Team Oddity walked through the tunnels in silence, retracing their steps. Echo was still being held by Aeon, as he'd turned unresponsive during his time in Fortuna's chamber. The air was tense between Aeon and Liu, and neither of them wanted to speak first. By the time Echo had recovered, they had reached the tunnel system's entrance, eyes squinted from the intensity of the light in the cave.

"Wha...? What happened? Did I miss something?" Echo asked, his eyes now consistently blue as he shook his head. He looked up to see Aeon's face above him. "Aeon?"

"Hey, welcome back, Echo." Aeon greeted him, in a tone he hoped was light. "You kinda froze up back there, like you warned us about, so I carried you back. We're back at Rebirth's Cave now. Let's go sit down in our area, and then we can talk."

Just then, Delphox spotted them from across the cave. She waved to them and lightly jogged over. "It is good to see you three unharmed." She smiled. "What news?"

Aeon and Liu exchanged glances, and Aeon reluctantly said "We found the problem. It's a Leafeon, named Fortuna. She's been kept in a silver bubble, deep in the caves. When we tried to ask her why she was playing that lullaby, things got... weird."

"Weird? Weird how?" Absol spoke up, approaching them. Behind her, Ninetails leveled her gaze at them.

"She kept talking about this... 'Master'." Aeon explained. "She seemed like she was hypnotized, and mentioned a pendulum stone. We think she's been put under some kind of spell by a Hypno."

Team Rebirth looked at each other, then back at Team Oddity. "And... were you able to stop her?"

Aeon cast a glance at Liu, then said "Uh. No. We got a bit sidetracked. We couldn't get to her."

Delphox sighed. "A shame. However, this has already helped us a great deal. We might be able to send some grass-type pokemon in who have some kind of immunity. Regardless, we thank you for your work."

Aeon nodded. "Yeah. Anytime. We're gonna go take a rest, if you don't mind." With that, he set Echo down, and Team Oddity headed over to their living area, and sat down in their respective beds. For a few minutes, no one said anything. Then Echo asked "So what did happen while I was out? Your aura tells me you're not telling the whole truth, Aeon." His eyes flashed red for a second.

Aeon shook his head. "I'll let Liu talk first. Then I'll explain the rest." He nodded at Liu.

Liu knew that she'd have had to tell her teammates at some point. She took a deep breath, and began to speak. "So... y'know that cave you guys found me in?" Her tone was quiet, as if she didn't want others to hear. Echo and Aeon nodded. "I never told you... what happened in there." Just like before, Liu wrapped her arms around her shoulders, as if hugging or trying to comfort herself. "Before I disappeared, there was a Drowzee, named Spilar. He used hypnosis on me and... put me to sleep. When I woke up again, I saw that they had... chained me up. Metal cuffs around my wrists and ankles. They introduced themselves as 'Team Double T'. What happened next gives me a pretty good idea of what that means."

"Liu, if this is too hard, you can—" Aeon started.

"No. It's okay. You guys deserve to know." She interrupted. After a brief pause, she continued "There were four of them. One was the Drowzee I mentioned. The others were a Purrloin, Emolga, and Minccino. Maisy, Sparks, and Lizzie. I asked them a few questions, since they offered. I didn't get very far. Their answers were vague. Then, the torture began."

"Torture?" Aeon and Echo exclaimed at once, their faces growing pale.

Liu quickly looked around and then went "Shhhhh!" Then she nodded. "Torture. Worse than that... tickle torture."

Aeon stared blankly. "Tickle torture?"

"Tickle torture." Liu affirmed, her face flushing slightly. She gazed at Aeon. "You said... when I came back, my stomach and hindpaws were all red. ...That's because those are the spots where they had been tickling me." Before Aeon and Echo could say anything, she continued "It must have gone on for... hours. Three hours, at least, if not more. I was laughing so hard... and I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it. I felt so... weak. Helpless, powerless. I was so afraid, underneath that stupid smile that I had no choice in."

Aeon sat in stunned silence, and Echo looked uncomfortable. "Liu... I had no idea." Aeon murmured.

"You want to know the worst part?" Liu challenged. "They said... someone had paid them."

"Paid them? To tickle you?" Echo asked incredulously. "Who would pay someone to do something like that?"

Liu shook her head. "I don't know. But that's why I was so suspicious of everyone in Rebirth's Cave when I got back. It has to have been someone in here. I don't know of anyone in Sky Stairway that would come all this way just for something stupid like that. Someone in this cave saw me, thought I would look good in cuffs, and paid up front to have them kidnap me." She curled up a bit on her bed. "I know it sounds ridiculous. Like something I should just be able to brush off, and get over. But it was so awful. Having all my control stripped away like that. Being at the mercy of someone else. No control over my body, as it does things I don't want it to do."

"Liu, I'm sorry." Aeon scooched closer to her, gently pulling her into a hug.

Liu was surprised. "Y-you're not gonna laugh? At me? At being traumatized over something so stupid and benign?"

"Never." Aeon answered. "If you say it cut deep, then it did. That's all there is to it. The only person who knows your feelings, your experience... is you." He hugged tighter.

Liu's eyes watered, and she whispered desolately "I wish they had just tortured me for real. It would have been less humiliating." Echo plodded over and joined the hug as best he could, and for a while, they just sat there, not saying anything. Then, Liu gently pried herself free from their arms. "We can't sit and do nothing, though."

"What do you mean?" Aeon asked worriedly.

"From what Fortuna told us, there's something deeper here. Something rotten." Liu scowled. "And from what it sounds like, tickling is only Team Double T's day job. They're working for this 'Master' Hypno."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Aeon's face became determined. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking we need more information. But I don't know where to start. For now, we have to tell Team Rebirth about Team Double T's involvement. They're our only lead."

"You sure? I just told them we couldn't get anything out of Fortuna, to cover for you." Aeon questioned.

"It's fine. Just don't tell them anything about what the cave is for. This is between us." Liu insisted. "Even if they find out eventually, it's not a big deal. I trust them like I trust you guys."

Aeon got to his feet. "Right, then. I'll head over and break the news. They're not going to like this..." He sighed, exasperated.

---

"The ones who captured Liu are working for this Hypno, too, then?" Delphox asked.

Aeon nodded. "Yeah. For right now, they're our only way forward. Liu said what I was thinking: something stinks here." He glared around the cave for a few seconds, then continued "Something bigger at work. No scent trails, no footprints... how did Fortuna get there in the first place? And what does Team Double T get out of it?"

Absol spoke up. "Well, we'll make an announcement to the cave and tell people to keep an eye out for them. They can't stay holed up in there forever. In the meantime, what will you three do?"

Aeon scratched his head. "I don't know, to be honest. We're an exploration team, but we're brand new. We're not all that strong. I'm fast, but that's about it. Echo's no good in a fight, and even though Liu says she can use any move, I don't know how much strength she can put behind any attacks."

"What about reconnaissance?" Ninetales asked. "If they really are working for this... Hypno, wouldn't the best bet be to try and eavesdrop on their plans?"

Aeon turned to her. "That's a good idea, but how exactly do you plan to pull it off? Do you have any pokemon here that can transform, or turn invisible?"

"What's this about invisibility?" Liu's voice came from behind them.

They all turned to see her floating with her arms crossed. "Liu. We were just talking about what to do next." Aeon stated. "Team Rebirth thought we might be able to do some recon, but I don't know how we're going to do that and not alert Team Double T."

Liu shrugged. "I mean, I can turn invisible."

Aeon stared at her. "What? Since when?!"

She scowled. "I just haven't needed to use it, okay?! At least... not recently." Her face suddenly looked sad. "Back in Sky Stairway, I... used it to eavesdrop on people who were talking bad about me. Because of my personality."

He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No."

"No?" Liu was offended. "Why no?"

With a careful glance to Team Rebirth, he responded "Because I don't want you having to go back there, for any reason. It's bad enough they captured you once. What would happen if they captured you again?" He tried his best to get her to take the hint.

Liu's eyes widened, and then she sighed, rubbing her shoulder. "Yeah. Okay, you're right. It's probably not good for me to hang around there. But if not me, who else do we have?"

"I believe I might be of some assistance here." A new voice joined in. Liu glanced to her left, and jumped back in shock as a Misdreavus loomed over her shoulder, grinning.

"Yaaah!" Liu shouted. "What the HECK!"

"Sssorry, sssorry. I just love ssscaring people." the Misdreavus chuckled ominously. Her voice had a slight rasp to it, like sandpaper, or the hiss of a snake. "My name isss Miranda. Pleasure to make your acquaintanccce. I'd ssshake your hand... but I don't have any. Heehee..."

"Hello, Miranda. Rare to see you out and about this hour." Delphox greeted her cordially.

"Hello, Delphox. I'm alwaysss around... you just don't sssee me. Heeheehee..." Her grin grew wider. "I've heard your little problem, and I'd like to help. As a ghost... I can get anywhere I want, and never be found. I wouldn't mind going and listening in on any... sssecret little meetings that they're having... heehee..." She giggled mischievously.

Liu stared at her with an annoyed expression. "Oh yeah? And what's in it for you?" She asked suspiciously.

"My, my... Sssuch an acusssatory tone... I sssimply want what'sss best for this cave. After all... it isss my home, sssame as yoursss. Heeheehee..." She cooed. "Besssides.... you've already paid my fee by ssso graciousssly giving me your fear... heehee..." She turned to Ninetales. "Ssso, how about it, Ninetalessss? Would you like me to sssneak into their little bassse and sssee what'sss what?"

Aeon was unnerved. "Uh... can we trust you?"

"Of course you can." Ninetales replied. "Miranda has been here longer than most of the residents. And while it IS rare for her to show herself during the day, she has helped us out many a time in the past. I trust her."

"Well... okay, I guess." Aeon muttered, still not fully convinced.

Miranda giggled. "Sssplendid. I ssshall depart, then, and return when I've heard anything of interessst. Heehee..." With that, she disappeared, turning invisible.

Liu shuddered. "Man, that was creepy."

"Ssso kind of you to sssay..." A voice sounded by Liu's ear, and she jumped back.

"Just get out of here already!" Liu yelled at the air, but there was no response. She let out a huff of frustration and demanded "So now what?"

"Now, we simply wait to hear the details of whatever Miranda finds." Delphox reassured her. "Not to worry. She's an old friend, and one we'd certainly be lost without. In the meantime, why don't you three take some time off? I'd say you've more than earned it. You don't have to participate in the cave-sorting tomorrow; just take the day to yourselves."

Aeon and Liu looked at each other. Miranda or not, they couldn't say no to a break. "Alright. If you're sure." Liu mumbled begrudgingly. With that, she headed back to Team Oddity's space. Aeon was about to leave too, but Delphox put her paw on his shoulder.

"Aeon." She called. "Wait for a moment."

He turned. "What is it?"

Delphox's face was grim. "Please stay safe. My intuition is telling me that we're entering a swamp we can't easily get out of. I don't have any evidence to support this, just a feeling. But I want you, all of you, Team Oddity... to please be careful. Don't take any unnecessary risks or do anything rash, understand?"

Aeon gulped. "Y-yeah. Yeah, of course!"

"Good." Delphox smiled, relaxing. "Now, go ahead and enjoy your break from now until the day after tomorrow." With that, she followed after Ninetales, who had moved to a different part of the cave after Liu had left.

Aeon tried to relax, but for some reason, her words stuck with him as he went back to his bed. As he sat back down, he wondered nervously: What the heck have we gotten ourselves into...?