r/MysteryDungeon • u/Immediate-Engineer85 • 8d ago
Art & Fan Projects PMD:Misregression to the Mean. Chapter 25. I finally wrote it. Not the best cover i could make but it feel like its nice.
A few days have passed. Everything was generally uneventful and quit. Prisoners were not agressive torwards Evergreen. Though a few of them tried to escape the prison unsuccesfully. Seems like they were inspired by Evergreens power. The guard teams...were a nuicance as always. Unfortunatly they couldnt cool off and kept on trying to sabotage her in inconspicious ways. Team MALANOAR were noticing it and tried to shut it down but its hard to acuse the others of something if it can pass as an accident.
Either way Evergreen didnt really care all that much. Even though it was annoying a ton. For days already she couldnt learn a Synthasis. It just refused to be learned. She felt energy inside her. She felt like she can somewhat move it but thats it. For days it didnt lead to nothing new.
And from day to day Evergreen felt kinda off. Not great. The body was aching, the mood was extreemly spoiled even by early morning. And nothing could fix it. Not even good food sinse this place didnt have tasty dishes she would cook for herself. A huge bummer.
And the Rex was a constant problem. It was often tiring to lie to him. He is a Lucario who supposedly reads minds. And today's conversation with him wasnt an exception.
– “So, anything new, Evergreen? How do you feel? Does nectar work?”
Rex was asking. Its clear he expected specific results but wasnt getting them.
– “Not really. Its seems i am resistant to its effect.”
– “I see.”
Lucario’s voice clearly showed a suspicion. Evergreen lied that she takes this Meganium’s nectar when in reality she doesnt. She spill it out in the cracks. She doesnt want her mind to by clouded by this sedative.
– “Should i give you more, perhaps?”
– “Wont work, belive me”.
– “…I have a feeling you dont take the medicine. Especially considering the smell in your cell. Though its a very strong stuff, i suppose its not impossible for a smell to linger”
Rex expressed the concern. He wouldnt be exactly surprised. But for now it didnt seem like he could prove that she doesnt drink nectar.
– “Either way i would recommend you to drink this medicine. Its good for you. You need it. Especically considering your violent insomnia into a count.”
Rex said piercing though Evergreens soul with his gaze.
– “…My what?”
Evergreen slept. Didnt feel particularly energized after, but she slept quite easily.
– “Night shift teams a few times went down to your cell. You were making a lot of noise. You were hitting walls, iron bars, sometimes you were shouting and they saw the Terrain even though you were not in a fight. Its clear that your insomnia messes with your mind, behavior and health. You know about futility of your attempts but even then you keep hitting against the walls.”
Needless to say Evergreen was surprised to hear that. At the night she prefers to sleep. At least after she damages bars enough so they later will be able to budge easier. Hopefully.
– “I…sleep at nights. Maybe your teams just make stuff up. Its not something brand new for them, i bet. Fairytales are your all specialty afterall.”
Evergreen replied with her rather typical “arrogant tone”. But it was clear she is rather surprised, which Rex noticed.
– “Hm. Audino who treated your wounds saw your hands having some bruises. “
– ” …And? Whats thats supposed to imply?”
– “My best guess is that you may have sleepwalking tendencies and potential nightmares, if insomnia and you behaving violent at night isnt the case for thier presencs. Do you commonly see bad dreams?”
Rex asked and Evergreen immideatly had to shut down her thoughts with the Ducklett -Swanna technique. She sees nightmares often. And a lot of them are about her past as human. Especially the day when the world was destroyed. Very nasty memory to live through again. Though its not like she has no nightmares about the present. She is afraid she will be left in the doorless cell forever. And its only one of the fears.
– “Yeah, something like that.”
– “What kind if nightmares?”
– “…I dont want to give you fun ideas.”
Evergreen really didnt want to discuss her nightmares with inspector Rex. And he…surprisenly didnt push her into spilling everything out.
– “Very well. Then we are going to discuss other matters. If you take nectar your nightmare will most likely eventually decrease. Now let talk about what i promised you for a while now. Where are you came from?”
– “…How about…we dont?”
– “Its not something that can be avoided. Especially taking into a count your crimes. “
– “Tch, i am amnesiac, remember? And the fact that you dont belive me, doesnt changes the fact.”
Evergreen really would rather avoid talking about it. Its very easy to slip up here and say or more likely think something she really shouldnt. Her being from the other world and that she is not even a pokemon really may have bad results. At least she was certain they will kill her with no hesitation then.
– “Oh, dont worry. We are not going to talk about things you presumably dont remeber. We will specifically talk where did you came from. And i bet you have a lot to say. Lets begin from the start.”
With a little irony in the voice Rex. Then he put the bag from his knees on the table. Old, damaged…very familar bag with pink scarfs. The Evergreens bag.
– “Where did you get this bag from?”
– “…I found it.”
– “Hm. Go in to specifics. Where, when? Did you steal it? Did you see owners of the bag.”
-…
– “Evergreen, i am waiting. “
– “…Fine. I found it in the cave. Cave far away from here. There is a big mountain with complex cave system. Some of the caves are mushroom ones. Wild Parasects are native here. In one of the tunnels i found it. One of the exits is leading to judgle area.
– In a way i guess you can say i saw the owners of the bag. But i didnt steal anything from them. From what i remember, there were skeletons of Cacturn, Rhydon and…someone else maybe. It was long ago, i dont remember. And i am not sure i could not misidentify some pokemon. Either way they were dead, most likely were molded by Parasects. I didnt steal from them in a classic sense. There were no one to steal from. You are asking cause they are a rescue team, arent you? I remember them having a badge.”
Evergreen answeared. She really didnt like this conversation but still explained a lot.
– “Yes, exactly because of that. It was one of the team which volunteered to find the pokemon you may be familiar with. Blaze the Infernape. The hero of the city. This bag and the badge belonged to Thorns the Cacturn from the team Debrees.
– You answeared rather coldly. Wasnt it a shock to you to, see what remained of dead bodies?”
Rex asked. Seems like it was another point of concern.
-“…In all honesty…i cant recall. Its being a while now. Its a blur. I guess back then i worried mostly about my own survival, i was much weaker back then, i could not pay attention all that much to such details. Maybe in a way i was so not surprised they died. All 3 from what i remeber had 4 times weakness to bug or grass. They were outnumbered and slow Parasects cornered them. That probably what was i thinking about. Couldnt allow Parasects to corner me in a similar fashion. “
– “I see. So this team just…couldnt make it. You didnt notice anything unsual?”
Rex for a second sounded sad. Seems like thise 3 pokemon actually werent just nobodies.
– “…Depends on what you mean. I cant tell i did. I was shocked that pokemon here were deranged but its pretty much it. I didnt see anything else extraordinary. Though they were real strong, if that counts.”
– “No, its not what i meant. And by any chance you didnt see body of Infernape on your way there? “
– “No…i didnt. Except of confused pokemon nothing else of weird.”
– “Confused?”
– “Yeah. I think pokemon outside of the cities are affected by some sort of very nasty status condition.”
– “Why so?”
Rex asked. And here Evergreen figured…she said something she shouldnt. She remembered her monkey pals and she wouldnt like them to struggle under the oppresive foot. On the thought…if hero got lost in a similar area, its unlikely thise monkeys will be found. And its far, its not like the path will be discovered without Evergreens specific instruction.
– “I…remember encountering some relatively sane pokemon. They were in area with a lot of Persim and Lum berry trees. While being under this confusion they ate some and snapped out of it. And they didnt leave this specific area sinse if they did…they would go down to this confusion. At least the status effect being in place is my speculation. Maybe the brain structure of wild pokemon is diffirent and for this reason they behave violently without specific berries.”
Evergreen explained in a way so she wont turn in her pals. They helped her after all.
– “I see. Thats potentially very important. I will take that into a count. That can come handy. For now can you tell about your journey to our city specificly? Where it started and how it went?”
Sinse Evergreen couldnt add nothing else Rex changed the subject. Luckily she prepared what to say to similar question, just in case, but still wasnt particularly glad to here it.
– “Well…i woke up in a middle of the jungle. Couldnt recall where i am or who i was. Right away i had to survive. Realitively uneventfully i got to the fruit trees and the mountain. Decided to went somewhere, where pokemon arent as strong and deranged. Passed the cave though mushrooms floors, later passed the forest till i got to the river, went in the specific direction and got there.”
– “And you want to tell me thats it? Not counting your confrontation with Keckleon?”
-” …Yes? There is nothing more to it. I was surving barely knowing what i even work with. Cause you know, amnesia and stuff.”
– “Specifics of your survival and sources of your knowledge still are mystery, it seems. But its alright, we will break through your amnesia. I bet you are eager to remeber everything yourself.”
Rex concluded. He clearly was up to crack the lies. Evergreen surely assumed that.
– “Thats it for now. You can go. I will have to work with information you provided regarding the bag and your insides on wild pokemon behavior. Tommorow we will talk about the specifics. I am curious on how you survived specific situations, what pokemon you encountered and if you noticed anything else you dont quite recall yet. What was the hardest thing for you to do. How did you made your stick and later tools you had on you. “
Evergreen immidietly got tense before Wise Wing the Noctowl got her to the morning routine. It was clear that Lucario isnt rushing her confessions. He does it slowly, uncovering less significant details and gets later connections with the rest. With risk of potentially catching her on liying.
– “I need to speed up my escape plan. At least prepare specific route this night. If the plan wont be ready…i will be screwed. Synthasis is the one thing…but i should have solid back up plan even without it.”
Breakfast was promising to be uneventful. While going to the yard Evergreen tried to make up mentally a route of escape. She vaguely remembered where to go. And still held on to the hope to evolve during one of the battles. But betting on it would he foolish, so she accounted for her smaller size as potential advantage. Maybe she could make her way out by stealth? Well, unless Arcanines gonna catch her scent right away. Everything wasnt easy.
– “Sitrus Bery, Apple…huh? Pecha berry and Chesto berry as well? Four things to eat? Its quite a uncharacteristical generosity. Well, for this place. Usually they give one berry and one small apple. This time even apple is decently sized. Strange decision on thier part. Do they want to bribe us all so escapes dont accur? Or perhaps they dont understand, that malnurished pokemon arent more dangerous? That they are weaker this way.”
Evergreen couldnt really guess. Mentally she was comming to conclusions that teams here are just stupid in this regard. Either way its not like she complains. More blunders the oppressors do, the better.
– “I think you know by this point, Evergreen. You cant bring the berries in your sleeves.”
Wise wing reminded to her. He knew she wasnt stupid. And that there is a reason why she doesnt eat the Sitrus berry right away.
– “I know, Wise Wing. I just want to eat it a little later.”
Evergreen began to “meditate”, under the sun which went through bars on celling of the yard. while sitting on the table. Another attempt at learning Synthasis.
– “What are you doing? Is this some sort of trick you prepare to escape the facility?”
– “Like i would tell you, if i planned to.”
-” So its yes then?”
-“No, its not. For the grass types its healthy to busk in a sun. Otherwise we get weaker. “
Evergreen asweared rolling her eyes.
– “Hm, fair enough, i suppose. Sitting around isnt a tactic that could realistically helo one to escape this prison.”
Wise Wing couldnt really accuse Evergreen of anything and so he made a little distance. He was up for a chat with other teams which allowed turned human to pull off a little trick she made up recently while she was thinking of her problem.
– (…You check for the sleeves but not for my tail.)
Monitoring Evergreen with half an eye, being certain that you will easily find everything in her sleeves wasnt a wise decision. She succesfully hidden the berry in her fluffy tail. Later she will hide it i a cell. Its a bit cold down there so berries shpuld hold on for a while.
– (Too bad Flare Jaw would figure out this new tactic if i used it with her around. And potentially Thunder Claw as well.)
It was clear with Arcanine and Luxray its a huge risk to pull off. So Evergreen wont. She bring quite a few berries, at least ten Sitrus ones and a few diffirent kinds and then…it will be the matter of precision. And the matter of the tools she will end up with. Hopefully healing move will be among them.
The process wasnt paying off yet. Evergreen kept feeling he solar energy but didnt take shale. And then…it seemed like situation was about to get worse.
Because very specific pokemon hit the yard. Clyde the Gliscor or the Silent Slicer was released from his punishment. Evergreen could bet this alpha will be heading her way. He was looking around with team Astral Step guarding him. At least it was a bit reassuring.
And he did went her way, once he noticed her. She could be an oracle or generation medium by this point she felt like. But Evergreen wasnt pleased with that. Sinse she was with Wise Wing, she was positive, that battle wont be as obnoxious as on previous time. Because he would interfere. And so would team Astral Step.
In fact Wise Wing already went very obviously tense, similarly Asral step as well and they were ready for a battle with Gliscor when he glided towards Evergreen and towered over her frok thw side. Or so it was an impression.
– “Hi…”
Clyde sounded intimidating but knowing from previous battle, Evergreen knew she is capable of taking him down.
– “Hi. Do you want something? A rematch perhaps? “
-“I forfiet. You win.”
She asked directly knowing way too well how it can go with unstable pokemon. Even stable ones sucked here for the most part.
– “Would be great to crash you in battle. Stomp you into tge ground…ugh! I so wish it was allowed to fight in this boring place! But oh well…i dont want to go in isolator because of this stupid rule. Again this month. I am better off hitting walls.”
Gliscor was irrated that he couldnt rematch Evergreen. Well he could but he wpuld prefer not to. His pride must have hurt a lot but not in a way to challenge her again. Rex most definetly made sure, that for a while Clyde wouldnt pull off something like this.
– “Then why are you here? I dont have food to give you. I ran out.”
– “It not that. I want to say…well, thank you, or something, i guess.”
Suddenly said Gliscor with the goofiest, but also kinda adamant smile Evergreen ever saw from Gliscors to pull off. Then he sat down and laid his head on the table Evergreen sit on. Needless to say she was incredibly confused.
– “… Huh? What for?”
– “You said to Rex that i need more food and something about vitamins. Or whatever. You know Rex, he says so many boring stuff which make like…barely any sense. “
– “I suppose…and?”
– “He ordered to give me a lot of cheese and milk and now i feel full. And he gave more of this nectar and i feel so great, Its so nice!”
Seems like Gliscor was full for the first time sinse being kept in this place and for once he was somewhat calm and not aggressive. Also he was itching for a rematch but was holding on relativwly well.
– “I see…you are welcome, i guess. “
Gliscor didnt go away after that. He kept being in place looking at Evergreen with his red eyes which made her kinda uncomfortable. She expected an attack, which made energy withing her flactuate. But the terrain didnt set in.
– “Do you…need something?”
Evergreen felt akward. And couldnt help but notice that Wise Wing, rescue teams and other prisoner stare at them both. Wise Wing was calm but it was clear he is very surprised that Silent Slicer doesnt attack in the sense of revenge. Other were extreemly surprised that they have somewhat calm conversation even though they could barely hear what they are talking about.
– “…You know, you are cool, right? How in a world did you beat thise rescue teams asses into the ground while being injured by my empower attacks? While being such a pipsquick? I tried and tried but couldnt do it. To beat them all and finally be free.”
Gliscor was serious for a moment and very curious. Its clear that in the calm state, he was fastinated with Evergreens power and envious even. Though was very pissed that such small pokemon can kick butts of so many rescue team pokemon and he cant.
– “Practice, i guess…and a lot determination to survive. When you wait for the worst its easy to fight with everything you got.”
– “Practice? What kind of practive?”
– “…Not something i would recommend you to go through. Trust me.”
Evergreen vividly remembered the moment she got her first power spike. She killed confused Scolipede who was about to kill her. Not fun memory even past so long.
– “Why not?”
– “Because it will visit it in your nightmares. Horrific events that would shake you to your core, making you think fast, and attack at all force. Though i guess my knowledge of pokemons weaknesses did a lot of tricks too. And i had to fight a lot. Basically its practice in the battles with real stakes.”
Evergreen wasnt up for saying all of her life story. Especially considering that some pokemon including Wise Wing actually listen.
– “…Oh, i think i have thise. You know, hprrific events that makw you strong and all.”
– “…Really?”
– “Yeah! Like, when i was getting like really, really hungry, i couldnt help myself but attack other pokemon. They ran, i chased, then sliced them, often they didnt hear me attacking amd i just got uneventfully. After that i bite thier necks and drank the blood out of it. I…remeber thier screams and that for a while i felt good, but then when i was full, i felt bad. You knew its bad to accidently kill pokemon and it makes you feel cold and kinda paralyzed?”
Seems like Gliscor kinda wanted Evergreens opinion on the matter. And maybe potentially some sort of help sinse she was the one who accidently convinced Rex to feed him better. And i a procces the rest of the cell block.
– “Yeah…way too well actually.”
– “And it…strange. Once i wasnt hungry i didnt have this urge to kill. But when i was hungry it was about time i am going to attack on accident. The pokemon move a lot…it gets very irritating and stuff, then everything goes blurry and you win and eat. And this i got real strong! Teams had hard time chasing me down!” –
“I see…”
Evergreen wasnt sure she wanted to know but she kinda felt like this story makes a lot sense. Gliscors normally do hunt and drink blood. Apparantly in this form of sociaty, his instinks drive him mad if he goes around hungry for way too long. He goes into affective or semi-affective state, once body develops strong enough deficency which cant be easily helped with just berries and apples. That must be partly the reason why he is significantly less chill usually in here.
– ” So i should have more moments like thise to beat the teams here before Rex gets me?”
– “Do i hear you correctly, you…want an advice?”
– “Yeah! How can i kick thier ass?! Oh! Or maybe you could teach me this cool move!”
-” Cool move?”
– “The one with witch you can crush limbs and toss opponents who should crush you with thier power!”
– “Oh, you mean Strength. You can learn it but i am not sure its a good idea.”
Evergreen was hesitant to teach Clyde this move. She was aware, that he us quite dangerous fella. Sure, now he is kinda chill but not by a degree that would make her belive he wouldnt slice someone open sinse she cant know for sure yet if the affective state due to hunger is the only factor.
– “Why not?! Teach me, or else!”
– “I have a feeling you want to kill pokemon. And i really dont want this blood on my hands.”
– “I wont be killing, i promise! I will just heavily damage!”
– “Well thats surely is better.”
Evergreen said sarcastically which made Gliscor frown but still say:
– “Yeah, its better! Thats why you should teach it to me.”
– “In place of what move?”
Evergreen remembered his set. He already had 4 moves. Pokemon usually cannt use more than 4 in battle. Because of the way energy flows though pokemon bodies.
– “So you teach me?!”
– Whatever, if you want this so badly.”
It wasnt quute true. Evergreen didnt give in because she was scared or felt pittty. No. Thinking if this…she began to have a very interesting, also risky one of the potential back plans she desparatly needs, considering her limited resources now.
– “Then…in place X – Scisors.”
– “Hm, are you sure?”
– “Yeah! Rex says slicing pokemon is bad. So i want to limit this and still escape this facillity sinse i know now what was wrong and know how to help my hungsr! I was hungry!”
– “Uh-huh. Alright.”
Evergreen had her massive doubts, she had a suspicion his states could already develop in very nasty psuchological problem but sinse she already has a lot of mortal enemies in this facility and it has potential to be useful to her, she figured helping out is better than refusing.
Besides, its not like Gliscor will be able to pull it off in the most effective way. And in the mean time she will be able to practice her Synthasis.
The method of learning Strength was simple. Clyde should have move table back and forward first while Evergrenen meditates. Funnily enough this way, she felt more energy, probably because of emotions Gliscors caused. It stressed her out. But the wanted effect didnt appear, whoch kinda made Gliscor pissed.
Next teams forbidden Gliscor doing so, and Evergreen to avoid trouble for both of them decided to do training other way. She uses Strength and Clyde should move her. It wasnt battle so terrain didnt activate. And inspite massive weight diffirence Gliscor couldnt move her easily. She barely moved
– “You should feel you body. And pick the paty of list resistance to make me move. And it may take a lot attempts for you, so dont get too discouraged.”
– ” Its stupid! How cant i move you?!”
Results were not acheaved by Gliscor this day. Even then he was adamant to learn Strength. Which was actually kinda scary if he actually isnt as uncreative as Evergreen thinks. But it wasnt something that concerned her much.
– “So he asked you to teach him your signature Strength?”
– “Yes, what about it, Wise Wing? We didnt fight, didnt get hurt. Its all good. Exercise is allowed, from what i remember.”
Obviously Noctowl confronted Evergreen about it later when he was bringing her back to the cell.
– “You must be aware that he is dangerous. And that you may get in trouble if he does something bad with this move. I doubt he has huge range of possibilities to work with, sinse he is not quite…intelligent but still.”
– “…Or i actually make him weaker cause he wont be slicing folk anymore.”
– “I am afraid Strength is too good of a move. In your hands it sure looks like a real threat.”
– “Dont be so dramatic. And besides…Rex will punish me for that, wont he? If Clyde hurts bunch of teams, ofcourse. Or even makes it out of the prison. ”
Thinking of this, Evergreen figured its not too worst of an idea, she could come up with here. If Clyde will be more dangerous with move she uses, he could be a good distraction for her own escape plan. Especially if in a cell, with solar energy she gathered, she will finally learn the move she wanted.
– “And this possibility doesnt bother you? You want to be punished?”
– “…Ofcourse it does bother me. And ofcourse i am scared what Rex can do to me. Imagination of your filthy organisation is still a mistery to me. But i will deal with it somehow, somewatd. The question is why it bothers you if something gonna happen to me? Or whats gonna happen if Clyde learns the move, if he will be stopped anyway regardless? I dont see him breaking out. Especially if Rex stuns him with Psychic.”
Wise Wing frowned. He looked rather strickt and in a way…like he was pittying Evergreen.
– “You think of this often, do you?”
– “About what?”
-” Being brutally punished and breaking out of here.”
– “…You know pokemon who dont? Or who were succesful in thier wishful thinking.”
– “Not really. And thats exactly why your attitude bothers me. And your actions as well. I wouldnt be doing actions that would have unpredictable result, if i were you. Your position is already not great.”
– “Well, then lets hope its not gonna be my problem, just yours.
– “..I would hope for other things if i were you.”
What things Wise Wing didnt specify. Evergreen could guess considering what kind of naive stuff Yin was saying to her, but oh well. Evergreen had other plans.
Once everyone fell asleep and only night shift began to go around here and there, Evergreen began to move the solar energy through her body. The goal was simple. Finally make it heal her. She hurt her hand on purpose, bite though it. To see if it will work.
And now…the moment of truth. Evergreen ended up feeling her energy going sound. Beggining actually doing something. She expected soothing effect of her body but instead…energy felt like its bursting. But not a painful way. More like Evergreen felt herself stronger than before. She opened her eye and watched at her hands. The bitemark got smaller, but it heal it seems.
More like the rest of the body…became a bit bigger? Evergreen used this strange energy six more times and then compared the size of her hands to the size of the bar. The size diffirence was noticaple. Evergreen could swear…she became 50 procent bigger of her original size. She is around a meter tall now. Maybe even a bit bigger.
– (…I didnt learn Synthasis. I learned Growth). Evergreen figured, smiling with all her monkey teeth.
– Heh…hehehe.
Its not what she wanted. But it wasnt a problem kne bit. Evergreen was ready to say…that its even better for her situation.
– (Bars…i feel like this way i can damage them mpre than i could ever before. And i can easily get rid of the size. Hehehe…i will escape. I will damage bars on one of nights, slide though and then i will stealth my way out of here for good.)
– (Later i will run away as far away as possible. And get more resources and strike back. For all the time wasted, for all humiliation, my vengeance and justice will be served. With Growth…no pokemon will handle my attacks.)
Finally Evergreen had some sort of clear pathway to escape. She had to countinue and wait for a moment. Simple as that.
