[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
Off we go to Route 3, new friends and new powersets in tow- the Shooting Stars are setting out for a terrifying new challenge...

Eerie certainly has caused trouble for our party, too...how much? Find out...on SPACE CASE!

EPISODE 11: Entering the Mirror Mist!

---

The first thing you notice is the looks.


Sure, you all got some stares when you came in- you, Frond and Eerie had been pretty blatant variants, with Eerie being the only normal one of the bunch...

But these linger.


They are looking at you. Not just your hovering, or your pink stripes-





It's like the bar.

FROND: Dude....
FROND: I think
FROND: that guy over there is-

 
 

Except much....more...

EERIE: Don't make eye contact. Don't.
EERIE: Keeeeep walking.

 

Varied.




Your team is now a recognized entity.




It is weird! You're- you're pretty weirded out by this one. You hate people staring at you, and now-



I mean, you expected this.

You knew you'd at least get-


Top of your class, that means you were going to get somewhere-



You've been shooting for the championship position since-





Someone cheers as you pass, and your thought spirals simmer into pure anxiety.




Ohhh this is the. Bad part.
Going on a hike for a week sounds GREAT right now.
No people! The open road!





Filigree has to dodge someone bumping into them, likely on purpose-

Eerie scooping them up and starting to powerwalk.

EERIE: I know a back route lettttt's goooooooooooooo Now.

 




 

You can't say that going through shady alleyways to avoid fans and less-than-fans alike was on your or anyone else's agenda, but you reach the gates outside of the city well enough.

MINERVA: T...thank you Eerie...

 

Minerva's short fur is a little on end, nerves high.

MINERVA: It's- very nice that people are enthusiastic!
FILIGREE: ....but we could probably go without the glares....
EERIE: ....
EERIE: Least I can do!
EERIE: I got us into this mess.

 

She says it with a huff, but- it's genuine.

EERIE: If we're gonna pay for me talking shit, I gotta step it up.
MINERVA: That's...

 

Eerie gives her a look, the bat waving her claws.

MINERVA: Responsible!
MINERVA: Genuinely, it's-
MINERVA: I respect it quite a bit...
MINERVA: ....thank you.
FROND: Just don't push yourself too bad, alright?

 

Frond gives Eerie a pat on the lower back, the rhyhorn's posture slumping.

EERIE: Let's just get outta here.









 

No trouble at the gate beyond a big thumbs up from the guard on shift, which you halfheartedly return. Smiling isn't in your repertoire even on a good day, but at least this is viable. Frond covers any awkwardness with a proper high five.

STRETCH: ....thanks.
FROND: Anytime, bud.
FROND: Filling each other's gaps!

 


 

....still, sometimes you wish you could return these kinds of looks back.





The doors slide open, revealing the bright, unblocked sun-

MINERVA: W-wow-

 

Filigree steps forward without too much fuss, adjusting their bag strap. It takes them a moment to realize that Minerva and Eerie are busy gawking.

FILIGREE: ....oh.
FILIGREE: Right.



FILIGREE: Uh



FILIGREE: Weeeelcome to-
FILIGREE: Route....3?




 

It's sprawling, an upwards slope winding around cliffs and turns- easier than the mountain looming in the far distance for sure, but....

MINERVA: It's-
MINERVA: Very different than photos-
FROND: Cmon!
FROND: If the view's this good from here, you're gonna love it as we get higher!

 

He joins Filigree, grinning wide.

STRETCH: H-hey-

 

Minerva sticks close to you, almost as if trying and failing to hide behind.

STRETCH: Buddy system.
STRETCH: Buddy system.
EERIE: What, worried my shitnav won't be able to do much?

 

She pats her bag pocket.

You nod, not bothering to be polite about it.

EERIE: Smart.
EERIE: If we're lucky, it'll get more signal the higher we go.

 

The rhyhorn snorts, leading the three of you over to join the group.

STRETCH: ...Filigree.
FILIGREE: Mhm?
STRETCH: You know the way-
FILIGREE: And my nav works, yeah.
FROND: Mine's pretty good too!
STRETCH: Then you two are our hiking leaders.
FROND: I get to LEAD-
STRETCH: inside voice
FROND: Dude, we're outside!
FROND: This is the best place to yell!
FROND: ....

 

He leans over, a goofy conspiratorial smile.

FROND: But I'll behave.
FROND: Wouldn't want to cause any avalanches!
STRETCH: H
STRETCH: Right.






 

It takes Minerva some time to adjust to the rough terrain, figuring out the best way to hop over it when needed.

FROND: I gotta ask-
FROND: How's flying feel?
MINERVA: Oh, um
MINERVA: You're asking me?
FROND: Yeah!
MINERVA: T-truth be told-!

 

She laughs, embarrassed.

MINERVA: I'm not all that good at it.
MINERVA: A flap here, a flap there-
EERIE: Not a fan of airtime?
MINERVA: No, just...
MINERVA: Not much in the way of experience.

 

She avoids a particularly sizable rock.

MINERVA: I suppose I have learning to do...
FROND: Hey, maybe we could get you registered!
STRETCH: That requires a permit, Frond, and courses...

 

You look over at the golbat.

STRETCH: But it could be worth the time.
MINERVA: You really think so??
EERIE: If it means less hiking, I'll raise the tuition myself.
FILIGREE: ....Eerie, you're, like. Best equipped for this.
EERIE: I'm not tired, I'm just
EERIE: boreeeeddddd.
MINERVA: Well-

 

She pauses, taking in the view as best as she can from under her sunhat.

MINERVA: It's definitely lovely scenery...
FROND: You said it!

 

The gloom is eagerly rooting around through some scrub brush, his smile widening.

FROND: Ohhh, this is gonna be good-
FILIGREE: ....oh!

 

The bellsprout smiles as they peek over.

FILIGREE: I had these all the time at my uncle's!
EERIE: Out with it, share-

 

He holds up a decently large berry between his two hands, yellowed and ridged.

FROND: Chartis, baby!



 

You make a face.



You really

really

Do not like charti berries.

EERIE: Heh-
EERIE: Sooomebody doesn't like pickles-
STRETCH: It's.
STRETCH: The taste
STRETCH: Is fine.
FROND: Don't worry, man!
FROND: I'll find some other stuff to combo it with, seasoning only!

 

He's already scrambling off to find more, leaving you to sigh.

EERIE: ...

 

She adjusts her bag strap, smiling at the gloom's back.

STRETCH: ....you two are getting along.
EERIE: Yeah?
EERIE: Frond's cool.
EERIE: Lookin' forward to more time to fuck around and do stupid shit together.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: ....he's good at that.
EERIE: Been friends for like, what-
EERIE: ....

 

She notices the look on your face.

EERIE: ...we don't gotta talk about it.
EERIE: I-

 

She makes a noncommittal gesture.

EERIE: I just think it's cool.
EERIE: I don't got any friends from when I was little.
MINERVA: I never really did at all...

 

Minerva smiles, more guiltily than anything.

MINERVA: It, um-
MINERVA: would have interfered with my schooling
EERIE: No offense to you, Minnie-

 

Eerie huffs, rolling her eyes.

EERIE: I only saw your folks on TV or whatever, but they seemed like real sticks in the mud.

 

Minerva gasps, completely failing to cover her gaping maw-




-only to giggle, gleeful.

MINERVA: You have
MINERVA: no idea how nice it is to hear that.
EERIE: Yeah?
MINERVA: Everyone always told me I should be so, so-
MINERVA: So grateful!

 

She blushes, shyly holding her wing claws together.

MINERVA: Either that, or they lump me in with them...
MINERVA: Thank you!

 

Eerie snorts, her turn to look embarrassed.

EERIE: ...cmon, you're makin' it weird.
EERIE: Just a simple observation.
EERIE: ....yknow, that they look like they belong on some kinda show about haunted dolls.
MINERVA: heheheheeh
FILIGREE: Hey!
FILIGREE: You three are pretty bad at the buddy system yourself, huh?
EERIE: FROND'S FAULT FOR WANDERING OFF!
FROND: I'M HELPING!!!

 

You let out a little noise, the closest thing to a laugh you were gonna get. Minerva looks particularly delighted, pulling you forward.

MINERVA: Come on, then-
MINERVA: I want to see more!







 

You wish the nice part of the hike could have lasted forever.










The mon in front of you snickers, his drills at his hips- definitely some kind of variant, but with only the black fur color to go off of...you can't place it.

BEEDRILL: You really thought this would go well, huh?

 

You had simply been rounding the corner.
Filigree was in the lead, the team making casual conversation.

Early afternoon.

The heat was easing up, even.


And then your bellsprout teammate had gotten backhanded by a drill, slamming into the nearby cliff wall.

BEEDRILL: I'll admit, girl-
BEEDRILL: You've got guts.

 

The seadra next to him snickers, tossing a sharpened rib between her claws.

SEADRA: Figures, if you ask me!
SEADRA: Boss man said that she-
FROND: LEAVE US ALONE!

 

He's rushing over to help Fili up, Eerie's eyes widening.

EERIE: Dumbass, don't-!



 

 

 
 

You manage to dive in before the jab hits, yanking Frond out of the way as a bone-tipped stinger slams into the rock behind him. Fili barely manages to duck, yelping a string of incomprehensible cusses in the process.

EERIE: THAT'S IT

 

The rhyhorn steps forward, taking her club into her hands and charging the beedrill.

EERIE: IT'S ME YOU WANT-!



 

He's too quick.







The blow to Eerie's head crest knocks her back, and then directly into her shoulder joint.







She nearly drops the club, her attempt at a swing completely dodged.

Panic builds in your chest, busy having to get Filigree and Frond up on their feet just to have your pulse making them sway and feel worse-





Eerie can barely stand.




The beedrill takes a step forward, rubbing its drills together.

BEEDRILL: What'd you think was gonna happen, babe?

 

He pulls one back, Eerie's eyes widening.

BEEDRILL: Shame it's not on the air-!




 

You are now Minerva.


He just barely manages to duck out of the way as you launch in, missing a hip check.

BEEDRILL: NICE try!

 

You turn on a dime, your surprise at the slick maneuver derailed











as thorny vines burst from the beedrill's back, unlike anything you've seen before.

EERIE: GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE-
BEEDRILL: Too late.

 

 

You don't even see them constrict around you, pulling your wings tight against your body as the thorns dig in, threatening to tear at the membranes there.

MINERVA: HRK

 

The pain hits first.






Agony.
Burning.
Oh, god-

EERIE: MINNIE-!

 

The world swirls, more with every attempt to struggle.




It's
just like the smog
but so, so much worse.



Your head feels heavy. The world sways in distorted static and colors- are you saying something? Your tongue feels heavy, jaw returning to its natural slack state as your focus is broken.



He says something. A jeer, probably?


Something about it makes your skin crawl.


You catch a smear of pink in the swirling environment.
Stretch?
That's- yes, that's-
Oh, it's protecting....Frond and Filigre...e...



That means that, if you don't-


get it together


They'll be alone-!

You jerk backwards, using your full weight to drag the beedrill closer-







-and slam into him, the vines releasing as he's knocked out cold.



Or, you're hoping that's what the heap on the ground is.


Funny.

Color for a beedrill.


hooooo.


yes.





This is very bad.

Not good.

Whoof.







You feel something get closer, slamming into it as best as you can.
You can't see anything, but there's definitely, contact, of some kind-


Something's- glowing over there.

Blue?

Oh, it's- really pretty

Just like-




Something pierces into the side of your head, drawing blood- you're bleeding, right?

Hhhah-

There's more words happening.

It's a different voice now

It's not happy


with you



You can make out your last name


That's

really




bad







You are now Stretch.

FROND: JUST GET IN THERE MAN-!

 

His words cut through the raw panic.
It's all the permission you need.


Launching off of the cliff in a rage, you pull your palms back.



You are about to obliterate this seadra.



She manages to catch you mid-swing with her snout, shifted into a sharp, bloodied beak-




It won't save her.

STRETCH: GET
 

 

One hit.


She screams.

STRETCH: DOWN.

 
 

Second hit strikes hard enough to slam her into the dirt, kicking up a dusty cloud with the impact.





You're panting.

Your fingers twitch.


Your teeth ache.



Your tail lashes-

FILIGREE: .....
FILIGREE: ....Stretch...?

 
 

The bellsprout looks up at you with wide eyes, watching your posture tremble.




Blue energy arcs crackle across your entire body, higher than usual.




Even so-

STRETCH: Minerva.


 

 

You don't make it all the way over to her.






The first thing you notice is the ground shaking, what little peach fuzz you have standing up on end. You bare your teeth at the pokemon entering the clearing, just barely managing to hear Eerie snort in distress.

RHYDON: ....was hoping the rumors weren't true.
EERIE: Fuck off-
RHYDON: Just figured you'd skip town...
RHYDON: Not


 

He makes a sweeping gesture to your party, spread across the dirt.

RHYDON: whatever this is.
RHYDON: Playin' sports?
RHYDON: Games?
EERIE: B-
EERIE: Better-


 

She sounds like she's choking up.

EERIE: Better than working for all of you!


 

The rhydon gets into fighting stance, drawing the bone club at his side.

RHYDON: Grow up.


 

She's panting, freaking out as he approaches.

You have to get to Minerva.

Frond is still-


You can't-



There's too many-

FILIGREE: EERIE-!

 

The bellsprout's voice cuts through the growing panic.

FILIGREE: WATCH OUT-

 

 

You are now Filigree, and you are booking it.


You
don't really know how to use this.
Hunches, guesses, based on freak moments where you accidentally utilized the substance coursing through your body.



No technique.
No training- you were hoping to get time in before doing this.
Hell, the move isn't even registered yet. You're doing this extremely illegally.




...but something's gotta give.




You take a deep inhale, getting dangerously close to the rhydon-

-and exhale as hard as you can, nearly blown back at the force of it.
Unnatural, far more than you put in




and spreading purple mist everywhere, surrounding your opponent.











It's dark.

You can't make out where you are, but it's the same strange feeling you had when you went up against Cleave- your body in reality overlaid by the vision your opponent had summoned.


You can barely make out your hands. A crackle of light somewhere else in the room you're in reveals the edges, stubby claw-like shapes-


Just like Eerie's.


You look up, seeing the rhydon in cast in rim light.


His eyes are wide, panicked.

RHYDON: N-
RHYDON: No, I-
RHYDON: You're-
RHYDON: Not real-!

 
 

This feels....






gross. Intrusive.


Another flash of light- you're in some kind of industrial space, tight quarters, full of electronic clutter.
There's wires on your arms, too, slipped into the joints between a rhyhorn's armor plating.




Like seeing something deeply not yours, something exposed and secret.



There's a sharp noise behind you, causing you to look over your shoulder-



-getting the briefest look at Eerie panicking, primal terror in her own expression.




this isn't right



what you're doing isn't-

RHYDON: YOU'RE NOT REAL!
 

 

The edges of the illusion had faded with your focus pulled away

and you take a nasty bone club to the chest, slammed into a concrete wall




that doesn't actually exist,




The boundary between reality and the realm you'd created feeling distressingly intermeshed.



Poison leaks from your mouth in wisps, like some jar inside of you came uncapped and it's all spilling out now. Can't put that one back easy.

STRETCH: FILI



 

You register the electabuzz' yell before you see it charge in, its pink body a blur as it enters the realm-





-casting the room, no, the workshop, in flashing blue light.




Your eyes widen- oh, god, what the hell even happens now?
You can feel your own form flickering, trying to accommodate for the two inside-

shifting,

changing,

representing their selves?

Their inner fears?


You can't, oh this is just outright headache inducing-


-but you manage to get a grip, tightening the barriers.

Stretch grits its teeth, energy arcs getting stronger as it's properly encased in here with both of you.




The rhydon starts to panic again, backing away as best as he can before hitting a table, clutching at his head.

RHYDON: NnnnNNGH-
 

 
 

He tries to click his claws in the same way you've seen Eerie try- no smog, nothing to help him.



A massive snarl cuts through, Stretch advancing on the opponent.







There is something VERY wrong with your team captain.






It's bigger, for one- significant enough to change its posture, distinctly hunched and panting as if the size change hurts. Its fingers tip in what look like razor sharp claws, fangs extended into proper tusks.




It opens its fingers, enormous arcs of energy crossing them as the spikes form on its palms.





One hit.

RHYDON: WHAT-

 

Two.

RHYDON: WHAT ARE YOU-


 

More futile claw clicks.


You're pretty sure he's crying- but you're too frozen to tell.





The electabuzz pulls its hand back


and you see its full teeth bared in a terrible, enraged grimace.







The burst of light from its strike fills the whole room, shattering the realm you've made along with your focus.







When you open your eyes, Stretch is no longer...that-




-and the rhydon lays in a heap on the ground, completely out cold.





You have to catch your breath, everything still feeling out of whack. By the look of it, Stretch is just as woozy-

STRETCH: Wh
STRETCH: what happened-
EERIE: F-fuck if- If I know-

 
 

The rhyhorn's on her feet, Frond as well- both of them trying to help Minerva back up.

EERIE: You just, jumped on in there-

 

She makes a nonsense gesture with her hand.

EERIE: And got all- blurry.
EERIE: Could barely make you out.

 

She avoids your eyes.

EERIE: ....
EERIE: We gotta make sure Minnie's alright. Get away from these creeps.
FROND: M...majorly seconded-

 

 

Stretch cracks its back, rubbing its forehead.





It really doesn't remember.


Eerie couldn't see it either.



There's a distinct feeling of dread sinking in, but you don't voice it.

All that matters now is getting out of here.









You are now Frond.


The cave's clammy, damp, kind of gross-


But it should be safe.
Hopefully.
Maybe.



It's not deep, more of a hollow in a cliff than any sort of tunnel- but that suits your party just fine, and you don't have the time or privacy for tents. There's still some time before sundown, but you can't be fooling around with Minnie this messed up.


Finding berries doesn't hit like earlier- then it was fun, a little scavenger hunt on an adventure.


Even your positive, clearly charisma-filled enthusiasm can't take the edge off of this one. You had plenty of rations, but with Minerva this messed up....




....if she doesn't recover, you're looking at more travel time.
Slower travel, more vulnerable.



And from the guilty look on Eerie's face, you don't like the look of it.



You hesitate mid-pluck, both hands shaking as you grip the berry between them.




It'd been less than 24 hours since you helped Minnie out with her pizza.

Fuck. fuck fuck fuck
BREATHE

breathe.


You need to get your shit together.
People need food.

FROND: Hey everybody, how're we holdin' up?

 

Eerie looks up at you, exhausted.

EERIE: You're chipper.
FROND: What can I say-
FROND: Somebody's gotta keep us going.

 

Fili's helping stoke a campfire, completely unbothered by its flame.

FILIGREE: ....will this be alright?
FROND: Yeah, just gonna need somebody to help me roast 'em.
EERIE: How's that gonna-

 

You get to skewering an oran berry with a stick, having rolled it in ground charti.

EERIE: .....ah.
EERIE: Like marshmallows.
FROND: Exactly!






 
 

Stretch stays by Minnie's side the whole time, staring directly at her without any idea of what to do otherwise. Occasionally, it looks over at its pack, reaching for medicine-




-and putting it back.




....probably deciding on rationing or not, knowing Stretch. You'd seen it deny potions constantly back at college, waiting until it was down to the last bit of stamina before slamming one back.



From the look on its face, it doesn't like making that decision for others.



You'd think you'd be jealous or something by now, but- you're not.
Your enthusiasm over Stretch opening up is genuine, relieved to see it get out of its shell for literally anyone-





.....but as you watch it check her temperature with its hand, the same exact kind of way it scrutinized you at the gym yesterday when you were looking like shit-




Could you have done something this whole time? Said something, anything-


If-



You had just-

FILIGREE: Hey, Frond-
FILIGREE: You good with taking first shift?
FILIGREE: Me and Eerie are gonna look over the route for tomorrow.

 

You smile, making your way over.

FROND: You got it.







 

You are now Stretch again.




She stirs, every so often. Mumbling, lacking lucidity-



-aside from the times she reaches out to touch something, leaving you feeling lumps in your throat.


You should return it.
You should-




What do people do in this situation? You've never had to sit by someone's sickbed before-





the idea frightens you





And-

MINERVA: S-stretch-

 

You jolt, refocusing your attention.

STRETCH: .....

 

Your throat feels dry.

STRETCH: H
STRETCH: H. Hey.
MINERVA: .....you'reeee all
MINERVA: Glowy...

 

Oh, she is not all there.

STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: ...don't worry, okay?
MINERVA: Mmmkay....

 

Her soft expression looks so out of it, following the arcs of energy coursing across your body.

MINERVA: stretttch
STRETCH: ....uh.

 

You make a face, glad it's at least immediately readable to her as a reaction.

MINERVA: I'm glad- I met you...
MINERVA: ....

 

She sniffles, paranoia that you've done something wrong spiking immediately.

MINERVA: so many guys just, suck
MINERVA: and you're nice to me
MINERVA: I don't-
MINERVA: i'm bad with all the, girlfriend, things-
MINERVA: but it's okay with you.
MINERVA: being friends.



 

Oh.



You sigh in relief.

STRETCH: Y....yeah.
STRETCH: I'm. No good with that stuff either.
MINERVA: Can we just-

 

She coughs, nuzzling against your knee and calming at the vibration.

MINERVA: cuddle and mess arouund and be friends and not worry and



 

You help her get cozy, letting her use you as a comfort object- somehow more confident this time, so much of the tension eased away.

STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: ....we can do that.
 
 

---

Filigree's new powers have been revealed, along with dark implications about Team Osteo...surely this means nothing, right?

Suggestors, it appears Stretch and Minerva have mutually settled on friends with benefits...what does Stretch bring to the situationship table? Hopefully this helps it and Minerva keep on trucking... next time....on SPACE CASE!