[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
Cleave is the only battler left in the Shooting Stars' way....but as the mysterious leader of a gym full of surprises, no one knows what tricks hide up his sleeve!

....is anyone even in condition to fight in the first place? Find out...on SPACE CASE!

EPISODE 9: PEWTER GYM (PT. 5)

---

You are now Filigree again.


....



............







Well, this is a problem.




Congrats, you all made it to Cleave- somehow, despite having just trained properly today.
You're more than aware that this is nothing short of a miracle.
To even have victory within reach is more than anyone could expect of you.


Hell, you're even televised.
This is freak shit.






But the luck had to run out somewhere, and you're sitting at the rest area with a very unavoidable truth sinking in.






Everyone else is fucking wasted.





Health-wise, yeah, no, people are holding up way better than expected.
Banged up, sure, but not a lot of physical damage.





The rest of your party ranges from staring into nothing to having a barely-held-back panic attack.

The gym has been generous, far more generous than most.
You've done plenty of reading, more than anyone else here- well, Stretch and Frond seem to be similar kinds of geeks.

Hard to say.




You snap yourself back on track. No time to nerd out.
Focus.




Usually there's a time limit in rest areas, if they even exist at all.
The water's quite generous, too.
This room even has cold towels.
For prepping you for the worst, it's pretty luxurious.




But you need to be on the field soon.
It'd look terrible on broadcast otherwise, and-






....fuck.





You take a deep breath.




Oookay.

Maybe-
maybe you can just stall for it.

Get things started like the fight with GY and have someone tag in when there's a good opportunity.










You can literally hear Stretch sucking air through its teeth to keep from freaking out.




ouuuuuggh




No! No, you have to- it's all on you now. You're the one who asked to go, to be taken onto the team in the first place-



....



You think about the mirror maze.
About Eerie stumbling out of the first challenge, shocked at your constitution after all that.
Every time you've done something, these mons all seem genuinely impressed.
You stepped up for GY, and it worked out- terrifying,

but it did!



Regardless of just knowing them a few hours, you-





....You don't have a lot of friends.
They seem cool!


And- you can help them!




They're...counting on you.





If you back down now-


....


You hop off the couch, people looking down at you as you brush yourself off and stand tall.

FILIGREE: I'll go.
FROND: ...first?

 

You shake your head.

FILIGREE: I-




FILIGREE: I'm going to solo him.









 

Dead silence.

EERIE: ...
EERIE: That sounds-
EERIE: Like a bad plan.
FROND: Dude-
MINERVA: What if you get hurt-

 

Stretch interrupts, its voice firm.

STRETCH: Let them.
MINERVA: But-!


 

It sighs, head in hands.

STRETCH: ....you're sure about this.
FILIGREE: ......
FILIGREE: Yeah.
STRETCH: Then you'll do it.
FROND: But-

 

Frond looks genuinely worried for your safety.

FROND: ....what if you go down?
STRETCH: If it happens-

 

It looks at you, its eyes weary.




You hadn't noticed its eyebags before.

Most of the time, it seemed to be staring so wide that all you could focus on was its sparkling blue scleras, or completely avoiding making contact.

STRETCH: We'll handle it.


 

You nod, conviction starting to catch up with you.
You've come this far. You've been proving yourself hardcore.





Besides-




-you have some questions to ask Cleave.





Stretch gets up, leaning against the wall and calling up to the intercom once again.

STRETCH: We're ready.







 

Silence.

MINERVA: ...did it break?
EERIE: Swear to god-
????: Come in.

 

The voice is even, hard to get a read on its tone- but the door opens all the same, your team walking through before anyone has time to start having doubts.








The final arena is simple- a more standard gym fighting field, with its mats colored to match the rest of the gym's distinct interior-





And then you see it.



A throne sits at the other side, a figure reclined on it and watching you.

EERIE: that's cleave?





 

....





......





He's smaller than you.


And not only that-
you can't guess what species he was for a million bucks.
Judging by the tension in Stretch's brow, neither can your team captain.



Worrying-




-but even stranger due to the nature of it.

Cleave is coated in latex, similar to GY- but wearing a cowboy hat, built in boots, and a gas mask with masses of tubing extending to the sides, all around him.
Coating the throne, extending into the walls-


The tubes pulse, something pumping through them and away from their source. Exhaling- no, something tells you that's not quite right.





In fact, it answers one of your very, very large questions for him.



He waves a hand at your team, friendly and welcoming.
Frond and Minerva wave back, the former particularly cheery.

FROND: I love your getup!

 

There's a soft noise from the gym leader, raising a gloved hand before fishing out some kind of holographic tablet.

He taps a few buttons, watching you expectantly.

CLEAVE: Hello! Thank you!

 

The same, even voice coming out of the intercom- prerecorded lines and phrases.

CLEAVE: It's nice to meet you!
CLEAVE: You fought very well.

 

He claps a few times, genuinely excited.

Before anyone can respond, he holds a hand up again, tapping more buttons this time.

CLEAVE: I'm happy we're on TV!

 

It comes through as a unique sentence made up of samples from Caress' voice.

CLEAVE: It has been very hard.
FROND: ...no kidding...
EERIE: This is our debut too, yknow!
EERIE: Your gym's got a real sick sense of humor!




 

Cleave has to think for a moment.

CLEAVE: It isn't funny.

 

Another pause, shaking his head.

CLEAVE: Not funny. But important.
CLEAVE: Gyms are challenges.
CLEAVE: You are here to be tested.

 

He taps his chest.

CLEAVE: You will fight me.
CLEAVE: If you win, you will get the badge and proceed.
CLEAVE: I am very nice!

 

The sample is a full sentence recording from Suture, Eerie giving him a dead stare.

CLEAVE: Other gym leaders are not.

 

His hand falls back to his side, posture serious.

CLEAVE: They will hurt you.


CLEAVE: It will not be play.



 

You've heard this sentiment before, all throughout the challenges- spoken by the gym team, and blaring thematically through every struggle up until this point.



It seems obvious.


That's the gym's thing.


It's what you speculated, right from the beginning.







Something about hearing it now scares you shitless, even coming out of this tiny latex cowboy.





You don't get time to ask more, the gym leader waving a hand.

CLEAVE: I am talking too much.
CLEAVE: I'm a chatterbox!

 

It's Caress' voice this time, the phrase said with more than a little bit of pleased, gentle laughter.

CLEAVE: We will fight!


 

He hops off of his throne, stumbling just a little.

CLEAVE: Who is first?

 

Stretch looks down at you.

STRETCH: You good?

 

Stand tall.


Stand proud.



You've come this far.

FILIGREE: Yeah.

 

It gives you a thumbs up, everyone standing back as you get on the field.

CLEAVE: Hello!
CLEAVE: What is your name?
FILIGREE: ...Filigree.
FILIGREE: Filigree Marcas.

 

He jolts in shock, having to set his tablet down for a moment to clap excitedly, scrambling to pick it back up.

CLEAVE: Yes!
CLEAVE: Wonderful!
CLEAVE: Hello!

 

The gym leader shuffles to his throne to put his tablet to the side, coming back to the field with his tubes dragging everywhere.



Standing in front of him, he doesn't look that imposing at all.

Even with the boots and the hat, you're still taller.




He rubs his hands together, latex gloves squeaking, gleeful to get going.




Cleave's feet leave the ground.



oh



that's





The gym leader raises himself, tubes shifting and hoisting him into the air, far above you.



Some unmount from the walls, trickling purple wisps.








that's not good




You hear muffled laughter inside his gas mask- playful, savoring how your eyes widen.







This may have been a mistake.

















It's fine.


It's fine.



You circle your opponent, watching him do the same.



Scope it out.


What kind of mon is he-




Oh, who are you kidding.
No way in hell you're identifying him in that suit.





The sound of tubing shuffling against the ground snaps you out of it.




ohhhh



no





While the two of you have been circling each other-



-he's been making a loop.







You are surrounded.






Not getting hit is no longer an option.






Welp.






You swallow.


Better make every strike on him count.








No time for holding back.




You rush his ass, ignoring every part of you screaming that this is fucking suicidal.

EERIE: WHAT ARE THEY-


 

He tries to yank himself backward, only to take the full brunt of a slam, letting out a distinct metallic OOF.


Something, that's something, maybe he's-



You move a half step back before he's on you, one of the wires snapping around your body in a tight loop.

FILIGREE: FUCK


 

There's an audible collective wince behind you, one that gets more distant as you're yanked in closer.



You can't move.
Cleave is laughing, having the time of his life.




Panic instinctually builds in your chest-



-only for the end of the hose-like tube to approach your face, the smoke more obvious now.





...Just as you suspected.



Your fear eases up- you're still in this guy's grip, but you've got one up on him that no one else in the team has.








You know what you're working with.






The room slips away.







You stand in a rocky clearing, the full moon overhead. Large cliffs surround you, the quarry as familiar as ever. Its minecarts and scattered tools lay abandoned, only you as this pit's sole occupant.



Purple mist seeps through the area, thicker around the boundaries of the quarry- your own personal nightmare, just for this fight.




You can still feel Cleave's wires around you, in the real world, spreading your limbs and keeping you held tight.




This isn't the first time you've walked this plane- if you could even call it that.






Your eyes meet a figure directly in front of you-





a victreebell,
towering above.




He wears the same loose, badly fitted overalls you remember him in- your uncle had to help him in and out of them on account of his stiff leaves, the protective garment's shape and buckles unsuited for someone of his species.



Your father had looked back at you in the maze, and he looks at you again now. His eyes are tired, breath shaky.
In the mirrors, he had started out the way you remembered him, only to decay-





-and here you see him, sickly, wilting, purple liquid leaking from his mouth and eyes, barely hanging on.



He takes a shambling step towards you, fumbling for a pickaxe on the ground and managing to lift it.




His presence isn't a threat.

He would never do that to you.





He takes another step, raising the tool.







You are here to be tested.









You roll to the side before he can swing- even with your father's weakening body, the axe shatters the rocky ground behind you, bits of stone shrapnel hitting your back.


He splutters, the sound familiar as he chokes on the poison running through his body.




It had been especially bad for him compared to the rest of the quarry, his acid replaced, body breaking down before the others-





You turn on a dime and feel yourself wince as you see him there, still trying to haul himself to strike again.





Volatile in the final days, lashing out- not at you, but himself.




He tries again, and stumbles.




You refuse to approach, keeping yourself away from him.



He knew he was going.

He knew he was going to leave you.



Your aunt and uncle had already gone under weeks prior, and his time was running out.




Your father keeps pushing himself, trying in vain to reach you.



The bindings around your limbs tighten in a world beyond this one.



You need an opening.





Think.





The worlds run parallel.




There's no bindings on you here, not physically-

....




You bear your lamprey-like teeth, pointing at the shuddering victreebell in front of you.

FILIGREE: You just can't let it go, huh?!

 

His eyes widen, further taken aback by you slamming directly into his chest, bowling him over.

FILIGREE: I told you before-!

 

He won't be able to speak- you knew that part already.

Words had become harder for him, and even with your family's resources left behind by other passing relatives-




-something like Cleave's tablet would have been out of reach. Less expensive now, surely-






But there's no time to wish for impossible things.





Right now, you're not speaking to your father, and never would again.

FILIGREE: I'm making it WORK!


 

Sludge pours from his mouth, over your head, into your eyes-




It does nothing, only a little sting.
You're used to it.


His eyes widen again, trying to drag himself back.

FILIGREE: I know you wanted what's best for me!


 

You take a stomp towards him, your root making the ground shake.

FILIGREE: You worked so hard!


 

His eyes ooze with tears,
a burbling,
choking sob escaping him-

FILIGREE: You did a really, really good job!



 

But he's not afraid,

or upset with you,

or angry-








Years prior,
he had told you to stand tall.

Be the person you wanted to be, chase your dreams.

You want to become a League battler?


Do it.


And then he started to see things, hacking up the ooze and losing function by the month,
week,
and then day.



You inhale, feeling the wires swing backwards as you gather your words.




One thing had been clear above all else, his dying wish- one of the last things he was able to communicate.




Do not end up like him.




The wires hit a high point, and you rush forward- on your feet in this world, and swinging with as much force as you can in reality.

FILIGREE: But it's-!


 

Stay safe.

FILIGREE: My-!



 

Stay contained.

FILIGREE: TURN!





 

Stay docile.





And frankly-












You slam into him, sending him flying- impacting latex coated metal, a sense of triumph filling you.





You've been pretty fucking sick of it.




He gives you one last look.

FILIGREE: ....



 

Words wouldn't cover it.
He's gone.
.....but in a strange way-





You hope he understands.







You feel the bindings loosen-



-reality coming back into view as you land on the ground.





The buzzer sounds, cheering not only coming from your team, but through all the walls. Confetti dumps all over the arena, a fanfare playing-

FROND: ONE WAY MIRRORS, BABY!!!!
FROND: WHOOOO!
MINERVA: GOOD JOB!!
EERIE: Dude actually did it!



 

Wow.

....you actually did.





Cleave lays on the floor beside you, the tubes vibrating-


Laughing, so hard that he's wheezing.



You kneel by the gym leader's side, watching him shuffle into a sitting position.

FILIGREE: ...
FILIGREE: You good?

 

Cleave nods, muffled within his suit as he laughs.
His voice sounds weak, familiar in a way that would have hurt even just a year ago.

FILIGREE: Need some help?

 

Another nod, the latex-clad mon taking your leaf and holding onto it as you lead him back.
Easing him onto his throne takes a bit of effort, but you get the feeling he appreciates it as you hand him his tablet.

CLEAVE: Congratulations!

 

With the press of a button, confetti rains down on the whole arena, your team cheering as best as they can with all the exhaustion.

CLEAVE: Good show!
CLEAVE: I am very happy.
CLEAVE: You have earned the Bindingbadge!

 

Cleave raises a hand.

CLEAVE: Wait for me.

 

He reaches into a cleverly disguised basket on the side, fishing around for your team's prize.

CLEAVE: Who is your team captain?

 

You point back at the electabuzz, your team shouldering it as they shamble over.
Stretch gives a half wave.

Cleave waves back, far more enthusiastic.

CLEAVE: The badge is for everyone.
CLEAVE: Your captain will keep it safe.
CLEAVE: Does that make sense?


 

You nod, taking it carefully in your leaf.


..............



............................




It is a cheap enamel pin shaped like a padlock.

CLEAVE: We do not have much money.
 

A prerecorded, guilty-sounding line from Caress.

FILIGREE: I love it.

 

Cleave nods, another laugh coming from inside the suit.

FILIGREE: ...does your back hurt, sir?
FILIGREE: I hit you pretty hard there.



 

Another nod- enthusiastically.



You smile.






It'd been some time since you've taken care of someone's joint aches, lost in it-

you don't even notice as Stretch approaches, up until his shadow casts over the throne.

FILIGREE: oop
FILIGREE: Uh!


STRETCH: ....



FILIGREE: Sor-

 

It shakes its head.

STRETCH: It's okay.
STRETCH: Just.
STRETCH: Not typical. Gym procedure.
STRETCH: ...making sure you're okay.
FILIGREE: Oh!
FILIGREE: Yes, yeah, I'm-

 

Embarrassed, you rub the back of your head.

FILIGREE: I'm good.
CLEAVE: They are helping me.

 

He pauses, tapping the arm of his throne before thinking his next words over.

CLEAVE: You are from a good place.
CLEAVE: I don't talk to people from home.
STRETCH: ....?

 

You don't clarify, too focused on meeting the eyes of Cleave's mask.

FILIGREE: I don't either.
FILIGREE: ....nature of it, I guess.
CLEAVE: Yes.

 

Hesitation,
before distinctly lowering the volume and gesturing for you to come closer.


Stretch takes a step away, getting the gist immediately.

CLEAVE: Are you sick?
FILIGREE: ...yeah.

 

He reaches up, tapping the tubes coming out of his mask.

CLEAVE: You don't fight like me.

 

You nod, tapping the thorns on your neck.

FILIGREE: My dad-
FILIGREE: It- was kind of out of the question.
FILIGREE: He thought exposure would make it spread-

 

Cleave shakes his head, enthusiastically.

CLEAVE: Don't worry.
CLEAVE: The danger comes from the mines.

 

He presses a hand to your chest.

CLEAVE: Not you.
FILIGREE: .....




 

You remember the first night you had coughed it up-







-two years after he had passed.

FILIGREE: I know.
FILIGREE: I-



FILIGREE: I've known.



 

He pats your head.

CLEAVE: You are very strong.
CLEAVE: You fight well.
CLEAVE: You are very nice!

 

It splices Suture's earlier line, getting an outright laugh out of you.

CLEAVE: You will be okay.
CLEAVE: I promise.

 

You press your leaf on top of his hand.

 

FILIGREE: Thank you, sir.

 

The gym leader nods, gesturing for you to give his hand back before shuffling through some menus-




-bringing up a contact list.

CLEAVE: Can we talk again?
FILIGREE: Oh!
FILIGREE: Oh, yeah-
FILIGREE: That'd be awesome!
CLEAVE: Good.



 

He shows you how to touch the screen without any mis-presses, and you enter your nav number.

CLEAVE: Your team is waiting.



 

You jump, turning around to see everyone.

EERIE: Done having a heart to heart?
FILIGREE: Y-yeah!
FILIGREE: S. Sorry about that.
FROND: Who cares about apologies-
FROND: You actually did it!
EERIE: Not bad for somebody who showed up last minutes.
MINERVA: we all trained at the same time.............
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: It's going to be harder from here.
STRETCH: We-
EERIE: Aw, lighten up.
EERIE: Stop being a stiff for two goddamn seconds.
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: I'm, the-
STRETCH: Captain. It's my job to-!


 

Minerva pats it on the head, getting a sigh in return.

STRETCH: ...nn. Okay.
STRETCH: Fine.
STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: We did good.
STRETCH: You
STRETCH: Did good.


 

Eerie scoops you up before you can say anything, hauling you onto her shoulders.

EERIE: Let's get outta here-
FILIGREE: H-HEY
EERIE: Little guy gets a victory lap.


 

You stop your protesting, a smile sneaking onto your face.

FILIGREE: Well-
FILIGREE: i guess
FROND: Yeah! Plus-
FROND: You gotta tell us how you took on that big victreebel-
FILIGREE: oh god you could see that
FROND: It was so sick!!









 

You are now Stretch again.




The walk back to the final elevator is a weird one- just a few feet, and yet



It feels further than you've ever traveled before.



This is it.





You-

You did it.
You barely fought yourself, but



That ended up working out.





Weirdly.




Your team did it.





Your team did it.





Your eye wanders to the four mons walking alongside you, cheering and laughing with each other.



Smiling doesn't come easy to you- never did. You don't know if it ever would.
.....
Still.




It's.
Nice.





And maybe the light warmth in your chest is good enough.







Cleave waves goodbye as you head up-


-only for a loud sound-

FROND: oh my god




 

-to get more intense as you reached the top floor.






Your eyes widen.





When the doors open-








You're back at the bar.




And everyone is cheering.




People are wall to wall, pounding on tables, all kind of pokemon, all sizes-



All so, so excited.




Chants of "PEWTER!" mix in with people yelling your name, someone grabbing your wrist-

STRETCH: oh don't do that

 

-only for it to be Suture, her zipper grin unphased.

SUTURE: AND IT ALL WENT LIVE, FOLKS!



 

You pull your wrist away with an apologetic look, Suture shrugging as she points to the sports TV.



....replays of your fight, commentary over it.

You see yourself in third person, your entire team starstruck.




You are now a known League team.

EERIE: H-holy-
MINERVA: That's- that's me up there-
FROND: That's ALL of us!
FROND: WE DID IT!



 

The bar cheers with him, your antennae going back.




....this is a lot for you, as exciting as it is.


Minerva seems to notice first, tugging on your shirt sleeve.

MINERVA: ...let's go outside for a while, okay?

 

You manage a nod, all you can really do.



Minerva whispers something to Eerie, getting a noncommital gesture.

EERIE: Suit yourself, I'm getting plastered.
EERIE: Sign says winners get free drinks.
FROND: ...and free food...?

 

The widest grin crosses his face.

EERIE: All the burgers you can eat.

 

He looks back at you giving him the best thumbs up you can muster as Minerva scoots you out the back.




It's night- and late, by the look of it. The exhaustion hits all at once, Minerva having to hold you against her as she slides down the side of the building.

MINERVA: ....
STRETCH: ....

 

You fumble into her lap, nothing sexy about it this time- for either of you.




It's just time to hold and be held.





She pets your hair-antennae, a light purr sneaking out before you can stop it.

MINERVA: ....



MINERVA: Thank you.


 

Your attempt at "for what" comes out as a garbled nonsense sound. She giggles, somehow picking up on it.

MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I was really scared back there.
MINERVA: .......



MINERVA: ....i still am.

 

You look back up at her with wide, blue eyes.
Her own have so much fear in them.

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Meant. It.
STRETCH: What I said.
MINERVA: You really think....
MINERVA: Those, those awful reflections-
STRETCH: They're not awful.
STRETCH: Mine were-
MINERVA: No! Not at all!
MINERVA: ....

 

More petting, scratching around your cheek and chin.



Ohhh it feels good. You'd probably be panicking sooo bad right now if you weren't getting spoiled like this.

MINERVA: Maybe-
MINERVA: If we keep this up...
MINERVA: .....
MINERVA: We could get you a fancy leather jacket.

 

You splutter, taken aback instantly.

MINERVA: And pants-
STRETCH: m-minerva-
MINERVA: It was quite the getup-
STRETCH: A.
MINERVA: Very- commanding.
STRETCH: H.

 

She giggles more, hugging you close.

MINERVA: Silly.
STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: o
STRETCH: Only-
STRETCH: if i get to
STRETCH: see you in a skirt
STRETCH: like. that.
STRETCH: Nn.

 

A couple head pats.

MINERVA: Deal.





 

You stay like that until the noise inside winds down, people trickling out the front and heading home. You've almost dozed off when Frond opens the back door, drool all over his place.

STRETCH: ....are-
STRETCH: Are you drunk?
FROND: Huh?
FROND: Oh! Nah.
FROND: Drinking makes me reek.




 

a small twinge of recognition

FROND: No, they just-
FROND: You gotta see the burgers.
MINERVA: Are they that good?
FROND: I have eaten five.
MINERVA: Well-
MINERVA: Are you ready, dear?

 

You nod, letting the bat help you up.

MINERVA: There we go...
STRETCH: ...thanks.
FROND: Place is way quieter now, basically just us and some stragglers.
STRETCH: ....a meal sounds good.
FROND: 'specially after the show we put on!





 

He holds the door open for both of you, the bar feeling much more inviting without all the noise and bodies. Your team is settled comfortably in a circular booth, Filigree watching as Eerie does one of those knife stabbing tricks between her claws.

MINERVA: ...should she be-?
STRETCH: No.

 

Frond seems too occupied with zooming back to order more food, leaving you and Minerva to watch the rhyhorn in horror.
Fili notices you first, waving you down- Eerie looking distinctly disappointed to lose her captive audience.

FILIGREE: You doing okay?
MINERVA: Much better now!

 

She lets you sit in between her and Frond, spreading a wing across your back like some sort of emotional shock blanket.
You let it rest there, pointing to things on the menu for her to order you.




...usually you'd feel a lot more self conscious about this.



Maybe-




...




....seeing Cleave had done you some good.





Maybe the whole gym did.





Even with all the pain, it hurts so much less now. You're sore, but as the nachos you order reach your table, it mainly just feels...oddly cozy.

EERIE: Never thought you were the messy eater type.

 

Her voice is teasing, but not aggressive.

EERIE: Doesn't get weird, with like-
EERIE: Your whole-

 

She gestures with her claws.

EERIE: Thing.

 

You shake your head.

STRETCH: ....doesn't happen with food.
EERIE: Eh?
EERIE: Hhhhow does that work.

 

Oh.

Right.


She's drunk.



That explains it.

EERIE: How's exceptions work......
EERIE: With being all. Bouncy.
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: I.
STRETCH: Don't know.
FILIGREE: ....you've never run, like, tests-?
STRETCH: Of course I have.

 

It comes out immediate, defensive.
You slump, hiding in Minerva's wing.

STRETCH: ....it's. Complicated.
EERIE: We have GOT
EERIE: To figure that out.
FROND: ....it could be strategic!

 

He smiles at you.

STRETCH: ...yeah.







 

It's practically empty by the time you're almost done with your food, Eerie having sobered enough to stop slurring and trying to skewer her own fingers.
Filigree's been showing Frond pictures on their phone, going over some kind of local plants in the area.
Minerva's scritching your head, and you're starting to feel downright sleepy.

EERIE: ....hey.

 

You open your eyes and look over.





.....she looks serious.

EERIE: We gotta-

 

She raises a finger to gather herself, clearly not all sober yet.

EERIE: ....we gotta talk about a thing.
STRETCH: ....?
MINERVA: Is there a problem...?
EERIE: They had us do- all of that mirror shit.
EERIE: And whatever was going on with Fili at the end.
EERIE: We gotta talk about it.




 

The nice feeling is going away very quickly.

MINERVA: ...she's right.
FILIGREE: People are...definitely going to-
FROND: Ask questions.

 

His voice sounds similarly tired.









Your chest hurts.

MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: You think...we should be honest with each other, then.
EERIE: ....yeah.
EERIE: We all got some kinda baggage and I don't wanna be sideswiped.
EERIE: ...

 

She grabs Filigree's water cup and downs what's left, the bellsprout not even bothering to protest.

EERIE: INCLUDING
EERIE: Me.
EERIE: And if I'm dealing with problems, everybody else is gonna have to.
FILIGREE: Eerie-
EERIE: What? I'm right.
EERIE: We should introduce ourselves for real!
EERIE: None of this...I dunno.

 



 

You hate this.






You really fucking hate this.




Ouuugh god you hate this

STRETCH: ...it's.
STRETCH: A good idea.
EERIE: Thank you.
MINERVA: I agree, it's-
MINERVA: Uncomfortable, but the gym members are right.
MINERVA: Other people aren't going to let us get away with having vulnerabilities...
MINERVA: As cruel as it is.
EERIE: Then it's settled.

 

The rhyhorn leans over on the table, resting her head on her hand as her elbow makes a solid "thunk".

EERIE: I'll go first, clear the goddamn air in here.
EERIE: I'm Eerie, Pewter City born and raised.
EERIE: My family sucked, school sucked, I ran away, joined Team Osteo when I was a teen.
EERIE: I needed money, they had jobs.
EERIE: Simple as.
EERIE: I quit a couple years ago when they started dragging people out back and bashing their brains out.
EERIE: Got my license so I could use my club legally.
EERIE: Congratulations.
EERIE: My stupid ass backstory is here.
EERIE: Please defend my honor if they make me look like shit on the news.
FILIGREE: ...well.
FILIGREE: It's, easy to remember.
EERIE: I don't mince words and I don't like talking about this when I'm buzzed to hell.
EERIE: Now it's done with.
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: Is carrying the club worth it?
EERIE: Sure is when you don't have much else.
EERIE: I got that, and I got the smog-
STRETCH: ....which doesn't do much.
EERIE: Yyyup.
STRETCH: If-
STRETCH: If we could help you train.
STRETCH: Would you want that?
EERIE: What, like get new moves?

 

She shrugs.

EERIE: I mean, yeah.
EERIE: S'just strategic.
EERIE: I'll take the best stuff I can get.
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Right.
STRETCH: Sounds good.
FROND: Besides-
FROND: Pretty sure you proved your point plenty in the gym.
FROND: No more Osteo!
EERIE: Damn straight.
EERIE: See how they like having an ex-member in the League.

 

She avoids eye contact for a moment, and then clears her throat.

EERIE: Who's next?









 

Silence.










It takes a moment for someone to speak up.

FILIGREE: ...okay.
FILIGREE: I'll...go.


FILIGREE: I'm Filigree, and-
FILIGREE: ....feels like some kind of therapy meetup...
FILIGREE: We're all new here, but I'm the newest.
EERIE: By like, two days.
EERIE: You proved yourself or whatever.
FROND: No kidding!
FILIGREE: ....thanks.
FILIGREE: With, the whole-
FILIGREE: Gym fight.
FILIGREE: I grew up by Sediment Quarry...same as Cleave.
FILIGREE: When I was just a little kid, my parents split.
FROND: Been there.
FROND: My mom's been doing their thing since I was like, twelve.
FILIGREE: ...five for me.
FILIGREE: My dad was all I had for ages.
FILIGREE: Hard worker. I loved him more than anything.
FROND: Is-

 

They nod.

FILIGREE: That was him.
FILIGREE: ...was.
FILIGREE: Everybody knew there was something in that mine, but it seemed harmless.
FILIGREE: You'd get nightmares every so often, but that's what happens when you're in a hole most of the day.

 

The bellsprout wraps their leaves together.

FILIGREE: .....and then people started to get sick.
FILIGREE: My dad was one of the last to go.
FILIGREE: When he passed, I inherited the house, enough to make it by-
FILIGREE: But I got sick too.
FILIGREE: And- it didn't go away. Or kill me.
STRETCH: ....the same poison Cleave has.

 

They nod again, not looking too bothered about it.

FILIGREE: Pills keep it managed, at least outwardly.
FILIGREE: It's....progressive, either way.
FILIGREE: Cleave-
FILIGREE: What happened to him probably will for me too, someday.
FILIGREE: But I made peace with that.

 

They smile, softly.

FILIGREE: And now I know more ways I can deal with it.
MINERVA: ...do you have enough medication to travel?
MINERVA: It- this is quite the long journey...
FILIGREE: Mmmm



 

It takes them a minute, counting in their head.

FILIGREE: I got a few months' emergency supply.
FILIGREE: As long as I top up when I get to a new town, I should be okay.
STRETCH: "Should?"
FILIGREE: No one can predict everything.
STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: Right.
STRETCH: ...fair enough.
FILIGREE: I- I can get people a list of symptoms and emergency care.
MINERVA: That'd be good...
MINERVA: I'd definitely like to help-
EERIE: Yeah, you're the whole-

 

She gestures to her keeping you wrapped up.

EERIE: Caring. Type.

 

Minerva immediately seems self conscious.

MINERVA: I just like to...
STRETCH: You're good at it.

 

Headpats for you.





yes.




.....




...............




oh god, what are you becoming.





Frond raises his hand, cheery as ever.

FROND: My turn!
FILIGREE: Go for it.

 

Frond rubs his hands together.

FROND: Well, y'all know me-
FROND: I'm Frond!





 

....the enthusiasm wanes, just a bit.

FROND: .....
FROND: I mean-
FROND: There's, not a whole lot to say, y'know?
FROND: I like food, I collect stupid shirts-
FROND: I think battling's pretty fun, and I can tell you all kinds of awesome trivia about old shows.
FROND: I got food reccs for days. Pretty good cook, too!
FROND: My mom's a coach at the college me and Stretch went to...
FROND: And-





 

His voice gets very, very quiet.

FROND: We were friends, as kids.








 

fuck









Even Minerva's claws massaging your scalp can't make the sting of that one hurt less.




You-






What do you even-

STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: We
STRETCH: are friends now.




 

Fuck, that's clunky.

STRETCH: Present tense.




 

That's worse.
The fuck are you even saying.




But, somehow-






His face lights up.

STRETCH: D.
STRETCH: please don't start yelling

 

He raises his hands- thank god, subtly this time.

FROND: whooooo!

 

Everyone laughs but you, but Frond doesn't seem to mind.
His expression is nothing but appreciative as he leans over, whispering just for you.

FROND: ....thanks, bud.
STRETCH: ...yeah.
STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: thanks to you, too

 

He goes back to his normal seat, grin restored.

FROND: Who's next?





 

Eugh.




Maybe you should, just-

MINERVA: I!
MINERVA: I'll go.

 

You look up at her, the worry and discomfort clear on her face.





....why didn't you



volunteer first?






God, she looks like she's going to go through hell over this-

MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: Mm!

 

The golbat swallows, the sound having quite a way to travel.

MINERVA: I do
MINERVA: NOT
MINERVA: Talk about this stuff-




MINERVA: ....




 

Her eyes flick to the side, extra nervous.

EERIE: ....don't look at me like that.
EERIE: I ain't promising I won't rib you, but you did bail my ass out in that first fight.
EERIE: ...just spit it out.




 

A nod, pulling you in like a teddy bear.


okay



sure




you're a




comfort object or something


now







okayyyyyy

MINERVA: ....my name is Minerva-


 

Okay now she's squeezing you this is quite a bit

MINERVA: ...last name Eclipse.

 

Frond chokes on his drink, interrupting the guilty warm fuzzies taking over your brain.

FROND: YOU'RE-

 

Filigree immediately claps a leaf over the gloom's mouth before his outside voice can escape.

MINERVA: ....I figured-
MINERVA: You know-

 

Your gloom companion has to get his shit together.

FROND: No, that's-
FROND: Fuck-
MINERVA: I don't, associate-
FROND: No wonder you've been having a hard time!

 

Eerie looks just as shocked, unable to say much.

STRETCH: ...I'm missing something.
EERIE: No shit, you live under a rock or something?
STRETCH: yes, kind of.
MINERVA: It's-
MINERVA: I can explain more later, but....
MINERVA: ....the Eclipses are one of the most elite families in this city.
MINERVA: I am their sole heir, or-
MINERVA: I...was.

 

She looks back to Eerie, the amount of guilt on the rhyhorn's face palpable.

MINERVA: You're not the only runaway.
EERIE: That's-
EERIE: I- I remember seeing you on TV as a kid.
EERIE: They said you-

 

Eerie covers her face in her claws, groaning.

EERIE: .....I'm sorry.
EERIE: I
EERIE: REALLY should not have said all that shit.
EERIE: Next time I do that- slap me across the face.

 

The golbat's eyes widen.

MINERVA: um
MINERVA: I don't think that would go well.
EERIE: Throw a chair or something, then!
EERIE: Don't just- don't just take that shit!
MINERVA: ....

 

She smiles, just a little.

MINERVA: ...okay.




 
 

The time has come.




Everyone is looking at you.







Staring.








They've all given their stories.








You have no option to get out of this.





It would make you look like an asshole, and-




.....



It's.





You do have to.





Out of anyone here, you have to.








Having rough family life, it- it was extremely serious, you knew that, god did you ever-










a shattered mirror full of stars

STRETCH: My-
STRETCH: My name is Stretch.
STRETCH: uh
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: From. Pallet Town.
STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: G-graduated, from community college-
STRETCH: ....






 

You have to take one deep breath








and then another.

STRETCH: They're-
STRETCH: p
STRETCH: Probably
STRETCH: going to look, into it-






 

You feel yourself choke up.

MINERVA: You don't have to-

 

You shake your head.

STRETCH: I do.
STRETCH: ...You were with me in the maze.
STRETCH: It's- Related.
FROND: ....

 

His silence hurts, but.



It's the confirmation you need.

STRETCH: Something-
STRETCH: There was an-
STRETCH: incident
STRETCH: When I was a kid.
STRETCH: It.
STRETCH: M.
STRETCH: Made me like this.

 

You gesture to your whole...everything.

STRETCH: Evolved wrong.
STRETCH: And, it-








 

flashbulbs in your face, too many voices demanding answers

STRETCH: It made the papers, so-






 

You can't do this.





You're trying.
They deserve a straight answer.






Your mouth feels too wet and too dry all at once.




And yet

STRETCH: ...I'm sorry.
STRETCH: I.
STRETCH: Can't. Say much else.




 

Fuck.

STRETCH: ....sorry.





 

You're such a-

MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: .......hey...




 

You look up at her with a pathetic stare.


She smiles, wiping your eyes and nose- you hadn't even realize they were dripping.

MINERVA: None of us would be here without you.
MINERVA: You can talk about it at your own pace.
EERIE: ....and I'll stop giving you shit about it.
EERIE: That much, at least.
EERIE: Chair rule applies to you too.

 

Frond leans over on the table, a smug look on his face.

FROND: Do I get t-
EERIE: Nope.

 

Your lip twitches at that, Frond catching it with a big grin of his own.



...........



It-




Okay.



Maybe, someday




you can tell them.




The conversation resumes, people wrapping up their food and packing up after what feels like a surprisingly comfortable eternity.




Frond waves to the barkeep as you head out, having stayed til the last call. Eerie's carrying all the leftovers, making you distinctly nervous-

MINERVA: It's....
MINERVA: Been a rough few days.
MINERVA: We should get back and relax.







 

oh thank god

FILIGREE: Staying up late with leftovers and a shitty horror movie night for me.






 

aren't you all staying up late enough

EERIE: Ugh, that sounds good right now.




 

uh oh

MINERVA: It would be fun to watch something together-




 

Oh no

STRETCH: wait
FROND: SLEEPOVER IN MINERVA'S ROOM!
STRETCH: WAIT
FROND: WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

---

The Pewter Gym is now conquered, and the Shooting Stars have their next goal ahead....their adventure can go anywhere from here....

But for now, a sleepover awaits! Suggest what you think the gang gets up to- and find out what happens next time....on SPACE CASE!