Sixth.

[azumods]

NIGHTMARE. Riley has been largely absent for the past day; he's needed the time, he's said, to try to sort out what should be done about Darkrai and Cresselia. Whether they can be contacted from a safe distance; whether there's something he can do to ensure that there's no risk to the rest of you. You fall asleep on Friday night. You don't remember deciding to fall asleep on Friday night; perhaps you were in the middle of doing something. Perhaps you were keeping watch over the rest of the group, perhaps you were talking to someone, perhaps you were unable to drift off and sitting up poring over notes or books by flashlight. Perhaps you were already well asleep by the time it happens. Either way, Friday night begins to slip into what's technically Saturday, and that's when you drop off. And you are, quite literally, falling. The sensation is a strong one, somehing that disorients you almost immediately, the sort of thing that happens in dreams only to be accompanied by a hypnic jerk that wakes you up safely in your bed, only that moment of awakening never comes. The landing isn't a hard one, however, wherever you've ended up; it's one you're aware of, but not one that hurts you in any way, there's no physical pain. There's only you, and the ground, and the absolute darkness surrounding you. You should get up. Get your bearings. The darkness won't last long, but what it reveals to you when it breaks might not be as welcome as you might think it is...

Comments

[azumods]

[It fixes that stare on Rey; when it responds, it's in a way that's more obviously telepathic than the thought-pushing from the Lake Guardians, its "voice" deep and unpleasant in ways, seeing to echo off of the inside of your head.]

Offend... No.

[greydients]

So you just...

[...did what you were created to do...?

...

...but that's it, isn't it? They wanted to meet Darkrai, didn't they?

...perhaps their little group should start being careful what they wish for.]

...I see.

[God, where does she even start with you.]

...your powers are...very impressive.

[To put it mildly.]

[azumods]

So are yours.

[It...assumes, anyway? There are soon images called to the forefront of your mind, thoughts of the region's people as they are now - devoid of spirit and listless.]

Everyone is gone. But not you.

[greydients]

[...it probably says something about how long she's been here that Rey's first thought, in regards to that compliment, relates to their effect on the world of Sinnoh and not...you know. The Force.]

...is that why you appeared to us? Because...we're still here?

[...are you

are you lonely

...

YOU HAD BETTER NOT BE SAD TOO SHE HAS HAD ENOUGH OF SAD VILLAINS]

[azumods]

You wanted to meet us. I need to meet you first.

[...I mean we can figure out the rest of that later because there's a lot to unpack there but for the time being, you guys kind of rang.]

[greydients]

...us?

[....wait, hang on-]

Are you talking about Cresselia?

[azumods]

Yes.

[greydients]

[...okay. Things are starting to fall into place for Rey; the duo of Darkrai and Cresselia are obviously open to meeting with them, but Darkrai insisted on seeing them first.

...this must have all been a test.]

...and do you find us worthy?

[azumods]

You're not like the others. The ones who were here before, after the others were not.

[Images come to mind, being pulled to the forefront of your mind. Saturn. Jupiter. Mars.]

You aren't like they are.

[greydients]

Ah...! The Galactic commanders!

[Rey feels an odd pang when the image of Saturn shows up - what happened to him? Cyrus mentioned he brought him back to the Galactic headquarters...

...there's an disturbing poetry in Saturn becoming the victim of his own machines. Regardless....]

No, we're...we're definitely not like them. We want to defeat them.

[...]

...they didn't hurt you and Cresselia too, did they? The Lake Guardians, they...

[...let her just trail off, there, you...get the idea.]

[azumods]

They did not.

[...So at least there's that.]

But they helped the man who controls our creators. They caused this. As he did.

[greydients]

[Well, that's a relief, at least. Although she is admittedly curious as to how the Galactic admins would fight Darkrai's nightmares off.

...what would their nightmares be composed of? What dreams would torment Cyrus himself?

...anyway. It's a thought for later.]

...he did. We want to stop him, but...we're not sure how. Would you and Cresselia...would you be interested in helping us?

[azumods]

I do not speak for Cresselia.

[...]

It cannot be allowed to continue. The constant cycling. The destruction only for its sake. He must be stopped.

[greydients]

...he must, yes.

[Bit of an understatement, but. Yes. That is the goal.

...]

...have you or Cresselia ever...looked into his mind? The way you did with us?

[azumods]

No.

[...like, do you want it to, is that where we're going here, or.]

[greydients]

[.....

well if...it could give them an advantage, she isn't going to tell you not to....

.....something tells her it wouldn't be a fun place to visit though, um.

...]

...what did our nightmares tell you about us, then? Do you believe me when I say we want to stop Cyrus?

[azumods]

Your nightmares are for others. Not for yourselves.

They're good nightmares.

[...darkrai what the fuck.]

I do believe you.

[greydients]

[T...hank you, um...]

I'm...glad you enjoyed them.

[BECAUSE SHE - AND THE REST OF THE GROUP - SURE THE HECK DID NOT-]

Will you allow us to meet Cresselia, then?