#plot: cyanophobia

// Would any of you guys be upset at me if I cut Cyanophobia short mid-story? I know that I did it a while ago before with Tor's adventure, but after the hiatus I took, I've been having terrible writer's block and haven't been into writing. Feels like I'm in a rut when I think about it. I have one post that I liked that semi-collabs with one person, but after that, I'm thinking of just dropping it mid-story because I can't get myself to finish writing it.

// I'm going to put the spoiler of what happens under the cut, but I think my brain just... wants to move on from this plot. Maybe because it's ben cooking for too long or maybe because it didn't turn out how I wanted, but I'm not as big of a fan of this ultimate finale thing this time around. So, it wouldn't be bad if I just... drop this plot and move on? I'll make sure to take my time before moving to whatever comes next. Take my time and all that.

Cerulean Cave, Styx

"Urgh!"

The Rainbow Rocket grunt was knocked into the ground from an attack, knocking him out of the fight. As he landed, the individual that attacked him took a step forward.

"The Guide remains on my side, and not on yours." Mai stepped forward again. "You will not be in my way. Now, you must choose: leave and allow me to proceed, or perish."

"Uh--uhhh…! The Rocket Grunt started to scuttle away from her. "Y—You win, man. Do what you want!"

Mai smiled at the grunt. "Alright, then. May the Guide have mercy on you." She turned and walked past him. No need to cause more damage than necessary.

Mai eventually made it to the depths of Cerulean Cave. She's heard of this place. This was where Giovanni recaptured Mewtwo after defeating Blue in battle all of those years ago. To think that so much of life would be different had Blue won that night… but, instead, she found herself face-to-face with a strange device. It was sturdy and well-structured, built with the latest technology. It was also idling, waiting to receive a signal.

"So, this is the final barrier amplifier." Mai walked around it to find an entry way. She could destroy it outright here, but Mai still wanted to ensure that it was shut down properly. So, the dragon reached into it, phasing through the panel to open it from the inside. "Let's see…." She reached in and phased through the next panel before ripping it out completely, exposing some wires. Then, she pulled out some scissors and started cutting them. "Red, blue, green… yellow. Done."

Leaf and Blue glared at each other within the depths of the cave. If one were to tell Leaf a few years ago that she'd get her closure with Blue in this location, she wouldn't have believed them. Yet, here she was, looking at the girl in the face in the Cerulean Cave of Leaf's home world.

"It's been years, Leaf. We've both have grown so much." Blue paced to the side as she pulled out a Pokémon. It was a Shadow Absol. "I'd say that we're both prettier than ever from the last time we've met."

Leaf squinted. She wasn't taking that bait. Instead, she sat down on the floor. "How's your Red and Green?" Mewtwo sat with her.

Blue blinked, but then decided to sit down as well. Absol joined her. "Green… he passed away a few years ago. Cancer."

"Oh. I'm so sorry. I know you looked up to him."

"I did…." Blue sighed. "He spent so much time trying to convince me to run away with him and didn't even bother to think about himself. It was so out of character for him that it made the grieving worse."

"I understand. Blue and I are close here, and despite his cocky attitude, I know that he would move the entire world to make sure that Red and I are okay. I'm sure that's the same thought process that your Green was thinking about."

"Probably, but… he's gone now, and it's sometimes just hard to accept it."

"I get it. I understand. I… felt like that with my own dad, even if the circumstances were different."

"Yeah." Blue sighed. "As for Red, he's… somewhere. I know he's alive at least." She shrugged. "We're not friends anymore. After all, you know how he feels about Team Rocket."

"Yeah." Leaf nodded. "He must have taken it poorly when he heard that you joined Team Rocket."

Blue sighed. "He… he did, yeah. I was told that he cried for multiple days."

"Have you seen him since?"

Blue nodded. "We've seen each other a few times since. Battled a few times. He tried to get me to quit. Said that he knew that I was better than this." She sighed. "After our last battle, he fled to another world, but I don't know which right now."

"Hm." Leaf crossed her arms. "So, why are you calling me here? I know that we didn't leave off on the right foot…"

"… That's putting it lightly." Blue laughed a little.

"… Okay, well, that battle was inevitable. You know that." Leaf sighed. "You said in your letter that you wanted closure. Well, I do too. That's why I'm here. So, what's the matter?"

Blue was quiet for a little while as she considered what to say. For a moment, it felt as if everything was coming at her at once, even though she was the one to coordinate this. "I…" She grit her teeth. She wanted to say so many things at once, but she knew that she had to start somewhere. "I missed you, Leaf. I… I really do. I know that we really broke up because I joined Team Rocket despite your feelings about them, but I really mean it when I say that I miss you and that I want you back. I know that I've been horrible but… but I promise that I'll change and that we can make this work again…."

Leaf stood back up. "How can you say that you'll change when you came in this world, invaded it, and had your team attack us? Even right now my friends are all fighting your people to prevent them from taking over Johto and maybe even more! How can you tell me that you want me to take you back when you're doing all of this!?"

"Because… because I don't want to be in this anymore! I'm tired of being a part of Team Rocket, and I… I just want to leave!" Blue stomped her foot. "I'm tired of this whole thing with being a part of Team Rocket, and with taking over from world to world. I'm tired of this world domination shit with no end-goal in sight, and yet I have to pretend over and over again that this is where I am destined to be… that I have to carry on as Giovanni's daughter since his son is against us—"

"… Oh, right. I forgot that Giovanni's your dad in your world."

Blue huffed. "Just like how Archer's yours." Blue went back to leaning against a rock. "… I got a visit in my dreams by an Arceus. This isn't the first time I've encountered her, but this time was different. She was a lot more foreboding than before… telling me that I'm going to fall into an abyss at the mercy of another Arceus. I've started to have my doubts about this before, but, after learning about it… I only continued to realize how futile this endeavor is…." She shook her head. "We have no chance against you guys. Between the defections from Lillie—"

"—Ivy."

"…? Ivy?"

"The version of Lillie you guys had? Her name's Ivy now."

"Hm. Well, between her capture and later defection, as well as Sirius, not to mention losing Shirona, Yuki, and Haruka, I've realized that we don't stand a chance against you guys." She shook her head. "But at the same time, I couldn't just leave them as-is. Doing that and abandoning them would put a target on my back, too…."

"Really?" Leaf slightly squinted and crossed her arms. "So, let me guess. You know that you can't beat us, so you decided to get them on a suicide mission to get captured while you… come here to get me to flee with you?"

Blue nodded. "They're working on a plan to take over Goldenrod Tower. They want to use it as an signal and the department store as an antennae as a last-ditch effort to regain control."

Leaf turned to look at Mewtwo, who seemed to be just as annoyed with Blue as she was. Then, Leaf turned back. "A signal for what? Who could be contacting like that?"

"…" Blue looked up to the ceiling. "Some time ago, Kotone on behalf of Team Rocket landed a deal with an Arceus. She was one of the most powerful creatures that we've ever seen, destroying a multitude of worlds for her own personal gain. Her name was Artemis, the World Cleanser.

"…?" Leaf's heard of that title before, but that was for— "You mean 'Friede'?"

"Friede?"

"Yeah. Friede's the World Cleanser. She's a Shiny Arceus that went from world to world destroying any of them that had remnants of humans. Heidi's already beaten her."

Blue blinked. "… Oh, right. I did see that footage. No, not her. You seem to forget that things are different on my side of the barrier between the parallel dimensions. Artemis is a cruel Arceus that destroys worlds and bends the few survivors to her will."

"… Oh. Oh, that's bad. So, what you're telling me is that she's going to come here and destroy this world?"

"That's the intent, but they won't make it that far. Sending a signal strong enough to pierce the barrier between us and deliver to her requires a great amount of energy, but also requires an amplifier on the other side, and, well…" Blue took out her phone and approached Leaf.

Goldenrod Tunnel, Johto

Oh, finally there seems to be something happening. He's been hearing commotion and fighting this whole time. If I weren't for the fact that he's supposed to keep watch of this VIP, then he would have ran to join.

However, eventually he saw it: a young girl that had just beaten his comrade and was talking with the boy. "Hm. Finally some fresh meat." He started to sneakily approach them.

Cerulean Cave, Kanto

Leaf trekked through the dark cavern, passing through the strange, maze-like structure and avoiding ample amounts of Pokémon. It would normally take a seasoned trainer hours or even days to get used to the layout of the place; however, Leaf had this place memorized. She remembered the trappings of her first few visits here... the strange dead-ends that always led to battles, the strong Pokémon lurking both on the land and in the water... none of that was going to be the case this time. She came prepared...

... and she knew that Blue knew that. That's why this was a perfect spot for them.

Leaf eventually made it to the deepest part of the cave. It was here where she encountered Mewtwo... and had failed to get it from Red all of those years ago. It was also here where she and her current Mewtwo spent together to meditate and share a bond... and it was here where she expected to find her counterpart.

Leaf took out a Poké Ball and tossed it.

Leaf sent out Mewtwo!

Mewtwo knew why it was here, too. Sure, it was no longer bound by its previous master, Giovanni, but there wasn't a chance that Blue would just let it and Leaf stay partners... and it wasn't going to let her do that without a fight.

"I'm here, Blue." Leaf walked around, with Mewtwo following her. "There. Your people have attacked Goldenrod City and I chose to leave in favor for seeing you. Now it's just... me... and you."

"..."

"I'm serious, Blue. I know you made it here already. Don't try to act all quiet now. You said that you wanted to have closure? Well, let's have it."

"..."

"...."

"You know, it's really foolish for you to come all of the way in here and do exactly what I say. You really were too good for this world."

"... I'm not in a playing mood, Blue."

Blue stepped forward and made herself known. "Good, because I'm not in a betraying mood, either. It's good to finally see you face-to-face again, Leaf."

"... Likewise, I guess."

Blue turned to look at Mewtwo. "Oh, and you too, Mewtwo. Nice to see that you've grown accustomed to your new trainer, hm?"

Nergal's gritting her teeth.

Why does it feel like something's affecting her...?

Goldenrod City, Johto

The ground sharted to shake beneath the people's feet. It had been a normal day before this — a bustling atmosphere with shoppers, gamblers, workers, and all sorts of city folks. Even just an hour ago, the area was full of people that were just living their lives and going day-by-day. Sure, there were rumors of strange people dressed in black that seemed like Team Rocket that seemed to be in the area, but one would have been easily mistaken for thinking it as bluster or doomcasting from those that were still traumatized from the last time the city was raided by the group.

Now, however, it was more than just a rumor. It had become reality in a way that people hadn't expected.

Team Rocket was pouring int the streets as a low earthquake plagued the area. People screamed and scattered within their homes, outside of the city, and wherever they could go to feel safe. Despite this, grunts chased after them, trying to steal as many Pokémon as they could.

One in particular had just cornered a Youngster and his Sentret. The Grunt and his Machamp slowly approached the two with the perfect intent to take the Sentret from the young boy. "Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Your choice, kid."

"N—No! L—Leave us alone! Help!"

Machamp used two of her arms to punch its own hand and cover her fist over and over again. She was more than happy for the hard way, really—

Lugia used Aeroblast on the Machamp! It's super effective! Machamp fainted!

The blast knocked the Machamp over to the side and caused her to fall over. The grunt, Youngster, and Sentret looked over to see Krystal over to the side by herself.

Krystal glared at the grunt. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size, or bigger than you?" She hopped in front of the Youngster.

The Grunt recalled his Machamp and reached for another Poké Ball. It was enough time to get the Youngster and Sentret to continue running.

Team Rocket Grunt sent out Hypno!

Krystal laughed. "Oh, like that's going to do any—"

Krystal was quickly interrupted by another larger tremor. The ground was unstable enough to cause her to transform into her Lugia form and become airborne. With this tremor, though, there was something a lot more serious happening… something that she saw at the corner of her eye.

The top of the Radio Tower started to morph and transform, eventually turning into an Ultra Wormhole! Then, the Department Store sank, leaving another Ultra Wormhole in its place!

"Oh. That's not good." Krystal turned back to the grunt. "That's fine. Let me just deal with your quickly…"

Then, there was something else that she saw at the corner of her eye. An outpouring of Deoxys came from each of the Ultra Wormholes. They were quickly zooming across the city, flying around and harrassing any people that they could find. It was a full-on invasion!

"Shit!" Krystal glared at the Hypno, who was preparing an attack. "I don't have time for this!"

Krystal used Aeroblast on Hypno! Critical Hit! Hypno fainted!

Zinnia was sitting down in the middle of the Magnet Train. Usually, she wouldn't do something like this and would simply fly around to her destination; however, this wasn't something that she could do easily. When she was in Goldenrod City, she had noticed the presence of Team Rainbow Rocket lurking within the confines, meaning that the raid was just about to begin. Flying away would only draw attention. Even worse, she had left Rayquaza and Heidi on their own, hoping that they would be too distracted with what was to come to notice that she had disappeared. Finally, flying to her destination runs the risk of Leaf finding her, something that she didn't want to do either. It was either taking this magnet train, or getting stuck in the upcoming quagmire, and she chose the former.

Now that she thinks about it, it's going to take some time to simply run or ride to Cerulean City. Stupid Leaf, thinking that you're going to just go out on your own without someone. What if something happens to you? She… she wouldn't forgive herself. Just… stay strong, okay? She'll be there for you eventually….

Zinnia sighed as she looked out the window to see the view. You know, taking the train was rather nice, and the view was pretty to look at. If only they had something like this in Hoenn….

---

Cerulean City, Kanto

Leaf stood in front of Cerulean Cave. It was this place… this place that changed her trajectory and forever severed the ties to her childhood dreams of being there for her best friend at the time. It was here where she walked in a naive child, and walked out a distraught, depressed woman. This — and counterparts of it — was where she had the most development, both for good and for ill. With that in mind, Leaf looked down at the note, and down at the final line.

If the Golden Channel interrupts itself, then we will end where everything first began. I'll be waiting.

Leaf closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.

"Maybe if we catch each other and your Mewtwo, then none of us wil be lonely, right? Come on, think about it!"

Leaf looked back up. "Well, I thought about it, alright. Time to tell you what I think."