The following is a transcription of the second half of the recording from Fragment #9, as well as the last found in Tulip's recorder.

Enjoy.

----------------------------------------

[Transcription resumes after the moment in which Marie and Tulip finish listening to the tape from Fragment #10. There's a clear clicking sound as one recording stops, and the other resumes.

The low whirr of distant static echoes in the background, now emanating from Tulip herself. Neither of them say anything. Tulip's breathing slowly escalates, getting harsher, more panicked, and it's clear she opens her mouth even though no words come out, only a series of low, croaking sounds of utter shock and horror.

Marie sighs, sounding unconcerned. After a moment, she places her hand on the table and rises to her feet, though she doesn't walk away, simply stands there, letting out a long-held breath. Tulip's surprise is not shared by her as she speaks.]

…Well. I'm glad we got through it before Malva came back. Seems like it's taken effect already.

"I… I'm…"

[Tulip does sound different, regardless of the thinness of her voice. There's a certain weight, a presence that was not there before. She now sounds the same as she did shortly after absorbing the singularity.

She leans back on her chair and lets out a sound almost like a laugh. The recorder shakes in her hands.]

"Ha… hahaha, then I'm th-I'm the one who…?"

Don't sound too surprised now. I need you at least somewhat sane to do what comes next.

"…"

Do you feel it now? That thing inside you.

[Tulip doesn't respond at first. It sounds like she looks down at herself, her breathing ceasing for a moment.]

"It's… here, I feel it. It's so… empty. Like my soul is shivering, like it's taking away all my warmth. It's…"

You kept it at bay for a lot longer than anyone else probably could have. If you hadn't, I doubt I'd still be here as myself.

"B-but why did–?"

[There's a sharp whistling sound and Tulip jumps back, yelping. Marie groans at her.]

May I remind you of our agreement that I'd kill you if you were to ask questions? It was mostly a precaution a few minutes ago, when you were still unaware. Now that the singularity inside you is fully awake, I'll have to insist even more harshly. Speak only in non-inquisitive terms, alright?

"F-fuck you."

That's a good example, yes.

"God you… you sound so much like her. Like this is all fun to you. It makes me sick."

Good for you, I suppose. I care not in the slightest how you feel about me. I'm more concerned about my own survival, you understand.

[Tulip laughs again. It's a hysterical sound, so thin and brittle it almost sounds like a sob. There's a soft thump as she rests her elbows on the table and grips the sides of her head with her hands, pressing the recorder against it.]

"…This can't be happening."

You might not remember it well, but you always told me this was the kind of end you expected for yourself. Why act surprised now?

"I'd a-almost started to change my mind. When I read Podvig's entry, what he said to me at the end… and now that I remember it too…"

It might've been better if he hadn't given you false hope. I never once looked at you and imagined a future where you survived this fight of yours against the Institute.

"…Kick me while I'm down why don't you."

Brutal honesty is something you should expect from me by now.

"You really are just like her. A rotting, noxious pile of carrion in human form. Now I wonder how long it took me to figure that out the first time."

Less than a week, if I remember correctly. But it's not as though you had the luxury of being picky at the time. Nor now, for that matter.

"Ha… yeah, that fucking checks."

[She hides her face in one of her hands and laughs again, her whole body shaking.]

"…I never had any control. Everyone in my life's a piece of shit and the only people who aren't I brought ruin to by just being in the same room as them. I… I finished the job Malva started. The few people that escaped Wysteria incident I fed to the singularity without even knowing."

If it makes you feel any better, I doubt you took enough to kill them or permanently harm them. You probably just took what hurt them most. I'd see it as a blessing.

"That's… just what they fucking wanted too. For everyone to forget, for it to be swept under the rug… it's the opposite of what I wanted."

You wanted them to remember the worst moments of their life? Ha. And you call me cruel.

"I didn't want them to be forgotten. People died and people suffered and it wasn't their fucking fault, none of it was their fault! It was just bad luck and no one remembers, no one knows what really happened!"

You're rambling like a child. I still see no reason to shine light on the darkest memories of another just for a fanciful stor–

"SHUT UP!"

[Tulip's scream peaks the audio, making it explode with a burst of static that renders the recording unhearable for a few moments. When it vanishes, there's silence. Only Tulip's harsh, angry breathing can be heard.]

"They… people deserve to be heard when they're hurt without rhyme or reason. When something bad happens and… you didn't do anything wrong, and you weren't even targeted personally, it was just a roll of the dice… there's no worse feeling. It's suffering without a point, completely dispassionate. It makes you feel like you're… not even human. Like you're just a piece on a sick game that has no meaning to the people using you.

"When that happens, you… you want to be heard. You need to get it out of your chest and lament what happened, to have at least one other person say it. That it's wrong, that it's not how the world should work. If people hurt each other it should be for a reason, they should at least see each other as human beings. If you hurt someone from far away, without even knowing them, it's…"

It's how the world works. And no amount of placebo words or sympathy will change it.

[Tulip makes a groaning sound, almost like a whine.]

"I… met them, I heard them out, and now a part of them is inside me. But I can't get people to see it. I can't have everyone know who these people were, how unfair it all was."

[Marie holds her tongue for once and doesn't respond, but judging by Tulip's tone, she probably knows the answer either way.]

"…No one fucking cares. If there'd been just one, if only one more person cared, then I…"

[She stops talking suddenly. Another sob-like groan leaves her lips and she slides forward on her chair, sighing.]

"No… Lynne was there. Even if just for a short time…"

'Lynne' was the reason this all happened in the first place. You took a piece of him and brought it with you. Then you infected me with it, made me believe he'd always been there in my memories. I'm glad you developed a good relationship with him in the past few weeks, but in my mind he's nothing but a parasite. Any sympathy for him would be a waste of time.

"Shut up. I'm sure the Lynne I met… the one I've spent the past few weeks with, he… he was real. He was the real Lynne. He didn't ask for any of this to happen."

Is that why you sympathize with him so much? Just two peas in a Lotad? And here I'd gathered that you hated him, judging by your previous fragments.

"Fuck you. Seriously, just… go fuck yourself."

[Marie sighs in annoyance.]

…Tell me. Are you familiar with the concept of Dunbar's number?

"A…re you ser…? If the last thing I hear from you is a philosophy lesson I'm killing myself here on the spot, I'm not waiting for Malva."

The concept applies not only to people, you see. It is, admittedly, a much less exact sociological tool when applied this way, but it can also be used to gauge the general empathy threshold of a certain population. It will obviously vary wildly from person to person, but everyone has a limit as to how much empathy they can invest at a time. What might be a life-changing tragedy, a call to action to one person, will just be Monday's news to another.

"…You're saying that's the case with Wysteria."

It's an unfortunate truth, something I've seen countless times as a journalist. The technological revolution of the turn of the century, the invention of the radio and the telephone, soon followed by the television and the worldwide net, have all contributed to the erosion of human empathy. In a way, they are essential tools. It allows all cries for help to be heard, makes it harder for tragedies to be swept under the rug. If a thousand people die in one corner of the world, everyone in the opposite corner will know of it almost instantly thanks to the ease with which information spreads. It is, unquestionably, a good thing. Yet it carries with it a terrible side-effect.

Surely you've seen it, experienced it. All of us have. It's almost impossible to look at a screen or at a newspaper page without learning of some new tragedy. The worldwide stream of information is flooded with death and misery from all across the world, making it so much easier for the general population to be eventually desensitized to it. There is only so much any given person can care about, after all. Life, work, family, friends, romantic pursuits… if there is any space left between them, we will use it for a cause or societal trouble that affect us personally, that we have no choice but to care about deeply.

And everything else? It's sad, yes. Sometimes even tragic enough to induce tears, but that's as far as it will go. I knew this well before embarking on this search for Wysteria's truth. As incredible as my paper on the subject will be, I'm not expecting anyone to care for the lives that were lost. If anyone takes an interest in the subject, it will surely be due to the Institute's influence. Skeptics and conspiracy theorists will make the subject their playground for some time, I'm sure. The same people who read your entries, Tulip, not because they care for the people you interview but because they want to find the truth, no matter how many must suffer as a result. To solve the 'mystery', as it were.

You lament that no one cares, but can you blame them? There was no political or ideological motive behind the slaughter of Wysteria's people, so there's little reason for the average person to care. Like I said, empathy is a precious resource, and a meaningless tragedy like that, almost comparable to a natural disaster, will get nary a sad frown and a quick prayer from most. You might hate them for it. I won't blame you. You knew these people, after all, and as such have a reason to care, to fight to the death just so you can honor their memory. It's admirable, and not something just anyone could do.

But don't go around forcing that pointless romance on others. It's selfish. We all have people only we care about, and we all must shoulder the weight of that burden, alone. People die, tragedies happen, and I ensure that the truth is out there for all to see. But I won't force them to care, unlike you. Because I know how heavy the burden we all carry is.

[There is silence, for a while. Tulip takes her time to respond, the recorder creaking under the strength of her grip. When she finally speaks, disgust drips from her voice like poison.]

"People like you are lesser than carrion. I'm sure if you'd been alive two hundred years ago you would've used that same fucking argument to defend the atrocities committed by the monarchy."

[Marie chuckles to herself.]

Change is good, of course, but it is always brought about by hypocrites like you, forcing their burdens and suffering on others. Not that a hypocrite is such a bad thing to be, mind you. But I assure you, I won't die as one. I won't go into that cold night full of anger and regret, like your kind. If I am to be put to death for my ideals, then contentment shall be my last meal.

"I assure you it'll be your own rotten blood."

Time will prove one of us right, although I doubt you'll live for long enough to see it. In any case, I think that's enough arguing for now. Surely you don't hate me as much as the Institute just because of what I said, enough to not want to get on with our plan, do you? If so, I doubt you would've survived much in today's society anyway.

"Fuck off and die."

Later. For now, I think we should discuss preparations before Malva arrives, yes?

[Tulip doesn't respond. She takes a deep, shaking breath then lets it go, as though trying to contain herself. She lifts her elbows and lets the hand holding the recorder fall to her side, using the other to tap against the table.]

"There's not much to do other than punch Malva in the face when she comes back."

I'd advise against it. The element of surprise is your best weapon right now; when Malva comes, she'll expect you to be bound and contained. She doesn't know I've saved you, nor that you've remembered everything. You should be able to catch her unaware.

"…And ask her a question. But even then, she can just teleport out like last time. All it'd do is buy time."

That's why you'll wait. Wait until you're taken to the Institute.

[Tulip's tapping against the table stops. She sits there in silence, considering.]

"So if she tries to leave, that'll at least give me time to run around the place. See how much damage I can cause before I'm captured."

Considering your state and lack of Pokemon, that wouldn't be much. But we also have this.

[Marie must take out the Griseous Orb because suddenly there's another heartbeat of static coming from where she's standing.]

You said in your note that you knew how to use this, that it would be more effective if taken to the very heart of the Institute. Do you remember?

"I…"

[A low hum reverberates through her throat as she closes her lips. It's a pensive sound.]

"It feels… familiar. I don't remember but… I feel like I could figure it out if it came to it."

Perfect. Catch, then.

"Ghah!"

[Marie tosses the orb, and in her panicked hurry to catch it Tulip shoots up to her feet, which immediately follows a shriek of pain as she unconsciously steps on the foot of her broken leg.]

"Fff-Agh! Fucking warn me next time!"

Now we only need to make it so Malva believes nothing is amiss when she arrives.

"A…agh… god, give me a second, I–"

Unfortunately I don't carry any rope with me, not that it would be a good idea to begin with, as you need to be unbound to use the orb, I imagine. We don't have time, anyway. A more drastic measure will be needed.

"I-I said wait a second, I'm–"

No.

[Marie's refusal is swift. Tulip actually freezes at her cold tone. Steps are heard as she approaches.]

Malva will be here very shortly. By then I will be gone, and you need to appear weakened and helpless so she doesn't suspect anything. Then, you will be taken to the Institute. And with some luck, you'll find an opening to use the Griseous Orb and wipe her and as much of the Abyssal Ruins as you can from the world.

[Tulip stutters for a moment. Despite having agreed to it before, she is probably surprised to have the entire plan presented to her like that, because at no point does Marie imply her survival.

She's probably guessed her fate, but still.]

"…I could tell you I want to leave. Spend what little is left of my life by myself."

You won't. A chance to get rid of Malva will never come again. And of course, Lynne will probably be there in the Abyssal Ruins. You want to see him, don't you? It's all over your face.

"I…"

This isn't me asking you, by the way. I'm simply stating what will happen. You have no choice in the matter.

[There's a moment of silence. Tulip's voice grows cold and furious as she speaks.]

"You know, now I'm actually considering refusing out of spite."

Oh, you can't. I already even figured out a way to make you appear as Malva expects for when she arrives. Why do you think I tossed you the orb like that? Now both of your hands are occupied.

"I don't–"

[Another step resounds, harsher, heavier. A thin metallic sound whistles through the air as Marie raises the long, thin pipe.

Tulip doesn't gasp or jump away. She just breathes out in confusion, her voice coming out thin and fearful.]

"W-what are y–GHRLK!"

[It's a sound like that of a fork stabbing into a particularly juicy piece of meat, a fast and wet schlick that's shortly drowned by the sudden gasp being pulled from Tulip's throat, air leaving her lungs in a single violent exhalation.

She tries to scream, but without air it's only a long whine. A panicked step back is heard. Tulip tries to move away, and Marie obliges by dislodging the pipe from her body, pulling it out in one quick motion.

The sound is meaty and disgusting. Like wet leather being ripped apart. Marie lowers the bloody pipe until it drags across the concrete floor, and Tulip is heard stumbling back, step by uneven step, unable to even breathe for a few moments.]

"Hh…wh…aah…"

[Either due to pain or shock, her legs finally run out of strength and she falls to her knees, remaining there for only a second before collapsing to her side with a deaf thump.

It sounds as though she tries to speak, but all that comes out is a series of choking gasps like a Magikarp being pulled out of water.]

Don't worry. I stabbed you in the stomach, but didn't pierce any vital artery or organ other than your intestines. It's still a fatal wound without immediate medical care, of course. But it will take almost an entire day. You'll most likely be absorbed by the singularity before then. Or you'll die by your own hand, or Malva's. Point is, you won't suffer for long.

"Ghh… M-Mar…ie…!"

You understand why this is necessary, yes? It's not just for convenience. You're one of them now, as those marks upon your palms demonstrate. In my eyes, you're no different than Malva or Alberich. You're dangerous. And now, with some luck, you'll die alongside them and rid the world of yet another of its unknowing eldritch horrors lurking deep beneath the earth.

Rest assured. Your death will not be in vain, even if most of your life has been.

[With a long, agonizing groan, Tulip rolls onto her stomach and digs the sharp of her elbows onto the cold concrete, uselessly trying to drag herself forward. The recorder creaks in her hand. She hasn't let go of it.

Using what little strength she can muster, she forces herself to speak. Her voice drops significantly. Static bursts as the singularity speaks through her mouth.]

"W…wh-who are y–?"

[Marie is swift to interrupt her. She takes a relaxed step forward, and then a strong impact reverberates, followed by Tulip's scream. Marie's kick seems to hit her in the side of her face, throwing her to the side once more and interrupting her question.]

Now, none of that.

"Gh…gfffhah…"

Try not to turn over too much, or else an infection may kill you faster than the wound could. In any case, I really should get going. Malva is surely on her way.

"W-wh…w-wai…!"

It was… interesting knowing you, Tulip. And while you mostly brought nothing but misfortune to everyone around you thanks to your hypocritical ideals, at least you led me to the truth I'd been hunting for so long. Thanks to you, I finally unveiled the events behind Wysteria's tragedy. Now I only need to write it down and publish it. I'm sure it will make for a spectacular series of books and articles, a shining herald to my return to polite society.

And of course, I won't be as cruel as to betray your memory. Everyone will know of your heroism, of your boundless determination to find the truth. And, just like you wanted, they'll know about the stories of those ex-Wysteria citizens as well. It's the last I can do for you, considering…

"Ff…fuck y-y…you…"

[Marie chuckles lightly to herself.]

Goodbye, Tulip. Make sure not to betray my expectations.

"I w…g-ghah! W-won't… do what y-you…"

Of course you will. Because no matter what I do, you will never hate me more than you hate them.

[And with those words, Marie turns on her heel and starts walking away, calmly. Tulip struggles to drag herself forward, to move, to try and stop her, but she can barely drag herself a few inches before shrinking into herself again, shaking and groaning with pain.

The door creaks as it's opened.]

"W-wait! Please I d… I d-don't want to d…!"

[It slams shut with a ruthless sound, peaking the audio, and leaving only cold silence after.

Tulip says nothing. She lays there, barely breathing, croaking like sounds of pain and horror leaving her lips.]

"G… ghh… f-fuck…"

[She clamps down hard, her whole body shaking and tensing up with what could either be fury or misery. Sob-like sounds echo in her throat. She tries not to let them out, but can only do so for so long.]

"FUCK!"

[Anger rushes out in violent screams and curses and sobbing for the next few minutes, uninterrupted.]

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An aside.

Marie Levy Corenthal never returned to society, and her body was never found, although that is mostly due to the fact the authorities had stopped looking for her long ago, believing her to be dead.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

In truth, her remains now lay within the tunnels underneath Wysteria, near to the exit found in the basement of the Millers' house. It seems she was attacked while trying to escape. The ghastly claw-like wounds on her chest and throat are tinted a deep purple, which would lead anyone to believe she was attacked by a vicious ghost-type Pokemon.

Or something of the sort.

I will not say her death was a philanthropic one. It certainly was to our benefit that she never leave those tunnels alive, but that concern was not in my mind when I found her.

She simply struck me as unpleasant, almost as much as Malva.

Rest in peace, Marie. May the truth you sought have served as an appropriate final meal.

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[Tulip is still cursing and shaking uncontrollably when the familiar sound of teleportation is heard behind her, a burst of silence like the air being vacuumed into a single spot, followed by a crackling shimmer.

A step echoes through the room. Malva makes a slightly surprised sound, and the Pokemon beside her imitates her with a hum of its own. Tulip freezes instantly with a sharp inhale.]

…Huh. Are you still alive, Tulip?

[She doesn't reply, but there is a quick shake, a shuffle of movement as Tulip hides the Griseous Orb within the inside pocket of her coat, huffing at the pain. She must be collapsed with her back to Malva, because she doesn't notice.]

Ah, there we go. Let's see here… I thought I'd told that Gardevoir to bind you after capturing you, but…

[Malva walks around the room until she can see Tulip, and a slight breath of surprise leaves her lips.]

That's a nasty wound you got there. Did Gardevoir do that?

[She doesn't sound concerned in the slightest, and Tulip doesn't give her an answer. She lays perfectly still, breathing in and out, harshly.]

…Walpurgis, call for Gardevoir, would you?

[The Delphox hums in affirmation and a moment after the air vibrates with a shimmer, like a soundless siren booming through the air. This continues for a few seconds, but no similar sound comes from the other side. Walpurgis stops, and hums to Malva a sad sound.]

Hm. You actually fought back against it, didn't you? Even with a broken leg… no, maybe because of it… yes. A wounded, cornered Pokemon is the most terrifying of them all. You must've somehow gotten close enough to use force.. and then killed it. But you didn't escape unscathed. Ha… in the end, you needn't have bothered. You couldn't have escaped either way. But I guess pointless resistance is in your blood.

"H… ha… Ghk…"

Yes? Is there something you'd like to say to that, Tulip? I'm familiar with all kinds of wounds, and I know the one in your stomach won't kill you just yet. We can chat here for a while longer, so feel free to speak.

[Tulip inhales deeply. Then, she chuckles weakly and replies.]

"I w-was wondering, but it is true. Y-you really are the kind of stupid bitch who w… wears sunglasses underground."

[Malva makes an unpleasant noise.]

Well–

"I wonder if you g-got those pants custom-made, too. I'd… ha, would have loved to be there when you told them y… you wanted a bunch of rhombuses cut into them. Makes you l-look like a slutty clown costume gone wrong. Though I guess t-that's about right for you, huh."

[Tulip's laugh slowly turns into a violent fit of painful coughing, and Malva says nothing throughout, completely silent.

After a few seconds, she clicks her tongue and noticeably hits her heels on the floor, turning away. Whether Tulip's insults were a ploy to hurry things along or not, they seem to have hit home nonetheless. The Fourth is a very vain person.]

…I guess you're really eager to die. I can't blame you, being who you are.

[It's a weak retort, earning another scornful chuckle from Tulip in between her coughs. Malva makes a frustrated sound and addresses her Delphox.]

Get us out of here. Back to the Institute… let's get this done with.

"H-haaha… thought y-you'd said we had all the time in the world. I c-can keep going for as long as you w–"

Now, Walpurgis.

[That shimmer-like sound comes suddenly, swallowing the entire room and humming much more strongly than before, because this time it envelops Tulip as well. It gets louder for just a moment, then goes quiet entirely.

Then, a vacuum of sound, and a deep silence that lasts for only a moment.

When sound returns, it's with a burst of static that peaks, then lowers until it can barely be heard in the background. Tulip collapses again, and Malva's heels click against the stone of the floor. It echoes in a strange way, much farther and deeper than before. It's an undulating kind of echo, like shifts of current deep in the sea, like the breathing of a vast, unknowable creature of obsidian and chargestone.

I do not need to hear it in the recording to know exactly how to describe it. I've been there plenty of times myself. It is an unforgettable sound.]

"Wh… what the hell…"

Hm. Surprised? I had the same reaction when I first saw this place. And it is only the foyer. If you could see the true guts of the ruins, I'm sure your head would spin. It's too bad…

[She takes a step closer to the collapsed Tulip.]

I'm not here to give you a tour. It's time you give back what you stole.

[Tulip's harsh breathing ceases for a moment. She tenses up her body, stopping it from shaking. As though she's trying to listen for something.

Malva is not patient.]

No final words? Alright, then. Walpurgis, lift her up, we'll be taking her to Alber–

"Where is he?"

Hm?

[Malva doesn't notice at first, probably due to the suddenness of the question, but Tulip's voice echoes.

Tulip asks the question again, and Malva responds before she realizes what is happening.]

"Where is Lynne?"

He's at the center of the ruins, going straight north from here, then east, then north again… huh? W-wait…!

[Her forced, monotone voice returns to normal, growing panicked and anxious at the fact she's been forced to speak against her will. Yet even then, it takes her a second too long to put the pieces together.

Tulip moves as fast as her wounded body allows, dragging herself a couple feet forward, then grabbing at the nearest wall desperately with her free hand, nails digging into the dusty stone. She hurries to pull herself to her feet in the few moments of confusion where Malva stands there, frozen.]

W-wait, no! You can't… did you…!?

"Who… are y–?"

SHIT! Walpurgis, stop her!

"–ou?"

[Walpurgis hums a deep groan and falls, knees hitting the ground, the air shaking with that painful cry. Malva soon follows, although she manages to stay on her feet.]

W-what's going on!? You shouldn't be able to use the singularity's power unless you've rememb…ered…

[There's a single-second pause, filled with realization.

Tulip finally pushes herself to her feet, wobbling in place, her breathing heavy with pain. Even so, she chuckles.]

S-SHIT!

"Who are y–?"

Walpurgis, Teleport!

[That light shimmer resounds once more, and soon both Malva and her Pokemon are gone, vanished in an instant.

Tulip wastes no time. With only an instant to gather breath, she throws herself forward alongside the rocky wall, jumping and crawling and advancing as fast as her dying body allows her, and even beyond that.

Her jumps echo deep throughout the ruins, almost completely drowned out by groans and bellows every time she accidentally steps on the wrong foot or pulls to hard at the pierced muscles in her stomach. Tulip sounds as though she is in unimaginable pain. Yet she trudges on, probably knowing that Malva will not take long to return and start hunting for her.]

"Hg-haah–f-fuck! Gh… c-come on, come on!"

[Slightly less than a minute passes until Tulip's worst fears are confirmed, and a shimmering crackle of flames is heard in the distance. Steps echo. Tulip has cleared quite a distance, having already turned at the first long corridor, traversing it almost halfway to the second turn.

As such, Malva's voice sounds distant as she screams.]

Shit! Walpurgis, keep tracking her, I'm right behind you! Blast her to ashes the moment you see her, don't even give her a moment to speak!

[The Pokemon's hum reverberates through the air, followed by Malva's steps. They can be heard approaching quickly, much faster than Tulip's panicked crawling across the walls.

Tulip curses under her breath and speeds up, jumping forward and even running on her broken leg for a few seconds at a time, probably knowing it's that or death. Every step, every movement and sound leaving her lips is full of hot, desperate agony. She can no longer speak or curse, only groan and shake in pain as she attempts to flee.

The steps and the humming get closer. Tulip turns on the next corner and advances as fast as possible, but Malva and Walpurgis are not far behind her. Tulip cries out in pain and frustration, and the furious humming answers, drawing ever closer.

Finally, it seems Tulip sees the end, as a gasp of hope and surprise leaves in between two pained exhalations. She is not far from the door separating the center of the ruins from every other path.

She strides forward, and just then her pursuers turn around the corner behind her, and see her.]

There!

"G-ghah! F-fuck, n-nono come onnnn!"

Kill her, kill her! Mystical Fire!

"GHAAAAAAAH!"

[A lot of things happen at once. With that familiar shimmer, Delphox appears above the middle of the corridor and her stick-like wand is heard cutting through the air, drawing a quick circle from which a pillar of crackling flames soon sprouts out like a flood.

Tulip throws herself forward in desperation. Judging from my own knowledge of the length of the corridor, it doesn't seem as though she's close enough to reach the door.

Yet there is another sound just then. Deeper, subtler. The hum of the ruins themselves echoes slightly louder for just a moment, and Tulip unexpectedly slams against the stone door, which she clearly doesn't expect.]

"Ff-fhaah!"

W-WHAT!?

[Crackling. Stone grinding against stone, the roar of flames approaching from behind.

And then, Tulip falls onto a room that is not the same she was in before. There's a snap. A collision of stone against stone, and silence, if only for an instant. Then the sizzling of flames is heard on the other side, a hiss loud enough to almost drown out Malva's cursing.

Tulip lays on the floor, shaking, breathing so hard yet sounding practically out of breath.]

"W-wh… what ha-happened…? I was…"

[She doesn't say more, whether because she has no answer or because she hears the steps coming from in front of her. With a gasp, she looks upward just as a familiar voice speaks.]

"You made it… finally."

"L… Lynne?"

[The shock of the situation seems to distract her from her pain for a few seconds, or perhaps it is so powerful and blinding it's gone back around to feeling numb.

The man doesn't answer at first. He walks toward Tulip, his steps echoing less deeper, hinting at the chamber's smaller size.]

"You're… are you Lynne?"

"I am… not sure."

"H-huh? What do you mean you're not sure!?"

"I feel… segmented. I started remembering, memories are… coming back to me, now that you're close. But I do not know if I'm… no, I don't know if I'm… me."

[It is the same voice, but the sheer difference in tone and inflection makes him sound like two different people struggling for control of it. No, it's not quite a struggle. More like the sun falling down the horizon in order to make way for the moon, and vice versa. There are short moments in which both speak as one.

Behind them, the hiss of several flame pillars slamming against the door is heard. Malva keeps screaming, but it's hard to make out what she's saying.]

"The door will hold for a short time. Probably not enough to escape, though. Not that escape is possible regardless, in your current state. Still… I'm happy to see you one more time, Tulip."

"I… Lynne, is the same thing that's happening to me, happening to you? Are you going to be…?"

"I'm… I am not… sure. No Spirit from any of my previous vessels have managed to last this long. I only came back from nothingness thanks to you, Tulip. Even as my memories keep returning… even though I feel Alberich coming back… It doesn't feel as though I'm overtaking him. He's… so vast, and I'm just a thrown stone falling down the ocean's depth. Even so… the ripple against its surface keeps growing and growing."

"T-then…"

"…Here, let me help you up. It's unsightly to talk to you like this."

[Both of them seem in agreement at that, at least. He kneels in front of Tulip and, swiftly yet gently, puts her arm around his shoulder and lifts her up to her feet. It sounds agonizingly painful, but probably not as much as if anyone else had done it.

They walk a few steps away from the door, away from the hiss of flames and Malva's loud screams.]

"A-agh! S-shit!"

"Oi', careful there. Further pain is unnecessary, even while so close to the end."

"I-I don't… get it. If he's, I mean if Alberich's… shouldn't he be fighting against you? To stop me or… kill me faster?"

"Hmm…Hmm."

[Both of them hum in the same confused way, the one verbal tic they seem to share.]

"Yeah, I though the same thing. I am a monster as you suspect, Tulip, but not the kind you believe me to be. He doesn't, I mean I… don't feel very concerned? I am aware of the Seventh's influence on these events. If she deems this odd merging to be necessary, then I will trust her judgment. It also feels like he's… kind of eager? It's really odd. I am a seeker of knowledge by nature. Despite the possible dangers, I am curious about what will happ–"

[A loud impact reverberates through the room like someone hitting a gigantic bell, cutting him off and catching their attention. The sizzle of flames can no longer be heard. They've been replaced with blasts of psychic force, slamming against the closed door, budging it open ever slightly with each one.]

"Shit. Maybe we have less time than we thought."

[Tulip tries to say something, but she ends up coughing, out of breath. It takes her a second to get the words out. She sounds halfway between furious and exhausted.]

"I… H-how am I supposed to feel about… this? You're Lynne but you're also…"

"Wh-do you really think we have time for this!? The stone that makes up these ruins is sturdy, but Malva will get through eventually. And I'm sure she thinks I'm already Alberich by this point. She doesn't know… She believes I'm on her side."

"A-aren't you!?"

"It's… complicated. My Stigma are not as united as you may think. I mean, they're like coworkers of a sort, aren't they? They're bound to have some disagreements. And when two of their children start fighting, is it not a parent's responsibility to take the side of the victim? It would be unfair otherwise. And it's pretty clear you're the underdog in this situation, Tulip."

"Y-you just meant the Stigma, why are you including m…"

[She stops talking, realization dawning on her as to what Alberich means.]

"Go to hell! I am not your fucking–"

"The marks rest upon your palms, do they not? The truth's the truth, whether you like it or not."

"I-I… Still, this is…!"

"I understand your revulsion. Not like anyone can blame you after how much these bellends ruined our lives. But regardless, you are my Ninth Stigma. The one I never intended to be created, yet one whose willpower bent reality to make it so. It is curious. They say that, in their hubris, tyrants often bring about their own downfall, molding it like clay in their image. To think a ninth shadow would appear where previously only eight stood, protecting my back… and that it would be one so determined to oppose me."

"Gh… the way you talk is just like all the other Stigma. You all think this is some kinda fucking game, that we're just pieces for you to play with…"

"If that is so, then consider yourself a white pawn taken by the enemy and thrown into the dark sea of nothingness… only to somehow return to the board, painted a dull grey. You are allowed to remain only because of your unique circumstances. Were you to deny your nature and claim to be a white pawn once more… then your fate would have already been sealed, hm?"

"W-what the hell…?"

"That was a smarmy and condescending way to say you don't have much of a choice. Same for me, yet here I am..."

"T-that isn't… it's not the same, you're… both of you… agh!"

[Tulip lets out a quick groan, and is met with a breath of irritated laughter, coming clearly from Lynne.]

"Hell. And to think I used to be the one panicking and complaining all the time instead of trying to do something productive. Look at yourself now, Tulip."

"Don't speak like that, it's been less than a fucking day."

"I know. Longest Friday of my goddamned life."

"… And the last, in my case."

[There's a short moment of silence between them. I am not sure, but I'd be confident in thinking Alberich does not take control, and instead lets them have that moment.

Until another blast is heard, and the whole room shakes again. The rock begins to crack.]

"You're lucky, you know. To be able to talk to us separately like this. I don't think that'll last for long. Once… all of me returns, we will most likely merge. At first I thought he would be swallowed up by my Spirit, but now… I have no intention of being kicked out of my own body again. And what a regrettable fate it has suffered. But I admit it will be interesting to be slightly more than just myself for once. It should prove a good way to avoid boredom."

"Am I supposed to… agh, feel grateful? None of this should've happened. I'm about to die, and you'll just be a tiny part of this piece of shit's soul. In the end, none of it mattered."

"Are you sure about that?"

"What other conclusion is there? Things would've been better if I'd never interfered at all."

"If that's so, why do I hear the other souls inside of you thanking you so sincerely?"

"W… what?"

[Tulip clearly did not expect to hear that. For a moment, she doesn't sound in pain anymore, just utterly shocked.]

"Did you forget what you learned? I admit it's been a while since I checked, but I was once renowned as the greatest hero that ever bonded Uxie. Even in its absence, my powers have not waned. It's… mental. Like a storm crackling inside and all around me. I can see and hear human Spirits as easily as you hear the chirps of the Pidgey outside."

"Wh-then… you can hear them? Everyone else…"

"Of course. The ones you interviewed, the ones you helped, the ones you opposed. They all sound happy. As expected. You gave them the chance to be heard, after all. You made sure they were remembered."

[Tulip gasps, and there's a sound as though she presses her hand against her chest, cloth shuffling against skin.]

"I… that can't be right. I only made things worse. I fed them to the same meat grinder Malva did, all while thinking I was helping them…"

"Always so fucking glum, Tulip. You have not hurt them in the way you believe you have. Even without a singularity to aid them, humans exchange pieces of their soul every time they interact, in smaller or bigger quantities depending on how much they trust each other. In your case it's just a smidge more literal, I'm guessing. The difference between you and Malva is stark. She invaded their souls and took from them against their will, defiling them. You offered them a chance to shed the pain they'd been carrying for so long. You lent them an ear, a shoulder to cry on. I assure you, they all thank you from the bottom of their hearts. Even I can hear it so clearly. And more so… They are just as eager to see Malva get her comeuppance."

[For the second time, their voices echo together as one, leaving Tulip without voice, wordless.

After a second, a strange noise leaves her throat. One may think it a small sob of pain, but there's a clear softness to it.]

"Do they… really not hate me? R-really?"

"It's true. Even if you can't believe Alberich, believe me. If that was the last regret keeping your Spirit chained, let it be no more. I refuse to think all of our suffering was in vain. You're not gonna give up right at the end, after fighting so hard, are you?"

"I… I don't need you to tell me that. I always intended to go down swinging, no matter what. But…"

[Tulip scoffs weakly and pushes the man away, wobbling unsteadily on her feet now that she stands on her own.]

"If it's true, then… it's good to know."

[Relief is palpable in her voice, her attempts to hide it weak amidst the immense pain she must be in. Lynne sighs amusedly.

Behind them, an impact greater than any before reverberates throughout the whole room. The sound of cracking soon gives to an even more concerning one. That of tiny stone fragments falling to the ground.]

"The door won't hold for much longer. Are you ready, Tulip?"

"Yes, I have the… I have the Griseous Orb right here. But I don't know anything about it, I don't even know how to use it."

[She stutters as she takes the object from her pocket, its hiss of static joining Tulip's in the background of the recording.

Alberich puts her doubts to rest as he speaks.]

"The Griseous Orb is another singularity, much like the one resting inside you. Under normal circumstances, only an Eight Stigma should be able to access its power. But being its kin, you are an exception."

"That still doesn't tell me how to use it. Do I just… point it at someone and… I don't know…"

"Come on, Tulip. Did you really forget? Even I remembered this one; it was the weirdest out of all your entries, after all. You might not know how to use it, but there is someone inside you who does."

[Tulip sounds like she's about to protest, but then she lets out a little gasp, filled with realization.]

"…Oh. You have to be kidding me."

"Heh, I'm sure that lass wouldn't have agreed to that interview if she'd known what you really were. I'm confident Shadi thought you were only another Wysterian victim, and misjudged the danger of meeting with you. That's likely why you suddenly remembered what it was and how to use it, that first time back at the Millers' house."

"Then part of her is… inside me? Mew, that's… eugh. I'm really not okay with that."

"She was kind of a cunt, wasn't she?"

"Ugh…"

"Regardless, if will prove useful in this case. Didn't Shadi hold on to that thing for a long time until now? I'm sure she knew how to use it. Despite only partially being an Eight Stigma, she was quite talented and knowledgeable about her abilities. Additionally, you shouldn't worry about her cooperation. Malva was not liked, even by the most benevolent of Stigmas. And from what we gathered, Shadi was far from that."

"I… guess I have no choice. Then I just have to… use it and then–"

"Once its power has been called, the Griseous Orb will become an inescapable black hole of immense force, and swallow all who stand close toward the World of Distortion."

"And that is…"

"There is no time to explain. Suffice to say, it is an inhabitable place for all but the sturdiest of Spirits. All who step inside, will die. So it's probably your best shot."

[Tulip stays silent, thinking. The sound of the door breaking down, finally, is all the loudest in the absence of her voice.]

"…Could I take you with me, if I wanted to?"

"I figure you could. Indeed."

"And would you die from it? Alberich, I mean."

"… I would not. Though it would be a nuisance, I'd wager. You could always–"

"No, it's alright."

[Finally, the first large piece of door is dislodged by an even greater blast of psychic energy, landing upon the floor with a deaf thump. Malva can be heard through the crack, urging Walpurgis on. She does not sound happy.

Tulip takes a fearful breath, then lets it go in a sigh. The recorder shakes in her hand. The Griseous Orb hisses in the other.]

"I… didn't even know you back then, Lynne. But I'm sure I heard your soul crying out in pain and… I answered. I brought you back from the brink. I remembered you when nothing else could. That's all I ever wanted, and not just for the people of Wysteria. So now even though you're… agh, in there with the one responsible for all of this… I trust you. To keep on living, and fighting, like I would have."

"T…Tulip."

"So here… catch."

[The audio sharpens as the recorder is thrown through the air, only to be caught by Lynne. The static emerging from Tulip and the Orb are barely hearable. Her voice, however, rings loud and clear, even through the destruction and collapse of the door behind them.]

"You're in charge of remembering me now. I k-know you'll do a good job. You're my… assistant, after all."

"…Only until you come back, yeah?"

"…Yeah. Of course."

"I'm serious, I'm not giving up on you. You deserve a happy ending, after all of this."

"Yeah, well…"

[Steps are heard entering the room. Walpurgis' psychic feels heavy upon the air. Malva bellows out, all patience gone from her voice.]

TULIP!

"…We can't always get what we want. At least now my death won't be entirely pointless."

Sir, get away from her! Agh, you… stubborn, disgusting pest! I've! Had! Enough of you! Walpurgis: Mystical Fire!

[The hum becomes a shriek as Walpurgis shoots high into the air, flames crackling and condensing in front of her, moments from falling upon Tulip.

She sighs.]

"You… you can come out. But keep it brief."

[A roaring jet of flames shoots through the air, shaking the room by the sheer force at which they shoot out from Walpurgis' wand. At the same time, Tulip moves. The static from the Griseous Orb gets stronger.

And then, someone speaks with Tulip's voice, but with a tone and cadence that are clearly not hers. Prideful, arrogant, and more than a little unhinged.

Shadi cries out to the object in her hand, her voice echoing loudly.]

"Extinguish these flames until they are but cold cinders!"

WHAT!?

[It's an odd sound, like a reverse explosion. A vacuum of space forming in Tulip/Shadi's hand, exerting such incredible pressure in front of her that the pillar of flames is swallowed up into it like water circling down a drain. It disappears with a pitiful whine, siphoning Walpurgis' power in its entirety.

A second later, the Pokemon hits the ground hard, collapsing with a thump. He attempts to get up, in vain. Painful whines leave its mouth.]

W-w-wh…

"My, what pathetic little flames… and you dare call yourself the Demon of Flare? Ha! It must be nice to come from such a gentle, lukewarm hell. Let me show you the power of my domain, then! A dark so deep and empty it can swallow up even the hottest flames of the underw–Agh! F-fuck, wait…!"

[Judging from the sound, Tulip seems to slap herself with her free hand, stopping Shadi's monologue and putting herself back in control.]

"Tsk… I told you to keep it brief you ridiculous nerd."

N-no! That can't have been… that's the Griseous Orb! How did you get that!? Sir!? What's happening!?

[The man behind Tulip says nothing.]

That's… t-this doesn't make any sense! Shadi's been...! The one who should have the orb is… i-is…

[Realization finally dawns on Malva, and the air itself shakes and hums with the burning rage emanating from her body.]

S…SANBICA!

[Guilty as charged.

Malva's scream lets loose a shockwave of heat and sound that almost knocks Tulip off her feet. She slides a step back, growling in pain. From afar, hurried and desperate steps are heard. Malva runs straight for her, furious beyond comprehension, bellowing at the top of her longs.

There's that cold, uncaring crackle of dark flames again. It swallows Malva whole as she throws herself at Tulip.]

JUST DIE ALREADY!

"Ghk…!"

[The force of her scream knocks Tulip off balance, throwing her back, and it is then that the cold, crackling jaws of oblivion close in around her, intent on erasing her from existence.

There is no grasp, no sound of those burning fingers closing around flesh. Instead, the opposite happens. Tulip throws her foot back to regain balance and, in an act that seems miraculous from someone in her state, she raises her free hand and closes it like a vice around Malva's wrist, stopping the flames from touching her.

Malva gasps, her voice gone. Tulip takes in a sharp, victorious breath, and speaks.]

"…You're terribly simple, you know that?"

[There's a noticeable creak as Tulip's fingers close even tighter around her wrist, with force she should no longer possess.]

G-ghah! Let-let go of me!

"The s-singularity's taken everything from me except for… them. Those I've interviewed. And those I've fought against. Some of them were good people. Many w-weren't. But I've no right to judge them, considering the suffering I caused. But you're different. You committed the one sin no man or deity can forgive. The one I can't possible ignore."

S-SHUT UP! LET ME GO, LET ME…AGH! Y-YOU STUPID BITCH…!

"I sentence you to death, Malva, for the sin of never giving a shit about anyone but yourself."

[Still grabbing onto her, Tulip raises the Griseous Orb in between them, and parts her lips to speak. The first sentence is her own. The second is Shadi speaking through her.]

"Goodbye, Lynne. May we meet again, someday."

NO! W-WAIT, PLEASE…!

"Come forth, Gate of Distorsion!"

[Malva screams, but the sound is almost immediately drowned out by a wave of nothingness.

The two sources of static, the two singularities, contract for an instant and then burst outwards like an exploding star, swallowing every speck of matter, every wave of sound, replacing it with a static so powerful the audio of the recording peaks to its limit, and does not come back.

In the last moment before that dead silence swallows everything, before the recording is abruptly stopped, an exhausted yet triumphant laugh is heard. It's hard to tell whether it belongs to Tulip or Shadi. It may be both.

The laugh disappears, and the recording distorts beyond measure, then finally stops.]

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[…

…

.

.

.

The next time the recorder is turned on, it is far away from the ruins, almost halfway across the world. There's the sound of people inside a building, walking around, tapping their foot impatiently while sitting down, talking in whispers amongst themselves, worried. Fear and anxiety permeate the building. The person holding the recorder walks through the hospital's long corridors in search of a specific room. No one stops her, even when they should.

Three days have passed since Tulip's disappearance, and slightly less since the near-cataclysmic event now known worldwide as Sinnoh's Moonless Night. The region is, understandably, still in a panic. Following not only the events of that night, but also the declaration from…

Ah, but that is a story for another day.

The person holding the recording goes up a set of stairs and walks down a long, quiet corridor full of rooms containing patients in critical state. The only person she encounters up there is a girl who accidentally runs into her, but then apologizes and leaves. There is no one to stop her as she reaches the final room on the right side, and reaches for the doorknob with anxious fingers.

The door swivels open with a grating creak, and she stands there, under the sill, for a few long moments as she stares at the woman resting in the hospital bed inside.]

…There you are.

[Cautiously, almost anxiously, she closes the door behind her and walks toward the side of the bed. As she stops, only the other woman's breathing can be heard. It's slow, but controlled. There are no electronic beeps indicating any kind of machine keeping her alive. It simply sounds as though she is asleep, nothing more.]

…I guess this is the part where any halfway decent person would say they're sorry. But well… you know us by now.

[She laughs sadly at herself. The woman on the bed remains in a deep sleep.]

I admit, out of all the possible futures I got a vague glimpse of, I never once saw you surviving. Or… what's left of you, I guess. But you keep defying the odds time and time again, don't you? You're… lucky Riley decided to take you back. The Griseous Orb, well that one's obvious, we needed that. But you…

You're the only one that should feel grateful for what Riley did. Even if, realistically, you probably wouldn't.

You're lucky, Tulip. And that might just be a curse greater than any us Stigmas must bear.

[There are a few moments of silence then. Despite there only being one conscious person in the room, a second presence can be acutely felt, pulsing with small bursts of static.

But Tulip remains asleep. Her breathing deep and rhythmic. The person holding the recorder sighs, then lightly places it upon the stand next to the bed. She keeps it there, but doesn't take her hand away yet.]

I… got the information from the nurses. You haven't woken up since then, and it's doubtful if you ever will. Normally I would not interfere further than this. As I said, your existence means nothing to me… but the same can't be said of him.

He told me to bring this back to you, and to honor your last wish. I agree it's the least you deserve, after… everything. I already transcribed everything, now I just need a good title for the last fragm… no. The last entry. You said you'd come back to that name once all the pieces fit together, didn't you? I'll honor that as well… as soon as I search for a list of wisteria species names, ha.

…He'll be looking over you, you know? He said as much. Said that he'd wait for you to come back, for as long as it takes. This new him is… I admit, a bit too saccharine for my taste, but I guess I can't complain.

[She puts a bit more weight against the recorder on the stand, and her finger hovers over the Stop button.]

Goodbye, Tulip. If we ever meet again, I hope you will not remember me. But rest assured, I will very much remember you, as the second person to ever break my chains of fate.

Thank you, for not betraying my expectations until the end.

[There is a plastic click, and the recording goes dead for good.]