Olivine Airstrip, past

Ever: -frowns- ...Thanks, Roc.

-as Breeze drags a somewhat-patched-up Marmalade out from underground, Ever recalls everyone, and goes to climb onto the Staraptor's back-

PEFE Goldenrod

Mew: -to whoever is near the table- Um, Legendary here? Do you roll d4s for your spot checks or something?

PEFE Goldenrod, some time ago

"Teala, Maekrite is not really in any condition to see-"

Maekrite recognizes Teala's voice instantly, his ears tune in to listen to her and he looks at her for a moment, up and down, he lets a near-intelligible growl of hello.

Silent meanwhile turns and sighs as he recognizes the certain Mew, but says nothing more (he's thinking it though! :p). Ichtacya wakes up and barks a confused greeting to Mew, then the same to Teala, and then mutters something about "should not be feeling surprised because of this".

-to Mew-

"Sorry, it's just... I was so tired I hadn't noticed. Had been tending to my Pokémon for a good while." -- points to bandages.

Sol sits besides Mew and briefly exposes a mind-Power Point of the overalls of Shadowification for the benefit of Mew to understand what has gone on. Sol can't really offer any useful solutions though, and she is careful to block concepts such as "mind wipe" or "drug into happiness" deep into her mind.

Maekrite stares at Teala for a moment, a look of helplessness in his eyes. Then his stare shifts for a moment to a more primal expression and he starts convulsing for a moment, his tail lashing out at random; he claws the table for a moment before calming down.

Maekrite -shakes: <Don't want this... I can't... have... any... >

Silent is speaking offhandedly to Mew.

"...This has been going for a couple of days already..."

Maekrite -- to Silent -- <let me fade away... please...>

PEFE Goldenrod

Silent is brushing Maekrite's hide, moves himself and the chair off to give Teala some room. Maekrite is leering at Silent and Teala back and forth and blinks at the damage to the door, which apparently alleviates his mood somewhat.

"That's right... I read that there was a Celebi who helped purify Pokémon when Cipher first struck Orre."

-Sol has her interest piqued, as does Ichtacya who walks around the table to get closer to Mew-

Ichtacya♀: <…Oh, hadn't seen one of you since those ruins...> -- waves her leaf as a greeting to Mew -- <And… Abuse of evolution?>

Sol -frowns: <I caught that, yes...> -- to Mew, tactfully -- <What do you mean? What can you do?>

PEFE Goldenrod

Noticing Teala's reluctance Maekrite purrs lets out a faint growl, trying to appear as welcoming as possible given his state. In his eyes he tries to give off an expression that is hard to read out.

Maekrite: <You're here... I am… tired.>

Silent listens to Teala and notices her carrying a small Nidorino plushie what bears a very uncanny resemblance to how a certain Nidoking was before. He coughs and decides not to comment on the possible Toothless factor. Or the fact that, well, Teala has a plushie of Maekrite of all mons.

"He needs company and assurance." -- pats Teala and moves closer to her -- "I'm worried that his self-esteem is going to take a hit... when I tried to bring his mate and explain what happened..." -- shakes head.

-Maekrite meanwhile tries to reach to Teala's body with his paw, he can be visibly trying to refrain from his leer, as if trying to explain that he has no choice but to appear intimidating in this form. He then he notices the Nidorino plushie and blinks, his attention captured by it, this time he does purr.-

Sol - sees the Nidorino plushie, approaches covertly: <...Oh? Are you one of those plushies with dialogue tags?>

PEFE - Goldenrod

-Mew approaches Ichtacya-

Mew: He... doesn't like being a Nidoking, does he..?

-she glances into Maekrite's mind to try and see the circumstances of his evolution-

PEFE Goldenrod

Sol -lowers head: <He most certainly does not... he'd just... just became a father a couple of months ago.>

Not too deep inside Maekrite's mind there are some memories going back and forth in a fuzzy state. The limping body of an Altaria about to be smashed projects scent of dirt and blood, and a sensation of betrayal. Past that, there is an image of night shifts alongside other Pokémon with their hearts shut off, and every mon going on their own way.

There are memories deeper down, of a particular moment in time. The then Nidorino is lying on a table being held by a psychic aura, a couple of Cipher mons battered and with obvious hints of taking poison stings to the knee around him. A couple of men approach with a cage while Ardos stays back, under the frame of a door.

"...Experiment"

After that there is only growing pain and a sense of loneliness as the Nidorino is experimented upon, the only reason the scientists are being careful in their handling being Ardos's interest in the specific features and markings of the Nidorino. There's talk of exams and terms that Maekrite has heard from Silent and other PEFEers before, and then a growing change of vocabulary while Maekrite remembers himself struggling against chains and laces to set himself free, without success.

"...Weapon"

Mew could perceive the horror in the Nidorino's scent as he witnesses other Pokémon being tortured and Shadowified, he fears for his turn... however when Ardos shows up again, the Nidorino listens to some words that make his heart stop for a moment.

"Strength unbounded..."

"...Evolve... before process."

Maekrite can not help but think back to the Gold Conference and Giovanni, and Silent swooning over the power Royal Evolutions were able to display; their power to beat anything and go anywhere.

"Larger output..."

"...Evolve..."

And then to the sound of small beating hearts inside his mate's body when they were back in their den, then the though that he'd never see them again and lose not only them but also any chance for more.

"EVOLVE"

He remembers himself struggling even more to free himself, his mind being numbed by torture and psychic restraints, and then a scientist approaches with a Moon Stone while Ardos stares at him with what can only be considered a triumphant, welcoming face.

And then there is a burst of pain, denial, and an instinctive desire to lash out on anything Maekrite possibly hold a memory of.

PEFE Goldenrod

Sol -to the plushie: <Well that answers my question. Some plushies talk back to peoplemons... not too many, mind.> -- twirls tail -- <Hmmm... if you don't mind, may I ask if you are a plushie of a Pokémon specimen in particular?> -- eyes Teala.

Silent and Maekrite have their attention caught by the Legendary in the room. The Nidoking seems to have some trouble understanding, or at least focusing on the conversation, but catches on the interest or the intent from Mew and lends him an ear, as well as managing to pacify himself - the plushie does really help gathering his own mind.

"A [deal]?"

Ichtacya: <Wait… that means you want to help? Does that mean what I th-> -- is pawed by Sol -- <...Ouch!>

Sol: <...Silence.>

Silent looks a bit reticent but seeing Maekrite calmed down with Teala. He considers for a moment and looks back to the Mew.

"Tangent or Tagg may probably kill me over this but... What do you propose?"

Ilex Forest

Celebi examines the shrine for a moment, then levitates higher into the air to about the same level of the branches Roc and Shahinne are in. The Legendary instantly catches sight of them and hovers closer, making a sound very similar to a buff when it notices Shahinne.

GS!Celebi: <Riiight… It had to be you.> -- looks at the plant in her paw for a moment -- <I knew this detour was going to cost me more than just a couple of seconds.>

Roc covers his chick with his wings, not that Celebi seems to mind.

Roc: <I apologize on behalf of the chick. She was eager to meet you, probably.>

Shahinne -peeks carefully: <I... I just came here because I need help!>

GS!Celebi: <I am aware. Still I don't like it.> -- floats higher -- <I think it is only fair that I see [compensation]...>

And a ominous wind (not an Ominous Wind) starts circulating in the area.

PEFE - Goldenrod

Teala's comment gives Silent a possible idea of what deals would Mew offer, but he says nothing of the subject. He turns to Teala.

"Well, in the long term that only mostly went well, I guess..."

-acquires a more reluctant tone-

"…I'm sorry that you had to find out about this... and that it happened in the first place. I get that you care about Maekrite a lot,"

-Maekrite's tail swings more or less happily as he brushes Teala's hide-

"and he care a lot about you too."

Sol - to the plushie: <Oooh well, I guess I can see that~ So, what's your life like, for a plushie?>

PEFE - Goldenrod

Silent shrugs at the mention of Maekrite's mate.

"Eh... she's already angry enough with me."

-And retracts his coat's sleeve to reveal several scratches that, given their angle, could be interpreted by someone knowledgeable to have been aimed at Silent's mouth or eyes had he not covered himself.-

Sol winces as she sees the poor plushie be squished in between its owner and its real-life representative. A definiveily weird thing to happen.

Sol -shudders: <...And to think of poor Kazoo...>

Maekrite gestures for Teala to lend an ear to him, though he seems to be in a frenzy and not completely focused; Silent catches the gesture and gives them a bit more of ground as picks the chair and goes sit closer to where Mew is hovering, ready to listen to the terms of the deal.

Maekrite:  <You would... take me if I was alone... and not like this? If I had no burrow to... return to?>

PEFE - Goldenrod

Mew: The deal is... I will undo the Nidoking's evolution...

But, I don't want peoplemons pestering me with requests to fix every minor inconvenience they face.

So, there will be a price...

PEFE - Goldenrod

Ichtacya♀ -listening to Teala: <...Oh, I hope his mate will appreciate this... that you're so incredibly supportive of him.>

Maekrite looks barely happy (more because of pain and physiological limitations, not because he doesn't care) as he hears he is and would be loved. He purrs harshly and then reminds himself of his own mate. He lets himself down and closes his eyes to rest, but then picks up the chatter and inadvertently complies with Mr. Poppins's wish by letting Teala go and turning his head to face the Mew.

Maekrite: <...Undo? I d-don't... I don't want to be...>

Ichtacya feels like complaining and opens her muzzle but Sol is quick to psychically muffle her. She turns to Teala and Maekrite.

Sol♀: <Well, at least we're being offered something.>

Silent tenses up when he hears about a price to be paid, and bites his lip, but untenses pretty fast.

"I see... and I'm guessing you're not going to tell us what the price is upfront?"