last fighter.
SUTURE: You wanna go up against Cleave-
FROND: That's fighting DIRTY!

 

The costumed mon laughs, somewhat bitterly.

SUTURE: Dirty?
SUTURE: Oh, babe-
SUTURE: This is nothing.

 

She puts one hand on her hip, strutting around with more than a bit of an exhausted wobble.

SUTURE: Cameras are off now while we have our chitchat-
SUTURE: But if you clear Cleave, you're in the League!
SUTURE: The big time!
SUTURE: And when you're up against the other leaders and their teams...
SUTURE: Oh, it's bad.

 

Filigree wrings their leaves.

FILIGREE: ....they really have gotten nastier, haven't they?
SUTURE: You have NO idea!
SUTURE: They keep the camera rolling anywhere and everywhere!
SUTURE: Poking you with pitchforks just to see you scramble!
SUTURE: Breaks? HAH!
SUTURE: Every possible weakness lined up like a grand buffet for the press-
SUTURE: Like, hey-
SUTURE: Out of all the things in that maze?
SUTURE: The verbal smackdown Minerva and Stretch just got through?
SUTURE: Nothing on your list of limitations showed up.
SUTURE: For any of you.

 

Your eyes widen.


She's right.


None of your limitations were there.


Not a one.

MINERVA: How-
SUTURE: Eeeeverybody's got gaps!
SUTURE: This whole time, you walked in thinking-
SUTURE: I can take it. I'm tough.
SUTURE: You're so sure what you can and can't handle.

 

She wags a finger in each of your faces.

SUTURE: But you were wrong!
SUTURE: No one can fully know themselves and what'll hurt!
SUTURE: And other people are gonna see it happen.
SUTURE: Whether that's in person or on the air-
SUTURE: You're gonna get cracked open like a nut.
SUTURE: So!
SUTURE: Seize this valuable information!
SUTURE: Take a gooood long look in the mirrors even when you HATE it!
SUTURE: Dig deep!
SUTURE: Mess around a little!
SUTURE: Everyone wears masks, and in this industry-
SUTURE: You'll need plenty!
SUTURE: But-

 

She points to her unmoving, cutesy smile.

SUTURE: At least figure out something that makes you happy.

 

She saunters away with her speech now finished, belly flopping back into bed.

SUTURE: Good luck with Cleave, Shooting Stars!

 

She flicks on the TV, watching some form of cute cartoon.

Your team stands there, mildly in shock, as she hums along to the theme song.

FROND: ....
STRETCH: .....
MINERVA: .......
EERIE: ......
FILIGREE: ....asshole.
EERIE: YOU SAID IT.

---

 

The Shooting Stars have only one thing left in their path....the fight with Cleave, the gym leader! Can they bring it home, especially after such a brutal psychological beatdown?!

 

No suggestions this time, folks- this is a FIVE PARTER! 

Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!