"I could have sworn I told you all to stay out of it"
"Did you?" Infernape replied innocently
"Well if I didn't, then it was heavily implied" Zekks pressed. "What if that had been an illusion?"
"Oh please, no one could imagine you getting your butt kicked that badly!" Dawn teased, eliciting a glare from Zekks as the group began to make their way down the stairs.
"Well in any case", Zekks resumed, wincing for a moment as he shoved his other shoulder back into its socket, "it's finally over."
As the three rejoined their comrades, they shared the good news - news that was apparent to everyone; and yet sounded no less wonderful: Giravan was dead. Despite everything, they had won. They had survived.
Even though the threat was now gone, they knew they were still on a clock. Giravan or no Giravan, this - substitute, pocket, whatever you want to call it - universe was still in its final hours before it spatially collapsed upon itself. No one knew how long the fighting had lasted; but even the most dire of estimations still gave this world at least 10 or so more hours.
As such, they decided there'd be no harm in taking an hour or two to catch their breathes. In truth, it was more Palkex's suggestion as he'd used up quite a bit of his power - now having returned to his smaller 'power saver' mode - but no one objected. They didn't anticipate any more fights once they made it back home; but after everything they'd just been through, a chance to catch their breath was much welcomed - along with some lighthearted conversation and praise!
"Not to sound ungrateful' Xanatar began, "but I was kind of hoping that once Giravan was killed we'd... you know"
He gestured towards himself and the other doppelgängers - each of whom shared a similar disheartened look at the persistence of their monstrous forms.
"Maybe it'll just fade with time?" Xammoth offered. "Though it has also been almost two hours."
"Well, we have been like this for almost two years" Skaraxia reminded "Perhaps we just need to be more patient"
"As much as it pains me to say this", Zekks interjected, "there is someone I can introduce you all too once we've gotten out of here."
"And they'd be able to turn us back?"
"Not sure; but they're far more well-versed in the arcane than even Shay was. So he'd be our best bet - no matter how insufferable I find him."
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go!" Palkex cheered, to which everyone just stared at him blankly.
"Weren't we initially waiting for you?" Houndoom asked as he and Mandbuzz began to get up.
"Oh, I've been good to go for the last twenty minutes or so!" he admitted.
"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?!?!?!" Beware scolded, immediately rising to her feet as well.
"Woah, relax there Stinky. I thought we were going to wipe the slate clean and start fresh?"
"We were, but it turns out you make a lousy second impression as well!"
"If at all possible", Macho interrupted, "can we please continue this bickering someplace else - ideally someplace Macho can get a cup of tea?"
As the pleasantries - and bickering - continued, everyone got up and began making their way over towards where Palkex was setting up. Cross-dimensional hopping was a little more complex than blinking from Point A to Point B; and so he wanted to have a clear space with which to work. Though as they proceeded, they couldn't help but notice the size of their entourage had begun to dwindle.
YOU ARE READING
PokéRangers: New World
FantasiImagine a world much like our own; but where Pokémon exist only in ancient mythology. It is here that 6 youths were chosen to wield their powers and become PokéRangers. After a ferocious battle, our heroes have found themselves in a time of unexpect...