Chapter Text
“The doctor will see you now.”
What did Lin mean by that? And where was Connal?
These thoughts whirled around in Quartz’s head as they traversed through the Labradorra section of the LCCC. Well, crawled was more accurate. The entire place was trashed. Smashed screens and broken wires lay everywhere, sparking. The machines were creaking and whirring as if centuries old hardware was being forced to run modern technology. Even the ceiling had caved in at parts. Walking through the LCCC made Quartz feel extremely fucking claustrophobic. The flickering lights only provided momentary relief to what was otherwise total darkness.
Quartz wondered, what was Meteor even doing in here, to have destroyed the place as such? Was the strain of being forced to power two PULSE machines along with a city really too much for the generators here? But then again, why was the entire place trashed?
Something didn’t add up. And Quartz felt that the missing piece was something they didn’t want to know.
Lost in their thoughts, they let their feet take them through the LCCC. And before long, they came up a door with a plaque bearing the inscription ‘Archives’. Intrigued, they turned the door handle with a loud creak and stepped inside the room.
Quartz’s immediate impression was that the room was dusty. Surprisingly, it was in better condition than the rest of the LCCC. It didn’t feel trashed, just abandoned for a long time. The lights were actually working in there. There was a fine layer of dust on the cabinets, chairs and the large table in the center of the room.
Something was flickering in the ground. Quartz bent over and picked it up. It was a… shiny pink gem? What was a Fairy Gem doing here? They looked around for potential sources of the occurrence of the gem. Perhaps it was discovered while excavating the ground for the LCCC? But a quick glance around revealed nothing of note.
The table in the middle of the room caught their eye. It had multiple open and haphazardly spread notebooks on it. Quartz walked over to the table and picked one up at random. Flicking through it, they realised it was about a PULSE pokemon. Clawitzer, to be exact. Was this information on the different PULSE pokemon? If so, this was huge. Perhaps Quartz could even find information on the Arc-PULSE, as Eve had mentioned.
Excited, they picked up another notebook. This one was pretty well worn, with the cover page having faded and even entire pages ripped out at parts. Quartz could barely make out the name on the cover. It was labelled
‘Pokemon Ultimation Link-System Exaggerata 09: Mr. Mime, The Puppet Master’
So this was about Mr. Mime. Interesting. That was one PULSE they hadn’t met yet, aside from the Arc-PULSE itself. As Quartz turned the pages, they had come to realise just how badly worn the notebook was. The pages were barely legible, the writing almost faded. And a lot of pages were ripped straight out. That felt odd, somehow.
Quartz looked at the other notebooks, none of them were was badly damaged as the Mr. Mime notebook was.
“…faMilY…”
Suddenly they heard an eerie voice. Where was that coming from? Quartz waited, but they couldn’t hear anything else apart from the whirring of the broken machines. They decided they must’ve imagined the voice. This place was giving them the creeps.
They shook their head. Focus. They told themselves.
They returned to looking through the Mr. Mime notebook. “An accident… Never should’ve occurred… It has…Effective, but at what cost?”
These were some of the lines they could make out. They were surprised. They didn’t think that Meteor actually cared enough about the Pokemon they experimented to keep logs about their wellbeing.
There didn’t seem to be any important information in the notebook, so Quartz flipped to the end. There was nothing on there except for two words written in bright red marker and circled with the same.
“Wonder Guard?”
Wonder Guard as in the Pokemon ability? Why was this written here?
Their eyes travelled to another corner of the room, there was a closet there named ‘Battle Supplies’. Quartz strode over to the closet to open it and was immediately met with a literal waterfall of Fairy Gems. What were these many Fairy Gems doing here? Even if they were battle supplies, the amount was far too many to not raise suspicion.
“…stRonGeR tHaN famIlY…”
The same voice again. Quartz looked around once more. But once again, there was no one there.
Were they hallucinating?
This place was giving them the creeps. They quickly closed the closet shut and left the room.
After a while of exploring, Quartz was getting seriously creeped out. The place seemed to be designed to give anyone who entered the spooks and the voice kept getting louder and louder. Somehow though, they sounded familiar. Quartz tried to place where they heard the voice before but kept drawing blanks.
At the very least, they seemed to be nearing the end of this stupid Control Center. They had turned into a narrow hallway with no direction to go except straight ahead.
They started walking…
“noThiNg iS sTroNgeR thAn faMiLy.”
“NoThInG Is stronGER tHan fAmilY.”
“nOtHing is StRongEr ThAn family…”
That voice again. It echoed all around them. Then…
“wOulDn’T yoU agReE…LiTtlE heRo?”
Suddenly, Quartz spotted a shadowy figure at the end of the hallway. And it seemed to radiate a pure dark energy that dimmed everything around it. They were 90% sure that it wasn’t there before. But the last line that they heard… little hero? Where had they heard that phrase now?
As they watched, the figure solidified and became more discernible until…
“Ace?!” Quartz was shocked. What was Ace doing here? And why were they covered in that shadowy aura?
However, Ace had their back turned to them. And when they spoke, their voice was horribly distorted.
“aH, iT feeLs sO gOod tO bE bAck oN thE stAge!” they said and turned around.
“anD theRe’S eVeN aN auDiEncE foR mY neW acT!”
“Ace, what are you-” Quartz began, was cut short.
“sHhh, litTlE hErO. yOu doN’t nEed tO woRrY. eveRyThInG’s fiNe. i aM quItE alRighT, hm? beSideS, iT’s noT likE yoU wERe eveR worRiEd abOuT mY disappearance, yeS? NoT You, noT thE lIttLe prInCe. OthErwiSe, wOulDn’T yoU haVe lOokEd for Me?”
“Ace, what are you saying? We all, especially Taka, were extremely worried about your disappearance. I remember Taka being torn up about it almost everyday. And I spent nearly a month with him in the desert.”
“weLl thEn, telL mE, ltTlE herO, wheN titAwiN traPpEd mE iN thE DiGitaL woRlD, whO diD looK foR mE?” Ace asked, almost tauntingly. Before Quartz could answer, they continued.
“thE litTlE pRinCe? No, hE haS beEn toO buSy hiDinG.
ouR blaCk-clAd friEnD? buT, hE waS neVer quitE hiMseLf, noT evEn noW.
OuR rigHtFuL leAdeR? iF onLy he’D liSteN tO mY waRniNgs.
hiS buTlEr? thE sIsterS, aftEr thEy weRe free? mY coUsiN?”
Ace paused, then-
“yOu, Quartz?”
Quartz was shocked. Something about the way Ace said their name, made them think that both of them were thinking about the same thing.
Their pasts,.
But, that was long ago, surely Ace wasn’t who Quartz thought they were?
But they knew, they knew ever since the first time they met Ace back in Mosswater.
All this time Quartz had been denying the truth that was quite apparent to all.
But, they couldn’t let that distract them. They didn’t know how Ace had suddenly appeared down here in the LCCC after being missing for weeks, but one thing was sure.
They needed to make Ace see sense.
“You’re wrong, every one you listed has tried to find you. Taka most of all,” Quartz replied.
“However flawed their efforts may be, none of them forgot you.”
Quartz took a deep breath and then,
“…not even me.”
Ace faltered.
“yoU rememBeR theN, litTle herO? ouR pasT togEthEr?”
“I wasn’t sure of it at first, but now that you mentioned it, I am sure.
You are the same Ace that first disappeared ten years ago, in the first earthquakes that plagued Reborn City, aren’t you?”
“bE aS iT maY, iF yoU remEmBerEd mE, whY didN’t yoU looK foR mE?
oR weRe teN yeArs enOugH tO shAtTer thE boNd wE shared?”
Quartz was mad. Here they were, risking everything to look for Connal, and then this clown from ten years ago comes and decides to blame everything on them once more. Enough. Was. Enough.
“I am sorry, but I had a few other things on my mind, like saving an entire fucking region, no?
Keep the damned victim act to yourself. Don’t forget it was you who was on the side of Team Meteor.”
“what elSE waS I suPpOsEd tO dO?!” Ace cried.
“SolAriS waS thE onlY onE whO gavE mE a homE afTeR thE quaKes, aftEr evEn mY owN coUsiN abAnDonEd me!
thE leAsT I coulD dO wAs tO shOw mY grAtitUde waS to heLp hiM, nO?”
“And where did that get you? Trapped in a… digital world you said? Lot’s of good it did you, clearly”
“aH, buT isn’T thAt whaT a fooL sucH aS mE getS?
I wAs foOliSh tO thInK thaT mY undYinG loYalTy WouLd geT mE anYwhEre.
BuT noW thAt I aM frEe, mY efForTs tO esCapE haVe proVen worThWhilE.
clEarlY, i Am hErE foR a ReAson.”
“What are you talking about, Ace?”
“hoW long muSt I keEp toiling mySelF foR thE famIlY anD beaR seEinG mY efFortS alL buT gO tO ruiN?
hoW long shouLd I siT bY idlY anD waTch thE faMilY i holD deAr bE brOkEn apArt bY thE usuRpErs?
dO yoU folLoW mY meAniNG, liTtLe heRo?
i've triEd tO stAy loYal, tO nO avaIl,
aFtEr alL, Loyalty is an illusion!”
On the last word, Ace tossed up one of their cards. It hung in mid-air for a moment, revolving slowly before suddenly disappearing in a momentarily blinding bright pink flash.
When Quartz could see again, they noticed a strange purplish-pink aura surrounding the hallway.
They knew this trick, having battled them many times before. The thing Quartz couldn’t understand was, why now?
“dO yoU likE mY illUsionS, quArtZ? Aren’T theY juSt aS wonDerfUl aS thE bOnD wE oncE thOughT tO havE shaRed?”
“You’re delusional Ace, you have it all wrong. Your loyalty hasn’t gone unnoticed. If beating you in a Pokemon battle is what it takes for me to make you see sense, then so be it.” Quartz readied the Pokeball containing Hecate in it.
“i aM tiReD oF beInG thE meRe seRvaNt, onlY thE coMiC relIeF. i havE wAtcHed anD trIeD tO asSiSt frOm thE sidEliNes foR lonG EnOugH. i caN nO lonGer wAtcH aS seE everything- aNd everyone- i lovE faLl apaRt. it’S timE i tOoK mAtTerS inTo mY oWn haNdS.
sO, let’S trY somEthiNg elSe”
With that Ace sent out their first Pokemon, Delphox.
“Fooox~” it cried. But something was wrong, it was cloaked in the same dark aura as Ace was and it’s eyes were the same pale gold shade. Whatever, Quartz sent out Hecate.
About time, when were you gonna send me- Wait what the hell?! What is Ace doing here? And what happened to Delphox? Hecate sounded positively baffled.
Yeah, Ace seems to be really out of it, they have been saying strange things. But we gotta battle now. Quartz communicated telepathically back.
Will battling lift that aura off the two of them? Hecate asked.
No idea, but I feel it’s worth a shot, yeah? Quartz wished they had a better reply for Hecate, but honestly even they didn’t know.
Whatever, let’s fight. Hecate said.
“Alright then, Hecate! Use Shadow Ball!” Quartz ordered. As the Meowstic began charging up its attack, Ace countered fast. “delPHoX! caLm mind~”
The Delphox closed it’s eyes and concentrated just as Hecate fired off its Shadow Ball and the Delphox took the attack with little effort.
What the- How did it barely do any damage? Hecate demanded.
What do you mean? Quartz asked.
My Shadow Ball shouldn’t have done so little damage, even after the Calm Mind the stupid fox used! It’s super effect and for another, the damned darkness boosted the attack, so no reason for it do as little damage as it did. Hecate explained.
“whAt’S thE maTtEr, LitTle heRo? nOtiCe soMeThinG stRanGe?” Ace taunted. “isn’T thE poWeR oF illUsioNs woNdErfUl?”
“So this is just an illusion?” Quartz asked.
“indEeD, buT don’T geT toO coMplAcEnt! You’Ll finD thaT mY ilLUsionS arE quitE reAl~
dElPhoX! let’S givE thEm a shOw worThY oF a MagiCiaN, hM? mYsTicAl firE~”
The Fire-type Pokemon started concentrating upon its flaming branch. It seemed to be harnessing the energy of the pink swirling mist. Somehow, Quartz knew that if it managed to hit Hecate with the attack, it would hurt. A lot.
“Hecate! Quick! Use Psychic! Use the Psychic Terrain to power up your move!” Quartz shouted. Hecate was quick enough, however, yet again, the attack barely managed to do any damage. What the fuck was going on?!
Unfortunately, things went exactly as Quartz had predicted, The Delphox unleashed it’s attack and a roaring vortex of flames shot at Hecate, who couldn’t teleport out of the way in time and was hit directly in the face by the flames.
“Hecate!” Quartz shouted, horrified.
The flames died down, and Hecate appeared, her entire face singed off.
Shit, Hecate, are you hurt? Quartz was concerned about such an attack.
I’m fine. But I am Extremely. Fucking. Pissed. She sounded more irritated than hurt. Quartz was surprised. They knew Hecate was tough. But to take such a powerful attack, no less boosted by the elements, and then still be able to fight?
You little bitch. You want to play dirty? Fine then. But this time we’re playing by MY rules.
Wait, Hecate. You’re hurt, are you sure you want to pull that off?
In other circumstances, I’d said no. But this little Delphox has really pissed me off. Hecate replied, scathingly.
Then by all means, go ahead.
A bluish aura flickered to life around Hecate. She closed her eyes and slowly opened her ears. Quartz was scared she might not be able to pull it off. But, of course she did.
Slowly, bright twinkling stars started appearing around the battlefield, slowly covering the entire battlefield. Even the floor was replaced by a dazzling blue light.
This was a technique that they and Hecate had been practising for a long time. A couple of weeks ago, while training, they had noticed that whenever Hecate would get fired up, a strange blue aura used to appear around her. They soon realised that Hecate had the power to summon a very specific Field. Which just worked well with Quartz’s entire team. However, they had never tried on this scale.
Ace watched, stunned as Hecate began charging up her final move, Psycho Boost. She drew power from the Starlight Arena and attacked Delhpox. The impact shook the entire LCCC.
When Quartz could look up again, both Hecate and Delhphox had been knocked out.
I’m fine… Hecate tried to get up, but clearly the recoil of the move had been too much.
No you’re not. Get back into your Pokeball. And good job.
Quartz turned to look at Ace.
“Liked my illusions, Ace? Or should I show you more?” They asked.
“aH, buT oF courSe, IlLusIons Exist For the Comfort Of thE wAtcher. Why eLse shouLd anyone believe In thEM? iS iT reAllY surPriSing thAt yoU maNageD tO replAcE minE sO easily?”
“Not really, do you still want to continue, or do you accept defeat? I promise you the next round wont end in both our Pokemon knocked out.”
Ace was silent for a moment.
“To FacE the Truth Fully-- It's just a little too cold for me.” They said, and suddenly Quartz noticed that the dark aura was receding from both Ace and the Delphox. They watched silently until the aura disappeared completed. Ace silently called their Delphox back.
“Welcome back to the real world, Ace,” Quartz said. “It’s good to see you again.”
Ace was silent.
“Well?” Quartz prompted. “Aren’t you gonna say anything?
“What can I say? Apologise? Grovel? Beg for forgiveness?” Ace asked.
“You do not need to do any of that. You clearly weren’t yourself then. I just want to know, what happened to you? And why are you here?” Quartz inquired.
“Ah, if you must know, what I said was true. Titawin had indeed stuck me inside a digital box. I had to watch the little prince almost die, saved because of you. Our leader break apart under that insane jeweller, and most of all, Lin murder ZEL, had I not stepped in. Ah, indeed! Lin had added a virus to the PULSE Magnezone program causing it to go haywire. I did what little I could from the digital void. And thankfully it saved them.” Ace explained. “As I said, I could no longer sit around idly and watch Lin and Sirius corrupt what little of Team Meteor is left. That’s why I tried- and succeeded to break out of my prison. And with that, little hero, ends my tale~”
“Is that why you’re here?” Quartz asked.
“Indeed. The PULSE you’re about to face is not one to be trifled with. That’s why I was sent here.”
Quartz was silent. They both knew that they were avoiding the real topic. But neither of them could bring up the topic.
Ace stared at them for a moment, then walked up the the end of the hallway and opened the door.
“Shall we?” they said, gesturing at the room beyond the door.