Bowels of the Earth - PEFE-That-Was

-The elevator abruptly reaches a stop and opens up-

<All: "ACK!">

-And we tumble out as the lights begin to turn on-

<Pepper: "Urgh... What?">

<AU!Tangent: "This first task involves something Pokefutures called 'Repulsion Gel', namely cleaning it up. A pipe ruptured down there, and now there's a gigantic lake of blue goop cutting off access to parts of the lower levels where the testing equipment and lab systems are more intact. (Not to mention, it's a waste of perfectly good repulsion gel.)">

-A Marowak's voice pipes up-

<???: "It's not too bad if some spots are left in safer areas, the tribebones did have fun bouncing in the stuff...">

<AU!Tangent: "Valid point, Marrow Line. Just... clean it off the important walkways and such.">

-We enter a chamber thrown together from sheet metal and plywood, the design being rather simple. Two sets of alcoves at equal heights surrounding a pit with a blue bottom covered in some sort of damp-looking substance. The alcoves to the left and right being raised a fair distance above the ones in the front and back. With the left containing both a button on a pedestal and the exit-

<"... This seems way too easy... At least with fliers... I can't remember why this stuff's called 'repulsion gel' though...">

Five Seconds Later

-Toothless flies up, to the alcove with the exit and the button, and prepares to push it while abruptly hesitating-

<Toothless: "... Wait a minute, I'm not going to kill us all by pressing this, am I?">

<"If this place is what it looks like, I think we're actually going to need that to get out... Do you see a large button anywhere else from there?">

<Toothless: "Yeah. There's one right across the pit from me.">

<"Then I think it should be safe.">

-And presses the button. Which causes a wooden and metal cube to fall into the pit... And get launched out of it by the gel-

<Pepper: "Whoa!">

<"Oh. So that's why they called it 'repulsion gel'...">

<Gravemind: "Pfft. Well, that's an easy test!">

-And levitates up with the cube to set it on the switch. Causing the door to open-

-Flying up to the door-

<Riana: "Come on, everyone! You come too!">

<Styx: "We're working on that! Just give a minute to let us figure-">

<Nazz: "Think fast, jerk!">

-And shoves a certain Mudkip into the pit-

<Skipper: "WAH!">

-Who begins to bounce in the pit-

<Skipper: "Cool!">

<Nazz: "Hey! You weren't supposed to have fun! Especially not without me!">

-And jumps in as well, followed by Ammy-

Human!Ammy "Whee! Bouncing is so much more fun with long legs!"

-Watching the three bounce-

<Teala: "Actually... If we could somehow bounce from higher up... I think we could get to the door that way!">

-And shoots a portal at some panels along the alcove across from us-

<Styx: "Hey, Teala! I think that I can see some panels like that where that box-thing is!">

-Which prompts the Druddigon to squeeze off another portal at the higher alcove, and then pass through it and jump from it-

<Skipper: "Hey! Watch it!">

-While bounding over to the alcove with the door-

<Teala: "Oops! Sorry!">

<Riana: "Your turn~!">

-And the rest of us follow Teala's lead and reach the door... With three exceptions-

<Teala: "Uh... I think that we should get going now...">

Human!Ammy: "Aww... But we just started bouncing!"

<AU!Tangent: "An important note for anyone working in the spheres: DON'T hang around there too long! Pokefutures apparently made them out of asbestos. Just do what you have to and get OUT of the things as soon as you can!">

<Me + Lardna: O_O>

<Cleo: "Oh! Oh! They totally used that to keep ninja Rattata out!">

-Still bouncing-

Human!Ammy "Wait, is that bad?"

<Lardna: "Very.">

<Skipper: "Aww... But I was having fun!">

<Nazz: "Thanks to me!">

<Skipper: "Did not!">

<Nazz: "Did so!">

<"Asbestos is poisonous! It'll kill you if let yourself get exposed to it too much!">

<AU!Tangent: "Oh, and in case you got covered with that repulsion gel while working, here's some advice the lab boys gave me while working. Do NOT get covered with the repulsion gel. (Kinda late, but still.) We haven't entirely nailed down what element it is yet, but apparently test logs say that it did NOT like human skeletons.

Human!Ammy "(Meep.)"

<AU!Tangent: "By the way, thank you for your repair efforts.">

<Pepper: "Alright, we're out of here!">

-And we hastily rush off out of the chamber, preparing an offscreen Dungeon Bypass-

Oh no. No no no. NO.

Stratus stared, a mixture of shock and fright on his face. Lake was down. He was alone. Alone against a Pokémon genetically engineered to be one of the strongest ever. With Lake at his side, they stood a chance of being able to beat it. But by himself? It didn't seem possible...

Taking it's eyes off the downed Feraligatr (Thankfully, Igneous seemed to have managed to turn the difficulty down to eight, at least, seeing as it wasn't making any attempt to finish Lake off), the holographic Mewtwo turned to face Stratus, giving the Dragonite a start.

At that point, however, a certain Delta Tyranitar pipes in over the P.A, informing Stratus that he was going to make another attempt to lower the difficulty level.

Stratus: <Hurry, Igneous! I don't think I can handle this by myself!>

Putting it's hands together, the Mewtwo charges up another Aura Sphere, then flings it at Stratus, much to his shock.

<EEP!>

Following Lake's earlier example, he swings his tail around, striking the Aura Sphere and knocking it away into the wall of the arena, causing another large explosion.

Stratus used Dragon Tail!

Slightly annoyed, the Mewtwo forms another pair of blades of psychic power, then launches itself at Stratus. Panicking, the Dragonite raises his paws to shield his face, his antennae glowing as a wall similar to a pane of glass forms in front of him.

Stratus used Barrier!

Unfettered, the hologram slashes the barrier with one arm, neatly bisecting it...

<...Uh-oh.>

...Then slices Stratus with the other, the attack knocking the Dragonite over and sending him rolling backwards along the ground.

<AAAAAAHHHHH!!! Ouch...>

Wincing in pain, Stratus glances upwards as he struggles to get off the ground to find that two things about his opponent has changed.

Firstly, the Mewtwo's formally purple tail was now a shade of forest green, and it's fur seemed to sparkle in the light for some reason. And secondly, instead of wearing a stoic expression, it now seemed to be wearing a rather snide look on it's face.

Stratus: <Huh?>

Holo!Mewtwo: <Come on, tubby! Get up so I can knock you over again!>

...Great. Not only was it a ruthless killing machine, it had somehow inherited Felis' snark.

Stratus: <Urk...Please make sure you know what buttons to press before you press them, Igneous. You're just making things worse right now!>

Getting back to his feet and panting from fatigue, Stratus raises his claws, assuming a slightly nervous but agressive stance.

<I...I'm not done yet...Rayquaza help me...>

PEFE Bowels

-Suddenly, a box gets teleported on top of Pica-

Pica: Hey, what's the big idea?

Ana: It's the same box from earlier! What's it doing here?

Cobalt, you open it, since you're the most durable out of all of us.

Cobalt: -Opens the box-

Computer Room, much earlier

There has to be some way to get to where the AI is, and this computer room is going to help us. Good thing PEFeDOS getting herself back online activated this stuff too.

Bohr: Perhaps we should try listening to more of that holotape while we wait.

Yeah, good idea.

-Starts looking for a slot for the holotape-

Pica: -Arms crossed in a chair- Have we found anything yet?

Artemia: -Sitting next to her- I don't think so nubs, we just started.

Ah, here it is.

-Puts the holotape in the receptacle, which starts playing again, continuing from where we last left off-

We've gotten a guest. A Swadloon that had somehow found her way from Unova through accidently finding a space tunnel unguarded by the dragons. She told us that the dragons had already detonated a bomb over there and were starting their occupation, demanding tribute from the local populations.

-Angrily-

It's so frustrating, having to duck and hide while those dragons run amok turning people into Pokemon and enacting their new world order. The only thing we can do now is attempt to get in contact with like-minded people here in Angela, since it's just too dangerous to attempt going back. According to Cobalt, there are some groups nearby, so we'll try contacting them later.

Present

-Looking at the cake-

It's Belue Berry. I hate Belue Berry.

Artemia: -Starts eating the cake-

Near The Top of a Shaft - PEFE-That-Was

Potato!PEFeDOS: "GACK! COULD YOU LOOSEN UP YOUR GRIP A BIT! I'M KINDA ALREADY PARTIALLY EATEN HERE! ALSO, THERE SHOULD BE A CONTROL ROOM JUST UP AHEAD."

The Bowels of the Earth - PEFE-That-Was - Being Stared at By a Large Number of Gawking Mons

Human!Ammy "Oh me? I'm a human right now. But I'm normally a Volcarona!"

<Hiding!Ninetails: "... What?">

<Cleo: "It's magic!">

<"(Actually, that one probably isn't so far off...) But yes, that's apparently what humans used to look like...">

<Hiding!Riolu: "Whoa...">

<Teala: "Wait, how did you get down here anyways?">

<Hiding!Ninetails: "It was 'Bring Your Daughter to Work Day' and we were having a town-wide science fair...">

<Toothless: "(To be fair, you all really could have had some more varied exhibits.)">

<Hiding!Ninetails: "And then the turrets showed up... Fortunately, Crusher took most of the bullets... So no one was really hurt, thank Arceus...">

<Crusher the Hiding!Aggron: "That's me... (I hope all those dents in my armor aren't permanent...) Anyways, we heard that there were supposed to be a bunch of places in the sublevels that no one went to anymore... So... We all ran here...">

<Hiding!Murkrow: "Especially after that demon potato battery was taken care of!">

<Lardna: "... Demon potato battery?">

A Few Days Earlier - Somewhere Nearby

-The same Murkrow is looking about some wreckage around the landing-

<Hiding!Murkrow: "I can't believe this... First we get chased off... Then a computer gets the nest with my bottlecap collection in it crushed by a door! And then-">

-And spots a certain potato presently with Merle glinting-

<Hiding!Murkrow: "Eh? OH! Hey! That's my potato battery! How did it get get all the way down here?">

Potato!PEFeDOS: *kzzt* "WHERE AM I? HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN OUT?"

<Hiding!Murkrow: "It talked! WITCHCRAFT!">

-And begins to peck at it... Hard-

-Back Near The Control Room-

<Skipper: "... A talking potato?">

<Nazz: "Was that important?">

<Teala: "(Oh, so that's what happened to that computer...)">

<Pepper: "... Are you all alright?">

<Right Hiding!Dodrio: "Well, we kinda all got shot at and chased out of our homes... But I guess... Wait, do you have any idea what happened out there?">

-Hesitating a bit-

<"... Er... Sorta. This place kinda got flicked back on after a few hundred years and there were some... Unintended consequences.">

<Riana: "By a funny-talking ball that hurt Toothless!">

<Cleo: "Who's built to be a moron!">

<"We were trying to head back up to the surface...">

<Hiding!Riolu: "... Is it safe?">

<Hiding!Ninetails: "Yeah... We would have gone ourselves...">

-Pointing at the numerous young mons among their number-

<Hiding!Ninetails: "... But we have some things that are too valuable to risk like that...">

<"... I understand...">

Human!Ammy "We'll send word if it's safe to go up... We promise..."

-A certain Salamence has returned at this point-

<Toothless: (*pant pant*) "I don't see anything up there!">

"Wait, how do we get out of here anyways?"

With Merle - The Top of a Shaft - PEFE-That-Was

Potato!PEFeDOS: "AH! OKAY! OKAY! JUST PUT ME INTO A PERSONALITY CORE DOCK ALREADY!"

With Merle - PEFE-That-Was

Potato!PEFeDOS: "THEY LOOK LIKE OPENED DOORS WITH SPACE FOR LARGE BALLS. OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT A LARGE BALL RIGHT NOW, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CREATIVE WITH GETTING ME TO INTERFACE WITH IT."

The Bowels of the Earth - PEFE-That-Was

<Crusher the Hiding!Aggron: "Er... Well...">

-And points at a broken catwalk jutting out over a long drop-

<Crusher the Hiding!Aggron: "That used to connect over here... But it kinda collapsed a couple days ago.">

<Hiding!Aron: "(To be fair, you were eating the supports, dad...)">

<Styx: "... You're kidding me...">

<Pepper: ._. "... Couldn't we just let Toothless carry us across?">

<Hiding!Dodrio: "Well, now hold on... If you're really going to go off into peril like that... At least let us offer you a good night's sleep.">

<Hiding!Murkrow: "Yeah! I won't steal your stuff! Honest!">

<"... I think that we'd all appreciate that... Thanks... And we'll get help down here... We promise.">

-And we retire for the night along with some newfound, if fleeting, acquaintances-

Bowels of PEFE-That-Was - With Merle

Potato!PEFeDOS: "OW! YOU STABBED ME! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YO- WHOOAAAHH. HOLD ON. OH... OH, HERE WE GO..."

-And begins to reconnect with the network, while starting to open the seal to the shaft-

As Stratus tries his hardest to look intimidating, the Mewtwo projection simply gives him a bemused sneer in return.

Holo!Mewtwo <Give up, chump! You fight like a Magikarp!>

Cackling to himself, the Mewtwo begins to glow softly. Had it been a real Pokémon, Stratus would have seen the many wounds it would have sustained from his and Lake's attacks quickly knit themselves back together, leaving no trace of injury. Even though he didn't have this visual feedback, Stratus still recognized the move...

Mewtwo used Recover!

With a single technique, the holographic Mewtwo had just undone all of his and Lake's hard work, leaving him in top condition while he was still struggling to stay on his feet.

Things couldn't be more hopeless for Stratus right now. Almost overcome with fear and despair, the Dragonite began to desperately scan the room for any means of escape. If there wasn't any way he and Lake could beat this artificial Pokémon, then there had to be away they could get away!

Gazing up at the roof to see if there were any holes he could slip through, the Dragonite spotted what looked like half a geodesic dome embedded in the center of the ceiling above the arena, which was glowing softly in a similar way to the Mewtwo.

...Wait, was that actually what was projecting him onto the battlefield?

Suddenly, it hit him; if he could destroy the projector, there wouldn't be a Mewtwo to fight anymore.

It was dishonest, yes, but this was never about honor. This was about survival.

Stratus: <Hey, Mewtwo! Think fast!>

Charging a sphere of draconic energy in his gaping maw, the Dragonite launched it at the Mewtwo...

Stratus used Dragon Pulse!

...Which the Psychic Pokémon easily caught with it's telekinetic abilities, but the Dragonite was already flying upwards, charging at great speed towards the ceiling projector, empowered by draconic fury.

<I hope this works!>

Stratus used Dragon Rush!

The Dragon slams himself hard into the dome, the half-sphere cracking under the force of the blow. With a shock, the artificial Mewtwo realizes that it's opponent is trying to sabotage the equipment needed to keep it running.

Not wanting to have his very means of existing in the physical world destroyed (Or rather, enacting protocol to prevent damage to the holoarena), the artificial Pokémon grabs hold of Stratus with telekineses, only for the Dragonite to fire another Dragon Pulse at it.

Feeling the telekinetic grip on him break as the Mewtwo diverts the Dragon Pulse away from him, the Dragonite punches the crack he had made in the dome, shattering the outer shell and revealing the complex and vulnerable machinery within.

With only one shot left at stopping the Dragonite from destroying him, the Mewtwo places his hands together, and begins to charge the largest Aura Sphere he can, something which does not go unnoticed by his target.

<UH-OH!>

Launching the sphere, the ball of Aura homes in on Stratus as it soars through the air towards him, leaving him with no time to charge a Dragon Pulse to destroy the machinery, or even to raise a Protect barrier to defend himself. With only mere seconds to think, what could he possibly do?

Simple.

With a quick flap of his wings, Stratus flew around to the back of the dome, placing it between him and the Aura Sphere's flight path. Before the Mewtwo even realized what had happened, the ball of concentrated Aura hit the geodesic dome and exploded, completely destroying the half-sphere, and the vital machinery within.

P.A {Alert; Holoarena damaged. Terminating program.}

Having retreated to a safe distance, Stratus watched as the Mewtwo, much to it's horror, as it began to dissolve, the light protons that bound him together scattering as it faded into nothing, leaving Stratus alone...and victorious.

Flapping down to the floor beside Lake, the Dragonite bent over, panting from exhaustion.

Stratus: <Phew...>

It was over. Against overwhelming odds, he had managed to triumph against a Mewtwo, no less.

...It felt good.

No. More than good. It felt euphoric.

He couldn't help himself, glancing upwards, the Dragonite grinned at nobody in-particular.

<Oh yeah! Did you see that? I just beat a Mewtwo! And you know why? BECAUSE I'M A DRAGONITE, THAT'S WHY!!!>

The sense of achievement having gone to his head, Stratus tok a deep breath, then let out the loudest and most intimidating roar he could muster, as if he wanted the whole facility to know that he was the boss around here.

And most would probably agree.

Klein Cove

(After this post)

Maekrite is trying to find somemon to interact with get information about the island from, when his ears suddenly stand on end. The Pokémon stays silent for a moment, ears flickering looking for the source of the sound, then checks with his foots as if wondering if the source came from underground.

Silentran♂: <Hey, what's going on?>

Maekrite: <Not sure...> -- waves a paw, calls the Nidoran to follow -- <Did you hear something like a faint roar?>

Silentran♂ thinks for a moment, shakes his head. Maekrite looks around, none of the few nondescript mons around seems to have heard it either.

Maekrite: <Maybe it was just me,> -- he continues -- <but I think I heard some sort of far away roar of pride.> -- looks distant for a moment -- <Kinda like a dragon being high on himself.>

Silentran♂ -frowns: <In this timeline? Oh joy. What would it mean?>

Maekrite: <No idea, but...> -- snickers, thinking of how to give the source of the roar a good scare -- <whoever it was, he definitively did not get the memo about Mom's history in this timeline. I'm sure it would feel incredibly awesome if I could off a dragon for breakfast, too.>

Silentran♂: <I'm more concerned about why a dragon would be feeling proud around here, what with the friggin' AI.>

The Nidorino nods, remembering their mission, then walks away to continue his search, with the Nidoran following.

Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/mGgKPXHD